Posted on 08/18/2026 7:04:51 AM PDT by rlmorel
From the article:
Having spent over 55 years inside academe — earning Bachelor of Science (BS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, then serving as a post-doctoral cancer researcher, faculty member, and research administrator, not retiring until almost 79 years of age — how the one-year title of Staff Sergeant (SSG) decades ago could mean more to me than my PhD might seem bizarre. Nonetheless, it’s true.
Why?
The 19-months in the U.S. Army, as a 24-year-old draftee, transformed my life. Essentially every significant civilian success thereafter can be attributed to that brief stint serving America, and two main factors were responsible.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
One of the things that has always made an impact on the military to me (in retrospect) is the awesome responsibility it gives to very young people. I use my own experience to relate it:
When I was 20 years old and a flight deck troubleshooter in the squadron I was in, one of our planes was on the aft portion of the flight deck, one of the last to take off in what they called an alpha strike (like a maximum effort launch, everything that could fly would go...that kind of thing)
One of our planes had oil coming out of the belly, so I took off the wraparound panel (probably 30-60 Dzus fasteners, the kind that take a quarter turn to undo) so there were a lot. I took off the panel, and could see oil leaking at a decent rate from a fitting.
I figured it would take me just a couple of minutes to determine if the leak could be stopped...cut the safety wire, tighten the fitting, if it stopped, I could re-wire it, check the oil level, put the panel back on, and be good to go.
I started working, focusing on the work at hand (my head and upper torso inside the plane) when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked down to see a pair of khaki trousers being buffeted by the wind. It was a Chief Aviation Bosun’s mate, and he was one of the senior people on the flight deck.
I stood up and put my ear next to his mouth, and he yelled “CAN THE PLANE TAKE OFF?”
I yelled back “YES. I NEED TO FINISH SAFETY WIRING THIS FITTING AND PUTTING THE PANEL BACK ON...JUST ANOTHER TWO OR THREE MINUTES.” He yelled “OK. LET ME KNOW WHEN IT IS GOOD TO GO. THE CAPTAIN NEEDS TO FINISH LAUNCHING SO HE CAN CHANGE COURSE.”
I didn’t give it another thought, got right back in, finished the job, and the plane taxied to the catapult, took off, and I went below.
It was only later that I thought of it: That entire carrier task force, the escorts, billions of dollars of equipment and probably 10,000 men were waiting for me to finish my job so they could change course and begin the next phase of operations.
All waiting on me, an average 20 year old guy.
What really struck me as I thought of it was...this is commonplace. In the military, we do this all the time. We load the young people in our military up with awesome responsibilities, and we expect them to perform. And they largely do almost ALL the time. When they don’t, people can get maimed or killed.
And in combat, the stakes are much higher.
You sound like you had a great career...that statement did make me laugh!
It is so true. Even today, the Internet is filled with videos of silly young 18 year olds in all branches, doing silly 18 year old things...it makes me grin, and fills me with hope...:)
I surmisethat the author of this article may have been enrolled in the ROTC courses for his first two years of college. If, as I recall from the '50s, it is the last two years as undergraduate that one must enlist and be sworn in to go further (with pay) in ROTC to receive a commission if graduated with a Bachelor or advanced degreem; or serve as enlisted (NCO for mastery of the ROTC courses?) if not.
That would clarify the situation of how to skip basic training and time-in-grade for E-2 and E-2 to be E-4 Spec3 or Cpl at induction (?) and rapid advance thereafter if proficient and diligent.
Yes! All very true-my mother was off base, walking down the bar-lined streets of Yokosuka, Japan, and crossed paths randomly with a girl she went to high school with!
You never know!
Funny-I could never write cursive, and I learned how to write with block letters! (I was relating this to another Freeper today!) so neatness was never a problem with me.
LOL, as you and I discussed, FRiend, it took me years to break the profanity habit which I regret to say, I could rather enjoy at times...much to my now discomfiture.
I have to agree-although not having served in a combat role, observing human nature as I have throughout my life has provided me with an insight. Terrible stress can make or break individuals, although most find a way to make it through to the other side. Combat is a terrible crucible to form human behavior.
Sure, a diamond can come out the other side, but so can dust.
Thanks for saying so-by the way, I love your Freepname...Excellent!
I knew a few guys who were brig rats, and some of them didn’t seem like bad people. They were just stubborn and couldn’t stay out of trouble.
________________________________
During Nam draft the Corps picked up a lot of riffraff to meet quotas. Some came right out of the law enforcement community where if the troublemaker agreed to sign up, the charges against him were dismissed. Some squared themselves away but others were incorrigible.
Sure...I’ll bet there were some who were incorrigible.
Three YPJ officers assassinated in Paris by Turkish intelligence operator(click here);
and in 2022, three more quite handsome commanding women warriors of YPJ killed by Turkish drone strike.(click here)
SDF/YPG/YPJ forces have been our US Forces allies and partners in defeating ISIS dominance in northeastern Syria, sometimes even saving our troops.
Read on.
You think these women were too weak to fight extremely well?
Notso, not so.
Salwa Yusuk
Ruha Bashar
Joana Hisso As I understand, SDF/YPG/YPJ are not religionists, but free citizens, compassing Arabic and other minorities. Many of these forces may denominate themselves as Christians in faith.
Incredible, you appear to know absolutely nothing about the military.
Combat is a terrible crucible to form human behavior
But, for some it is exactly what is needed to give that final nudge into growing up.
Then, out of nowhere, and old tennis buddy of mine walked up after having been MIA for a couple of years after graduation. It turns out he went into the Air Force and had become a mechanic working on jet engines.
Charles M. had one look at my "dangling engine" and said ... "I can fix that". By mid afternoon the next day, with only the most meager set of tools, he had that engine installed and purring like a kitten.
For me that's a perfect example of how the military can make the man. I still remember Charles fondly, and wish I had kept up with him.
So, how much is it that you “know” that contradicts what I said? What I outlined was the way things were half a century or more ago. I’d be glad to see your experience displayed, without contesting it. Go ahead, prove that I don’t know anything about the military. I was discharged honorably in 1962 as an imfantry MG squad leader. But a lot has happened since.
You think the Marine Corps could be turned 100% female and remain just as effective?
I would have to agree.
There is a funny saying that came to mind:
“Marriage is a lump of coal that through heat and pressure can turn a man into a diamond, but just as often, they end up as a handful of soot.”
Combat can turn people into remarkable diamonds, in that terrible crucible the heat and pressure produces some of the most amazing people the world has ever know.
But it is hard not to feel pity for those who end up as a handful of soot.
The military taught me two invaluable lessons; self confidence and self discipline. That and don’t every be late.
Absolutely.
The self confidence and self discipline are huge.
But the “Don’t Be Late” is a critical and practical one that many people ignore. To this day, I have a horror of being late.
I remember once after I had been home on leave I missed a flight down to my squadron at Cecil Field in Florida due to heavy traffic.
I called down, and the response was not kind, but it was practical and understanding: “You better be here on the next plane down. Carry on.”
After jump school (Georgia) I got 2 weeks travel time to get to the 9th Infantry at Ft. Lewis (Washington state), which was mystifying but I figured it was a remnant of the 1940s and trains, or something.
Figuring out that I was in limbo with by past command finished with its interest in me, and the new unit would avoid complications since I wasn’t checked into their unhit officially, I took the risk of making it a 3 week vacation, and it worked, there was some verbal bitching when I checked in at Ft. Lewis, but as I guessed, no one took the trouble to do anything, I had threaded the gap.
Wow! I was petrified at being a day late! Well, times were different back then, for sure.
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