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An Open Letter To Free Republic
Free Republic | 29 SEP 2004 | Old Sarge

Posted on 09/29/2004 7:41:48 AM PDT by Old Sarge

Dear FRiends:

Many of you who inhabit this virtual home of ours, know me by reputation, and a few personally. I am so proud to be counted among your ranks, and numbered among your company. We laugh, we cheer, we argue, we fight, we weep, we support, and we live, all in this place we call home. And all who do know me, know that my greatest wish is to serve this nation of ours in uniform.

That opportunity has arisen once again, as I return to Active Duty once more. This time, though, the mission is something unique to my experience, something I have never done in twenty-plus years of Active, Reserve and National Guard service. For as of next month, I shall become… a Recruiter.

Yes, you heard it. I shall shortly become one of those intrepid souls who venture out into the countryside, into the schools, the marketplaces, the state and county fairs, and anywhere else that citizens gather, to bring to them the virtues and distinctiveness of military life.

Now, I am going to confess something, here. I know that I shall be bringing to the job a very unique set of skills and experiences. I know that usually the older recruiters have an advantage over younger troops in the job, because they’ve seen and done so much more. That would be true, if this were a parallel universe.

This is a nation at war. A war that is not only on the battlefields, but also in the minds and hearts of its’ own citizens. Young folks today are technologically savvy, have better access to more data, and their innate distrust of adults has been hardened by focus-group-tested ads. In short, I shall be playing to a very hostile audience, which has been fed the bitter food of a poisoned ideology.

And this is where you, each of you, come in. As I begin this mission, I am recognizing that I must be better informed than anyone else, more than ever before, about more issues than I gave myself time to consider. And there is no better place to find these things, as I tell my soldiers who ask me, than Free Republic.

I need links, Web pages, facts and evidence, for the questions and sound bites that will be cast upon me. Young people have issues that matter to them: jobs, education, the “draft”, to name a few. I don’t doubt there are others; I need those, as well.

So, consider this an open appeal to my Pajama Patriot comrades. Help me to prepare for these upcoming debates. Arm me with fact and truth. Equip me with the data, debunked or confirmed, to do one sincere thing: to help me articulate what I might not otherwise say clearly, that their nation, this mightiest and best of nations, is worth their support and their service, and that there is no more honorable and noble title than United States Service Member.

Vigilantly Yours,

OLD SARGE


TOPICS: Announcements; Culture/Society; Free Republic; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Kentucky; War on Terror; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: supportourtroops
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To: little jeremiah

I'll check, but for initial, it's lower; Prior Service raises the age bar.


181 posted on 09/29/2004 11:37:47 AM PDT by Old Sarge (ZOT 'em all, let MOD sort 'em out!)
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To: Old Sarge

Good luck to you, Old Sarge!


182 posted on 09/29/2004 11:38:06 AM PDT by Peach (The Clinton's pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: Old Sarge

Thank you for your service to our country Sarge! I know you will be one of the best recruiters ever with your knowledge and goodness. Refer possible recruits to this site to see how much their service will be appreciated. Collect all of the letters you can from soldiers on the front lines to inspire with a display of true strength in adversity. Do not be afraid to tell someone that the military is not for them if they cannot fathom the true spirit of sacrifice, duty, and honor. It will cause that person to reassess his/her own beliefs and values and hopefully you will see that person again and be able to say "you are ready".

Reagan- "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem."


183 posted on 09/29/2004 11:52:04 AM PDT by Teflonic
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To: Old Sarge

BTT


184 posted on 09/29/2004 12:09:32 PM PDT by Marie (~shhhhh...~ The liberals are sleeping....)
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To: Old Sarge

Thanks!

:(

Even with martial arts training...?


185 posted on 09/29/2004 12:12:25 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Islamo-Jihadis and Homosexual-Jihadis both want to destroy civilization.)
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To: little jeremiah

Liek I said, I'll look it up.


186 posted on 09/29/2004 12:16:35 PM PDT by Old Sarge (ZOT 'em all, let MOD sort 'em out!)
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To: Old Sarge

Thank you very much.


187 posted on 09/29/2004 12:19:24 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Islamo-Jihadis and Homosexual-Jihadis both want to destroy civilization.)
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To: Old Sarge
Very best wishes for your future success!

188 posted on 09/29/2004 12:22:28 PM PDT by 6323cd ("It is prohibited to make use of such emotional signs in a cellphone!")
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To: Old Sarge

An "I salute you!" BUMP!


