An Army of One whiner

Arizona Repbulic ^ | 21 JUL 03 | Steve Benson

[WestPacSailor]

Saw this and immediately thought it should be required reading at all recruiting offices.

[goldstategop]

Yeah like they didn't know what to expect when they signed up for military service? Give me a break!

[Radix]

[WestPacSailor]

HEY! How'd ya make the picture appear?

[smith288]

So true...

It happens in every war however...the issue I see is the treasonous national media using their plight as political captital.

[Radix]

In my opinion, the major issue is that Troops have been lied to concerning their redepolyment dates, and that is bad for morale. The leadership (read upper ranks) has not been forthcoming with the Troops, and those young Volunteers have good reason to be disgruntled.

Sure, they need to keep it in house, but the higher ups should not get a free walk on this. The Military leaders need to get their act together.

Bottom line, stop lying to the Troops. They can handle the truth.

[Zavien Doombringer]

It is a complicated procedure, once we tell ya, we have to "zot" ya

[Damocles]

Check out this thread for all the magical tricks:

 

It's Magic

[Steel Wolf]

Yeah, not to let the cat out of the bag, here, but this isn't the first war that soldiers have ever complained in. The media is going out of its way to find those who want to complain and putting them in the spotlight. As far as their concerned, anything to discredit Bush and the mission is fair game.

[WestPacSailor]

Anybody who's spent more than 20 minutes in uniform knows that what you hear from the top doesn't always translate into what actually happens.
Does anybody seriously think the generals all got together and hatched a nefarious plan to lie to the troops? GET REAL. It's a WAR!!! S**t happens, people die, you don't always get to go home. Perhaps these whiners would like to trade places with one of the 200+ who have already gone home...in a body bag! Or they could take the place of the guys in WWII who spent YEARS away from home, then were killed in late '45? Or the guys who spent 13 months in the jungle in SE Asia, some of whom have yet to come home, and many who never will.
Anyway, you get my point. If you volunteered to do a job (and everyone of them did) then bitch amongst yourselves but NEVER air your dirty laundry to the commie-liberal press and, above all, CARRY OUT YOUR MISSION!
(Semper Fi Gunny...we haven't forgotten you)

[Mr.Clark]

I'm not sure if that has really happened. I would like to know if these "promises" they recieved were actual real orders. Some of the troops refer to "they" said we were coming next month, etc. etc. Who is they, are these the commanders, or what? I'm thinking they might have got caught up in the rumor mill, but I don't know for sure. I just want clarification on these promises.

[Radix]

I am not taking issue with any of what you wrote. Being a Trooper is a hard job, and it requires a lot of personal sacrifice in times of conflict.

I am saying that certain units were given PCS dates, and were then as they were preparing to move on, the dates were changed. This has happened several times, and it is extremely disheartening. You can talk about the glory days all that you want. The VERY SIMPLE fact is, the Troops should not be lied to concerning these things because it is BAD FOR MORALE.

[Eagle Eye]

I've seen the yo-yo effect some of the deployed troops have been going through. Some were told that they were going to stay a mere two hours before their scheduled departure! They had to unpack trucks, bags, etc. Reserve units get extened beyoned what they should have been deployed with a nifty change of UIC. So, yes, there are cases of troops with real live orders getting last minute changes. I don't know whether the 3ID is living off of rumor or not.

[Northern Yankee]

Well said!

Hell... you never believe half the stuff you're told in uniform anyway.

The boys will suck it up and be fine.

That's their job, and they will do it well!

Semper Fi!

[submarinerswife]

We should be grateful that this new generation of cry-babies weren't called upon to defeat the German's and Japanese.

[Eagle Eye]

Some MOS's are stop loss'ed as well.

[Gritty]

I don't blame the troops for bitching. They always will, and often for good reason.

What I blame them for is doing it to the Media, who then use the bitching to undermine President Bush, the Mission and what they have accomplished. That was stupid and plays into the hands of the enemy, both foreign and domestic!

[Kozak]

In my opinion, the major issue is that Troops have been lied to concerning their redepolyment dates, and that is bad for morale. The leadership (read upper ranks) has not been forthcoming with the Troops, and those young Volunteers have good reason to be disgruntled.

The military should have told them they will be deployed "for the duration". "NOW shut up and soldier, soldier".

They can express their satisfaction or lack thereof at reeinlistment time

[cav68]

The media has tried its best to bring destain for our policies in Iraq and this too is just another way they are trying to push their Left Policy. I grow tired of hearing about the Men say this and the Men say that. Shut up and do the job use the incidents as a motivator and not a depressor as the Left would have it. Remember you ask for the assignments as you know. I understand everybody wants to be home with their families but everyone also knows that can not be. I wish our troops the best and I also pray for them and their mission and families.

[WestPacSailor]

Can I get an AMEN from the congregation!?