Penalty for Desertion Not What It Once Was

[JRPerry]

Huh? You believe the Marines are not experiencing the same delima? All services under control of the DOD are feeling this ...

This was Hollywood induced in "The Execution of Private Slovik" ... Martin Sheen's portrayal of a deserter who was executed in 1945, the only solidier since the Civil War to have been executed for the crime. The movie came out on TV in 1974, the final year of Vietnam, and it set off a firestorm that has eventually led to what we see today. It sparked Jimmy Carter to give amnesty to Vietnam draft dodgers and deserters ... he even said so at one time.

Reagan was strong enough to overcome some things during his tenure, but he never really sent troops into long term combat, and our morale was very high during his presidency.

Those forces fighting now have good moral despite what the press is saying ... but there are always going to be a few cowards in the bunch who will desert and abandone their country and fellow friends/soldiers.

[kellynla]

"forces fighting now have good moral despite what the press is saying"

I don't know about their morals but the morale is outstanding. LOL

I don't know how much you know about the Corps but we don't tolerate desertion. PERIOD!

No holding hands and kissy face in the Corps!
Life in the brig if you're lucky!!!

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[Modernman]

Stress cards, I believe, are an urban legend.

[JRPerry]

Stress cards, I believe, are an urban legend.

Wrong. They existed and still exist ... but they have been taken out of the infantry Basics and combat MOS basics and are used more in the coed basics these days. I saw them used at Benning in '94 during a visit and recently ran into an old friend now here at Jackson who says they are still being used in certain camps.

http://www.snopes.com/military/stress.htm

I provide the link above by Snopes because it is actually one of the few times when, instead of giving a straighforward and factual answer, the issue is skirted and some psycho-babble is substituted instead.

Bottom line ... they existed and still do yet in a less conspicuous form and made mostly for the females.

[WOSG]

ActuaLLY, Snopes has a liberal bias on many matters and gives 'fudgy' answers when it has a political impact.