Wasting the Warrior

[Boog]

I read this awhile back and saw it pop up in social media again today. I think it is worth a read if you have a few minutes without interruption. Read it, let it soak in. The author makes several points that need to be considered right now in our history.

http://havokjournal.com/culture/recon-marine-wasting-warrior-culture/

[blue109]

Seen it before. One of the most professional tank commanders I've ever known had his career destroyed for taking his wife's muscle relaxers for a bad back right before a surprise piss test. Maybe not a great idea, but tanking beats people up, and we were rolling into gunnery. Next to combat, gunnery is what tankers do. It's not something to be missed. Guy was everything a soldier should strive to be. Fast tracking to E7 like crazy. One if those guys that deserved to be at the top. He was almost chaptered out, but ended up with a reduction to Sgt and little hope of moving forward.

 

At the same time this was going on, we had a total shitbag trying his damndest to get out. hot on multiple piss tests. Cocaine. Pills. Was rolling joints out of bible pages in his room. Went on 24 hour suicide watch. No boot laces and had to be escorted everywhere. Wouldn't get into uniform, and they wouldn't put him out. Just busted him down and kept him on constant extra duty. Went on for a year at least. We would see him walking around with his little shiteating smirk I always wanted to slap off of him,

Welcome to the military.

[Boog]

@blue109Doesn't that just boil the blood. I saw thing like written in the article and what you're talking about in the Navy as well.

 

[Frankh252]

It is very sad to witness the degradation in many military units over the last 30-40 years but the purging of competent soldiers & leadership over the past 8 years or so have taken an especially heavy toll. Technology (and what's left of the competent soldiers in uniform) props up the current military machine these days and if SHTF like Chine & Russia teaming up with the rest of the evil-axis in the world against us, well, all I can say is dig yerself a DEEP foxhole & try to take care that it doesn't turn into a grave.

[Dane Armory]

Changing tracks... US deployed 25 Marines to the Bagdad Embassy today to beef up the security after last weekend unrest in the Green Zone !

[mineralman55]

The more relevant question to ask is, did the Marines get enough ammo and firepower? You know, budget cuts and all.

[Boog]

Being a sailor myself, we make fun of the Marines on a wholesale basis; except in a firefight. Then more power to them! I am sure that the Marines in Iraq have plenty of ammo this time. I have a few friends north of there and know they have plenty of ammo, but not enough hard hitters to fix that issue. Not even sure it could be called a band-aid. I wished more leaders had their priorities aligned with my own...

[shepp]

59 minutes ago, Boog said:

Being a sailor myself, we make fun of the Marines on a wholesale basis; except in a firefight. Then more power to them! I am sure that the Marines in Iraq have plenty of ammo this time. I have a few friends north of there and know they have plenty of ammo, but not enough hard hitters to fix that issue. Not even sure it could be called a band-aid. I wished more leaders had their priorities aligned with my own...

Reminds me of Marcus Latrell and Chris Kyle's quotes on Marines.

[Frankh252]

2 hours ago, mineralman55 said:

The more relevant question to ask is, did the Marines get enough ammo and firepower? You know, budget cuts and all.

We should offer Nemo Omen's (in caliber of each soldier's choice) to every Marine, or any other weapon one chooses to use. Personally I like the Nemo's, I just can't afford them.

[82HALO]

Trained a lot with marines, mostly force reckon they are the real deal! I'd stack them up against anyone! Awesome bunch of guys, they always had your back no matter what!!

[Boog]

@shepp exactly. Good quotes and good men who made them.

[mrmackc]

SEMPER FI!

[unforgiven]

God bless"Frank" and all those like him.......never forgotten,forever loved.