Posted on 08/01/2016 8:43:18 AM PDT by SatinDoll
Ann,
I leave the Army for good in September of this year. My chain of command has been shell shocked that I am going through with it. Two years ago when I first came to grips with what was happening and resolved to no longer be a part of it, there was derision and even an officer telling me that voicing my opinions about the state of the US economy and its moral failings could be considered a violation of the UCMJ for conduct “prejudicial to good order and discipline.”
When I gave my Operations NCO a copy of the book “A Distant Mirror” by Barbara Tuchman he came to me a month later stating that if there is a civil war, he and his fellow Hispanics will “have to choose sides.”
When I told my first sergeant why I would not be re-enlisting, she said “Don’t you want to re-enlist to get your 20?”
I said that I wanted to re-enlist, but I couldn’t, that my pension was nothing compared to being prepared to sacrifice my life. Then she and I went on to discuss my (your) ideas on why there was a possible collapse of the US government in the future, she went from denying the possibility to stating “Well, it all depends on what level of collapse you’re talking about,” needless to say I was stunned.
The re-enlistment NCO refuses to talk to me, and several other mid to senior level NCOs who previously thought I was kidding have left the Active reserves for the Individual Ready Reserves.
One stated that he too was disgusted with both candidates for president and then asked me if I thought things would be so bad, why wouldn’t I stay in and try to fix things “from the inside”? I cited the example of the Yugoslav army and how there were fire fights within units and stated that I would refuse to follow unconstitutional orders. I then asked, “Don’t you think if one of the two candidates gets in power that either might order the power of the state to be used against their political enemies? That’s what would be likely to START those kinds of firefights, right?”
Officer: “SFC, you are hereby ordered to take your platoon and do evil unconstitutional thing X.”
Me: “No.”
Officer: “SSG, Arrest SFC !”
Me: (Click) “Don’t move sir.”
SSG: “Uh-oh….”
The other NCO just kinda smiled grimly and nodded. His friend, a warrant officer whom I have known since 2009 then blurted “Well, that won’t happen anyway, the US government can’t collapse, too many people depend on it!”
We both stared at him and he looked embarrassed almost immediately. He is not a stupid man, but it shows the mindset most are locked into, no matter how illogical it is.
I have many more anecdotes, but the summary is this: Whereas I was laughed at two years ago, many other senior NCOS are leaving. Many Enlisted men are frightened and wish to get out. The liberals, humanists, atheists and feminists are taking over.
EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON over the past two years, from family, friends, and colleagues to acquaintances and others in the civilian world who hear I am getting out after 15 years always start with the same argument: What about your pension/heathcare?
My own brother, an amateur military historian asked me the same question last week, and I said:
“You studied military history for 8 years in school, and as a hobby your whole adult life, if you had to go up against a military composed entirely of people who were there to get their retirement benefits, how easy would that army be to defeat?”
Silence…
Mic drop!
Ann, it’s been rough. I LOVE the US Army. At times I have almost been reduced to tears thinking about putting on the uniform for the last time. But I cannot be part of the army that serves a government like ours.
Thank you just for being out there and fighting the good fight.
SFC
(Be assured of our prayers, sir.) This entry was posted in Uncategorized on August 1, ARSH 2016. Furthermore, I consider that islam must be destroyed.
Note: Ann Barnhardt has stated that she believes anyone who runs for political office is mentally ill.
I disagree with her piss-poor assessment.
Out for comments.
Something is very wrong here. What this NCO says doesn’t make much sense. I think we are dealing with a disgruntled person who probably is doing the Army a favor by leaving. When he/she (Not sure which) mentioned the First Sgt. as a “she”, it told me this was a non-combat or support unit (Probably Medical or Supply). Suggest readers look at this with a skeptical eye and as an exception and not the rule.
Yep. No difference between hillary and Trump to an Army NCO....
I call BS.
As a general principle, I agree. Anybody who would actually want to be President, Congressman, Senator, Judge, whatever should be automatically disqualified on the grounds of being either nuts or evil. That said, among those who seek office some are manifestly far less horrid than others ... Every now and then, you actually find one who's even positively decent. But they're rare.
I'm not a psychologist although I play one on the internet. When it comes to mental illness I think Ann Barnhardt fits that bill very nicely.
I agree. I’m sure there’s more to the story.
If anything, the military has become much less strict about criticizing the leadership. I remember guys being called on the carpet for making any type of political statements back in the 70s and 80s. It was considered prejudicial to discipline and unit morale to discuss politics while on duty.
The military has become a liberal social experiment where patriots are no longer welcome.
I finally retired from the military in 2013. I would have liked to stay longer but the PC garbage is out of hand. Soldiers are mostly treated with kid gloves.
One of the tipping points for me was the briefing we were given on the repeal of DADT.
I worked as a Command Finance NCO for the last two years of my time. I was shocked to see the amount of charity and handouts Soldiers were seeking. Far too many were just there for what was in it for them.
Single moms join for a free ride (not all of them of course).
I asked several senior NCOs what they would do if it came down to being issued unlawful orders. The majority said they would refuse and if necessary simply leave (or worse). A few just shrugged and wouldn’t answer.
She’s got the crazy eyes, that’s for sure.
So this man had no problem serving under Obama, that says it all in my opinion.
“Note: Ann Barnhardt has stated that she believes anyone who runs for political office is mentally ill.I disagree with her piss-poor assessment.”
I think it comes on after they are elected
Ann is actually the one who is mentally ill.
Anyone who thinks Trump is going to use the U.S. military against his political opponents if elected is also mentally ill.
Good riddance soldier.
Win wars? Not this military, not with this CIC.
This is exactly what Obama wants. He want to weed the patriots out of the services and fill it with those who would follow orders against their fellow citizens without question.
Notice how the current CIC has slowly, but inexorably, worn down the career soldier and is transforming the capabilities of the military. He is subversively destroying the military and HRC will continue that job for him.
I don’t understand how any senior NCO cannot understand how Trump would be far better for the military, but then again, who knows if his access to information is limited or spoon fed.
We shoved a knife in our heart back in 1963 when we passed the 24th amendment. That bit of idiocy severed the necessary control between the people who pay the bills, and those who will run the government.
Non-Taxpayers do not care about excessive borrowing and spending. They are too stupid to understand that the gravy train cannot go on forever, and once you give them the right to vote, you are done. It is only a matter of time before the reality of life eventually slams into the illusion of free money.
More like flush with debt, because that has become the new governing paradigm.
If this were simple disgruntlement, I would expect to see a list of grievances as opposed to a stark assessment of the probability of illegal orders.
I disagree that both major parties have candidates that would prompt illegal orders, but I do not fault this individual for choosing to get out as opposed to staying in under such a situation.
This is the legacy of the last 8 years of Obama rule, and somewhat of the insane ROE promulgated by W for some of his own tenure, IMO.
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