[ezearln]

Paul T Actually between having to stand the watches (in addition to my own assigned watches and duties), and doing the extra training drills getting the PQS signed off and then passing the oral review board it took me almost a year to earn that badge and brother let me tell you I did indeed earn it. But like you I agree it has lost both it's meaning and purpose and those now getting it haven't a clue about what it was meant to represent.

[Handgunner101]

This is the funniest thing ever! I can't tell you how many times I've been asked what kind of jet I fly! And then they seem astounded to find out aircraft require maintenance....someone please just shoot me

[milproakron]

Quote:       Originally Posted by SPOCAHP ANAR

So let me know when you are going to give Al Gore and John Kerry a hardy salute.

As a matter of fact, I always respect those who served, regardless of how crazy they are, or have become. There are nutjobs in the military too... liberals, etc. So, simply being in uniform doesn't exempt you from contempt of your political positions... lol

But, Al Gore was enlisted, so I wouldn't salute him anyway. Kerry? Sure, I would salute him, but from a distance so I'd be out of the blast zone in the event he decided to drop another grenade and award himself another purple heart.

Now that I think of it.... naw... Kerry was a traitor. Still is. I wouldn't have saluted him regardless.

[Spike 7.62]

Imagine if we actually kicked a$$ everytime someone disrespected a veteran, burned an American flag, sat during the national anthem, or didn't pay respect to our flag when it passed in a parade...

..then we would be in line with other great, patriotic nations such as the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, the Peoples Democratic Republic of Korea, the Islamic Republic of Iran and many other countries where a symbol of freedom is more protected than a persons right to exercise freedom itself.

I know the post was meant to be humor, and that many vets have to deal with disrespect and it angers us. Luckily, I've only been disrespected because of my military status in the US once.. I was waiting at a bus stop in my uniform and a guy in a truck honked his horn and clearly flipped me off as he drove by. I was offended, but he is entitled to do what he wants. If I had stomped his guts out I wouldn't be any better than a member of the Gestapo seeking out enemies of the state.

Just food for thought.

And I know about 500 times that I've been asked about special forces this, sniper that, call of duty this and recon that everytime I mention I'm in the Army. Civies just don't know

-Spike

[testhop]

Quote:       Originally Posted by ezearln

During my career I served with, trained, or trained with every member of the 5 Uniformed Armed Services, I was proud to do so. And I did in fact use everyone of those terms to describe my fellow servicemen/women, but I always had a smile on my face and a handshake for them. Actually the Army does have some ships of their very own.... When they break em they call the Navy to see what switch or valve they forgot to open or close LOL (J/K) To all our veterans everywhere, and those serving today with Honor in or out of harms way God Bless and Keep You!

dido.

[XR750]

#13 Grunt is leg AKA Infantry. Army are Doggie's
XR750 11Bugaloo 72 to 76

[wje1]

Good for you brother.

Semper Fi

Quote:       Originally Posted by SwedeSteve

#4 I had a punk in a bar wearing a Vietnam Campaign ribbon on his field jacket. I asked him if he or his Dad had served in Vietnam. He said that he served 13 months in the 172nd. And he elbowed me and said that us jarheads needed to stick together. I lured him outside and beat him up a little and took the ribbon. I told him if I saw him dishonoring our Vets again, i'd rip his arm off next !! I still look for him.

[wje1]

Some of my best buddies were in the Navy but I kept having to remind them that the Marine Corps was the men's department of the Navy

Semper Fi to all my brothers and sisters who have served and are still serving

Quote:       Originally Posted by navy_vet

Navy - bubble heads, surface pukes. swab jockey. And some of my best friends are jar heads.

[99dragon99]

Quote:       Originally Posted by PfcDavid_Kocher

10.Don't try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran. We are Americans and we all bleed the same regardless of our party affiliation. Our Chain of Command, is to include our commander in Chief. The President (for those who didn't know) is our CIC regardless of political party. We have no inside track on what happens inside those big important buildings where all those representatives" meet. All we know is that when those civilian representatives screw up the situation, they call upon the military to go straighten it out. The military member might direct you to Oliver North. (I can see him kicking your @$$ already.)

