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I'm a cadet at a Southern military college going through Army ROTC. Several cadets and I have gathered informally over the past semester with the goal of preparing ourselves for serving as Army officers. So far, the things we have done include alot of PT, ruck marches, some boxing and grappling, and group studies of various books on military science and history. If some the current of former Soldiers here could share their suggestions, we'd all be grateful.

A thread detailing how liberals go berserk when a private store owner had some Bible verses put on his shopping bags. Warning: profanity.

Hello Freepers, I'm looking into getting an AR-15. Given the prices I will probably build one. I'd rather build one than buy used. Atlantic firearms is selling Olympic Plinkers rather inexpensively, anyone own of those? Any parts or suppliers I should avoid?

BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Indiana man, scared and clutching his passport to his chest, was shown at gunpoint on a videotape aired by Al-Jazeera television Wednesday, two days after he was kidnapped from a water treatment plant near Baghdad. The station said he pleaded for his life and urged U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq.

I've been offered admission into West Point and the Naval Academy (class of '09.) I'm leaning towards West Point because I would like to serve in a hard-core, rapidly deployed, infantry/special forces unit. My understanding is that the Army controls the majority of the special forces. Any info would be appreciated.

Freepers: I am interested in your thoughts concerning modernizing the US military. What directions do you think we should take? Some ideas I of mine are as follows: Naval modernization Some of the duties performed by carriers could be taken over by missile ships and UAV carriers. UAVs such as the XF-35 could be programmed similiarly to cruise missiles and drop bombs. They would be cheaper in some cases than cruise missiles and sent into more dangerous situations than manned aircraft. Since UAVs would be smaller than manned aircraft and could be built sturdier than manned aircraft they should be...

TULSA, Okla. - An airman home on leave from basic training jumped into the frigid water of the Arkansas River to save a mother and her 2-year-old son after their car lost control and crashed. It was a happy ending Thursday for Detura Bills, 34, her young son and Joshua Johnson, who had just proposed marriage to his fiancee when he became part of a dramatic rescue.