189 posted on 09/29/2004 12:26:04 PM PDT by Hawkeye
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To: Old Sarge
Here's a litle piece of wisdom I discovered:

When you have a potential recruit ask you something of the nature of "But...why does (such and such Democrat) say this?", simply answer,"Because Democrats know nothing other than spending other people's money."

190 posted on 09/29/2004 12:26:30 PM PDT by Shryke (Never retreat. Never explain. Get it done and let them howl.)
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To: Old Sarge; archy; Darksheare; Pukin Dog; Cannoneer No. 4
Though you guys might be able to give Old Sarge some insights into his questions.

BTW, if I haven't said it already (and if I have I'll say it again), thanks for your service.

191 posted on 09/29/2004 12:28:59 PM PDT by yhwhsman ("Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small..." -Sir Winston Churchill)
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To: Old Sarge; yhwhsman

I can give you Fort Sill's website and info there for soldiers heading to Sill.
There's a ton of info there, people may suffer info overload.
Not sure what kind of questions you may run into, but artillery related questions can usually be annswered from Sill's site.
http://sill-www.army.mil/


192 posted on 09/29/2004 12:33:55 PM PDT by Darksheare (Hey DU, if I buy your servers, you'll have to be polite to me and call me your LORD AND MASTER.)
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To: Old Sarge
Arm me with fact and truth. Equip me with the data, debunked or confirmed, to do one sincere thing: to help me articulate what I might not otherwise say clearly, that their nation, this mightiest and best of nations, is worth their support and their service, and that there is no more honorable and noble title than United States Service Member.

Sarge, tell them this mightiest and best of nations is worth their support and their service, and that there is no more honorable and noble title than United States Service Member.

In other words Sarge, the magic needed to reach the younger generation is already inside of you. It's the reason you're respected here, and it's the reason you'll be respected there. We're with you...

193 posted on 09/29/2004 12:37:00 PM PDT by GOPJ (The effect of‘MSM bias’ is the Democratic party and the press sustain each other’s delusions. Steyn)
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To: Old Sarge

Oh, the ASVAB, people will ask how to prepare for it.
There are prep books one can use, and people can do well to brush up on their math skills.
One thing they can do that is VERY important prior to hitting the ASVAB, get a good night's sleep, eat a good breakfast.

And, when they say it is the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude BATTERY, they mean BATTERY, you walk away from it drooling and mind numbed..
*chuckle*
(No, you can't have my score breakdown, but I did have an 89% average on it.)


194 posted on 09/29/2004 12:37:31 PM PDT by Darksheare (Hey DU, if I buy your servers, you'll have to be polite to me and call me your LORD AND MASTER.)
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To: Old Sarge
I'll tell you a story that I hope may help.
When Darksheare was less than 5 yrs old, he drove me crazy about talking to an Army Recruiter. I resisted cause he was a toddler. Finally, one summer when he was 5, we were in Newton NJ and I caved. It was lunchtime so I figured the offices would be empty. They were except for one, a Navy Recruiter. This man talked to Darks for almost an hour, answering questions and telling him what classes he'd need to get good grades in. He shook Darksheares hand and gave him his card and told him "Come see me when you're 18". This man took the time to encourage a little kid. The Recruiter told me that Darks was service material and that was why he talked to him. I was very impressed. Darksheare never forgot the guy and did join the National Guard. At local fairs, the Guard always had a tent with cannon and soldiers willing to talk to him. My advice is, don't discount the ones that are too young as someday they'll be old enough. :-)
195 posted on 09/29/2004 12:55:02 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (Save a Democrat! Vote Republican!)
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To: Old Sarge

We've got your back, my friend.


196 posted on 09/29/2004 1:02:03 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("The Earthling has stolen the Space Modulator!" - either Marvin the Martian or Dan Rather)
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To: Old Sarge

I'll be praying for the Lord to bless your efforts, Old Sarge.


197 posted on 09/29/2004 1:23:32 PM PDT by Kitty Mittens
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To: Old Sarge

Tell them you want to be paid on a commission basis.


198 posted on 09/29/2004 1:33:34 PM PDT by dennisw (Gd is against Amelek for all generations.)
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To: Old Sarge

Include me in the ping list, please

You know full reports will be expected.


199 posted on 09/29/2004 1:47:26 PM PDT by don-o (Stop Freeploading. Do the right thing and become a Monthly Donor.)
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To: Old Sarge

Sarge, we are at your service. All you have to do is holler. We'll try to accommodate. Good luck and God Bless.


200 posted on 09/29/2004 2:34:52 PM PDT by mass55th (Kerry: Classless and clueless!!!)
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