[maica]

Many people who served in the military did not have what I would call “soft” backgrounds -

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Interesting side comment: a guest on cspan yesterday commented that a disproportionate number of men who join Special Forces come from rural backgrounds. He was lamenting the future loss of this pool of talent as the family farm disappears, and the military age folks are growing up in suburbia and exurbia.

The farm-raised boys are much more independent, tough, and pro-active in problem solving, etc.

[af_vet_rr]

He was lamenting the future loss of this pool of talent as the family farm disappears, and the military age folks are growing up in suburbia and exurbia.

The farm-raised boys are much more independent, tough, and pro-active in problem solving, etc.

Don't forget being responsible - coming out of the Great Depression, you had guys that were helping to put food on the family table when they were 12, 13, 14 years old. They got up well before school to go do chores, and then did the same when they got home. These weren't kids that sat on the couch playing video games. The guy from Minnesota who dreamed of being a pilot while he was driving a tractor around - the guy was 15 or 16 years old and was partially responsible for the success of the family farm.

Those kinds of things make you grow up fast and help you later on in life, and we are losing that. We are cranking out a lot of whiny brats who expect everything handed to them on a platter.

[RobbyS]

Don’t underestimate the suburban kids. Once they are toughened up by training. They have the advantage of better health care and nutrition than farm kids of seventy years ago.

[FFranco]

I agree with that. Family farms are not only economic and social enterprises, they also contribute to national defense.

Generally, farm boys do a lot of hunting, are used to moving through woods and fields, are strong, independent and hard working. A good friend of mine was a farm boy and was a platoon sergeant in Viet Nam. He was a paratrooper, ranger and a good, solid man who took care of his guys, though still lost some.