I do find the question interesting, in the context that "I have walked a mile in those shoes".
I have come from a blue collar working class family. My father had a factory job that paid enough to allow my mother to raise three sons at home as a full time parent ( a real job as I have found out when I became a parent). I came from the far south suburbs of Chicago, just East of Joliet Illinois. I don't often care for labels and generalizations but I'll use middle class.
Shortly after turning 17 I enlisted into the US Army using the delayed entry program, and after turning 18 shipped. I opted for the Army, because at the time for a three year active duty enlistment offered the most for college money. I had scored high enough on the ASVAB test to land any job that I wanted but chose to become a 11B, light infantry (travel light freeze at night), and then attend the airborne school. No had asked me to do it, in fact my parents were not really happy with it as my father had served in Vietnam. But they respected my wishes and supported me.
After serving the three year initial active enlistment, I opted out and went into the Army Reserve as a Drill Sergeant Canidate. After serving two years in the Reserves, I transfered to the Illinois Army National Guard and served an additional 8 years and left as a light infantry platoon sergeant, Sergeant First Class. I opted out because at the time my commitment to the Guard began to conflict with raising a family and starting a new career. I was at the time getting ready to get my packet together for Officer Canidate School as I had completed the college requirements. Because guess what, I wanted to be a light infantry platoon leader.
I listened to Pink Floyd, AC DC, etc, but now I listen to country western. I guess I became a redneck later on. I didn't miss any meals had a new car, but we didn't have all the money that we needed. So I guess I was poor. I was a piss fire and vinegaer young man, knew a lot and would certainly let you know that. So I guess I was hot head.
But my time in the service as a ground pounder taught me many invaluable lessons.
Respect. I may disagree with someone but I will always respect their opinion and beliefs.
Loyalty. When someone needs help, help them. Never leave someone behind.
Teamwork. You win together, you lose together. It's not about the individual, it's about the team.
Humility. Definately Horsman 77, but with humility comes comapassion.
The requirement for the military is:
Army HS Diploma or GED
Air Force HS Diploma
Marines HS Diploma
Navy HS Diploma
This may be different geographicaly but that's what it is in the Chicago land area.
Aggression is bred into the program of an infantryman. I would certainly not feel confident if I looked right and left and realized I was going in the shit with a group of indecisive unsure green horns that couldn't fluff a pillow. War, despite technological advantage, is still a messy dirty affair and at the end of the day it's the combat arms holding/ taking the ground that will determine who writes the history books folks. There is no substitute for it. The hothead aggresives usually mellow out, like myself, and those that don't will find themselves in trouble for being knuckleheads. Military justice is draconian to say the least. The Constitutional Rights that are bestowed upon the civilians is not bestowed under the Uniform Code of Military Conduct. Been there and got in trouble, got the shirt and didn't like it. I personally have recieved military justice and metted out the same. It is not fun. The level of aggressiveness during training is not more than that of a pro football, soccer, rugby team during pratice and game time. Hotheaded aggressiveness off duty or at the wrong time is certainly not condoned or accepted.
Kaosdad008 at one time your statement was true. During Vietnam the military took what they could get. But upon my entry into the Army in the 80s, I can only speak for the Army here, those individuals that fit that description were fifteen to twenty year veterans. The Army had instituted a program to allow those individuals to attend classes to recieve their GED. Upon my leaving the C Company everyone had at least a HS Diploma or GED.
Crazy Cobra i attended boot at Ft. Benning Georgia, deep South USA. The Company comprised about an even mix of minorities African Americans, Hispanics, a couple of Phillipinoes, and caucasions.
Beserk_Vampire the reason you need the "educated" person is as 2LT. Tucker stated. Have you ever called for indirect fire support, or Naval gunfire support, or close air support, or calculated your location (an unknown point) using a map and terrain features. I have. It requires algebra, and geometry at the least. Without throwing in variables of moving targets aerial burst rounds and adverse weather conditions at the firing platform and the target area. When I was taught call for fire, indirect fire support 4.2" mortar and above, you didn't have unlimited ammo. You were expected to put the "Fire For Effect" command in by the third ranging round, and minus flight time, two minutes of radio comms while reading a map and observing artillery impact and target reaction/ movement and adjusting off of the ranging rounds.
Friendly fire happens. To borrow one of Murphy's Laws, friendly fire isn't friendly. It is a result of many factors occuring at any one time, to again use a generalized phrase, the fog of war. I'll leave that topic for a later discussion.
I'll stop rambling now, but thought I'd give you the insider from a redneck, poor, hothead.
As a parting thought, I am honored to have served in the US military with the thousands of other soldiers, sailors, and marines. We may not have not wanted to go where we were sent. We may not have agreed with why we were there. We are not politicians, we did not make or implement US policy other that to vote during elections. But we did what we did for the person to our left and right.
My two cents.
Last edited by wileyford (2006-02-01 22:09:47)
