Posted on 08/19/2005 7:07:58 AM PDT by ZGuy
Reading this article and the sentiments of these young people tells me that God continues to bless America. They do us proud!
Thanks so much for posting this.
grandma mac
"I often wondered how my Marine Corps would perform with the new generation at the helm. And you know what? They kicked ass and took names, just like they've done since 1775."
As you know, it's not the kids that make the USMC what it is, it's the USMC as an institution largely unaffected by or susceptible to current PC culture that makes the kids into who they become. Unfortunately for America, the US Army, Navy, and Air Force were subjected to full-blown Clintonism from which they are now recovering, albeit slowly. I have great hope they will eventually shed the baggage of PC and return in general to their core business - killing the enemy and breaking his things.
Thank you so much for this inspiring, uplifting post! God bless these young people, and thanks to them.
One wonders that such faith, honor, strength of character, and dedication to service can not shame the likes of Bill Maher and his leftist cohorts into seeing themselves in contrast.
God's blessings on Gary Reese, of Ashland, TN, and his family, who lost son Sgt. Gary L. Reese of the 278th, on Aug.14, in a rocket propelled grenade attack in Iraq.
("He is someone I'm really proud to be the father of.")
Millions of your fellow Americans are proud of him too, Mr. Reese.
Agreed. For another persepctive, I suggest Linda Robinson's outstanding book on the US Army Special Forces, "Masters of Chaos". It shows clearly and unequivocally that even though many of these guys are "country boys from Arkansas", to paraphrase the smooth Somalian gun dealer Mr. Otto in the movie "Blackhawk Down", they are highly intelligent, well-above average men who are highly motivated and driven to succeed at any cost. Too, most are educated, above the national average, in addition to being as fit as any professional athlete -fitter, in fact - and extremely good thinkers on their feet.
"Low-lying fruit", Maher? I think not - you're the only "fruit" in this discussion, and you are indeed "low" and "lying".
I was making a smaller point. I do not doubt that there are high quality people in the service, and I absolutely do not think that to attain this level one has to be from the Ivies or even go to college (I went to a couple of Ivies, and I have taught in them, so I know first hand of what I speak.)
I am just making the point that it is amazing to see people from that background go in, that is all.
And do not get me started about the media...
True enough.
Kids aren't stupid. They know that social security, medicare, and anything else that was supposed to be there as some sort of safety net is simply not going to be there. They aren't even laying blame for it either - its just a fact and they are going to have to fend for themselves if they want families and any kind of security.
I laugh when government employees and Boeing employees go on strike over pensions. What a laugh. One of these days that popping sound will be their heads forcible extricated from their nether orifices and they will see that the pension died in the 70's.
I wish I could be around to see how history will judge the boomers. They are going to look at that generation as one of the most slovenly, amoral, and irresponsible generation ever. They'll call it a miracle that we didn't incinerate the world through a haze of bong smoke.
You are spot on. As a teacher one thing I've always told my unbelieving colleagues is that the American military is the greatest educational institution in the world. It can take an 18 year old high school grad and in 8 to 10 months give him an education in, say electronic technology, that would require a Masters from Georgia Tech to match. When they ask how this is possible, I respond with one word. MOTIVATION.The military develops it in boot camp and gives the serviceman/woman the understanding that they are capable of excellence and that excellence is expected.
You're right. The young men and women serving today are just as motivated as the fine young men and women I trained and led for years.
As a retired soldier I often go on our local military installation for shopping and other business. The young soldiers with whom I have contact, even just in greeting, strike me as the cream of the crop. They are courteous and pleasant. They are doing themselves, their families, and their country very proud.
Then I leave post and drive downtown, where I see the vacant-eyed unwashed slacker stoners, the ones with multiple piercings, who are going nowhere fast. They are losers, all of them. The young people who are serving their country in uniform are the winners. I only wish I was young enough to get back into uniform and serve alongside them.
Here, here!!! I served in the Army between 76-84, and we had our share of problems. However, I was damn proud of the soldiers that served with me. We were always short of men and materiel, especially during the Carter years, but things got better in the 80's.
Back then, a kid with a high school diploma could write his own ticket as to MOS and duty station. I can't recall the exact percentage, but I had many soldiers who completed their GED in the service.
I know from personal experience that what you say is true.
My youngest daughter was at loose ends without a high school diploma. However, decided to enlist in the Navy, scored well on their tests, and now works on the electrical systems on FA-18's. She received an excellent jump start on her future education.
My oldest daughter had her diploma, but was also at loose ends. She had also joined the Navy, received an outstanding technical education, and is now a radar tech/operator on a carrier.
They both received excellent grounding in electrical theory and a lot of what they've learned will help them down the road.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.