Ours is not to wonder why,
ours is just to do or die.



And you missed:
#15 A conscientious objector, is a liberal in uniform that is abusing the system to get the benefits without the dedication. They deserve no respect. Strip them of the uniform and kick their a$$!

[CopperniX]

Quote:       Originally Posted by 99dragon99

Ours is not to wonder why, ours is just to do or die. And you missed: #15 A conscientious objector, is a liberal in uniform that is abusing the system to get the benefits without the dedication. They deserve no respect. Strip them of the uniform and kick their a$$!

good point.

[runawaygun762]

I see things a bit differently as far as what our military does. I don't think the military defends our freedoms here in the states. A Japanese admiral in WW2 said you'd never be able to invade the mainland US because there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass. I think the millions of armed American citizens are a much bigger deterrent to invasion by a foreign power or attempt at dictatorship by a potential internal threat.

As a soldier, when I went on a deployment, I fully realized that I was not, in fact, defending America. I was aggressively enforcing my nation's foreign policy and when I PCS to Gitmo in August, I leave secure in the knowledge that although my nation may be losing its way a bit, the armed citizens will ensure that a complete takeover by liberal (socialist) forces will end in failure through polling booth voting and, if neccessary, voting from the rooftops.

[99dragon99]

Quote:       Originally Posted by runawaygun762

I see things a bit differently as far as what our military does. I don't think the military defends our freedoms here in the states. A Japanese admiral in WW2 said you'd never be able to invade the mainland US because there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass. I think the millions of armed American citizens are a much bigger deterrent to invasion by a foreign power or attempt at dictatorship by a potential internal threat. As a soldier, when I went on a deployment, I fully realized that I was not, in fact, defending America. I was aggressively enforcing my nation's foreign policy and when I PCS to Gitmo in August, I leave secure in the knowledge that although my nation may be losing its way a bit, the armed citizens will ensure that a complete takeover by liberal (socialist) forces will end in failure through polling booth voting and, if neccessary, voting from the rooftops.

Ours is not to wonder why,
ours is just to do or die.


Remember Runaway.... when you signed the contract it was not to fight for what you believe is right, it was to fight for what your country believes is right. And that is the president (and the congress if we go to war).

I do not to pretend to believe that everything that happens is the best for the people of the United States of America. BUT You did not sign up to protect America (Don't forget that America is a generalization that includes many other countries), you signed up to follow the orders of the CIC, no matter what they may be...


One last quote from 99-
The MILITARY has NO:
Political Party
Religion
Gender
Sexual Orientation

[runawaygun762]

I'm going to assume you weren't lecturing me to keep pissing contests to a minimum (I still REALLY want to keep calling BudgetAR15 out) and respond with this; I am a professional soldier. I joined the army ten days after my eighteenth birthday. I have served or trained in many different places and seen the absolute worst of humanity and I still love it. I know exactly what my duty is. I know exactly what my job description is and what I said during my oath of enlistment and the subsequent four reenlistments.

The military may have no political affiliations or gender, but I am an individual soldier and have these and would argue that as long as I obey any lawful order, I have more right than most to question things that directly affect me in an off-duty forum. The mindless automaton days are reserved for privates who don't know any better.

[Dragunov]

Quote:       Originally Posted by 99dragon99

Ours is not to wonder why, ours is just to do or die. Remember Runaway.... when you signed the contract it was not to fight for what you believe is right, it was to fight for what your country believes is right. And that is the president (and the congress if we go to war). I do not to pretend to believe that everything that happens is the best for the people of the United States of America. BUT You did not sign up to protect America (Don't forget that America is a generalization that includes many other countries), you signed up to follow the orders of the CIC, no matter what they may be... One last quote from 99- The MILITARY has NO: Political Party Religion Gender Sexual Orientation

No, You took an oath to defend the CONSTITUTION of the United States from all enemies, both foreign and DOMESTIC! This includes the Presidend and/or congress if they get out of line with our founding document. What will you do if you're ordered to confiscate firearms from the general public? This is an unconstitutional order. Will you follow it blindly? or remember the OATH you took?

[LarryO1970]

Quote:       Originally Posted by jerry

If I had a nickle for everytime Iv'e heard #5, I'd have a nice new shiny expensive gun. There is usually a look of confusion and dissapointment when you break the news that your not a zipper leg.

Shirt, you and I have heard #5 asked more times than we care to admit.

Also, I hate it when it's nice and cold ... and someone pulls up in a car and tells me to stay warm (while, nice and toasty in their car) while I'm freezing my a** off. That's when I tell them to have a nice weekend when it's the Guard Drill.

Larry O

[Lobo0311]

^ That's not 100% accurate, when we all enlisted we all swore an oath to defend the flag and the Constitution against all enemies foreign AND domestic. There will possibly be times when under the UCMJ you are bound NOT to follow orders to to them either being outright illegal, or immoral.
The CIC may be the top of the chain of command but that does'nt mean all his orders will be orders that can be followed. Furthermore I believe that oath doesn't go away when you leave active service, I believe once you take that oath you are bound to it till you die. Others may disagree that's their right, I'm just talking as to my personal opinion on that matter. Bottom line is the CIC is only human and humans screw up, make bad choices, hell outright make wrong choices for the wrong reasons. So far the current CIC has only served to further his personal agenda, take the health care bill for instance, does anyone else think it's a little odd that he wants to force this on the citizens yet neither him and his family or congress has to take part. As far as the President goes I will ALWAYS respect the position even if I don't respect the man. AS for our men and women in uniform they will always get my highest respect, I'm a vet, as is my father. I will support the soldiers wether I support the CIC or not.

[runawaygun762]

The oath says, in part, "...that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United Staes against all enemies, foreign and domestic....that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me..."

I have wondered what my fellow servicemembers would do if those two parts conflict with each other. I know what I will do, just as I know the difference between a dumbass order by a retarded lieutenant that puts me in danger needlessly and an unlawful order.

While I won't go as far as the LTC who said orders to deploy under Obama are unlawful because he hasn't proven his eligibility to be CinC, I will say I have in my head exactly what my verbal and physical response would be should I be ordered to violate Posse Comitatus and use force against American citizens.

[ezearln]

Ummm 99dragon as a retired member of the United States Navy may I inform you that you are 100% WRONG. When I signed each contract (properly referred to as an enlistment) and swore every oath during my career, I swore to "Support and defend the Constituition of the United States against all enemies both foreign and domestic, and to obey all LAWFUL orders of those appointed over me" Now being an Old Fart that language seems pretty plain to me. As a member of the ARMED FORCES (not the uniformed services) of the United States, I am not compelled to obey and am in fact required (by tradition, regulation and law under my oath) to refuse ANY order that is in conflict with law, regulation, or tradition. I have yet to see any person able to address ME to induce me to forsake my oath. Should the CIC order me to attack Iran even under the War Powers act(which while essential) is basically unconstitituitional. I would not do so without a clear view of what I was doing and why. The POWER to Declare War is SOLELY based in CONGRESS and was never meant to be the purview of the President, the are a myriad of reasons for this. Some should come immediately to mind.

[LarryO1970]

ALL ... remember, not all orders are lawful and it is our duty ... say again ... our 'DUTY' to NOT follow illegal orders.

Keep in mind that when the hammer comes down, it's coming down on your ba**s and not those of the officer who gave the order. YOU should know better.

Example: In 1996, I was given an order from an occifer (yes, spelled it correctly) to shoot anyone coming through a hole in the perimeter fence after an attack. This WAS NOT LAWFUL. I did not follow that order and when the senior officer (yes, spelled correctly) arrived, we told him of the order and the junior occifer was relieved of all duties and sent back stateside where he was given the option to either give up his commission or face a Courts Martial. He was wrong, we were right.

Larry O

[doomfromheaven]

Of course, while this may be a little off what the current topic is... The Military Rules were hilarious, and of course at the same time, true. And to all of you Veterans out there, no matter the branch, thank you so much for your service. You don't know how much it means to the lot of us.