Okay you guys, I think the civilians have left the room. And thank God for it. I mean, all that mewing and cooing over us a couple of days a year and then going back to business as usual can get a little rich at times.
Yeah, yeah, I know. Our job was to defend them. But did you ever really talk to them? Aside from our families and our pals who actually cared where and how we served, how many of them know the diff between BUPERS and MILPERCEN? To us, those acronyms decided our lives. To civilians they sound like dandruff shampoos.
Maybe it was the end of the draft that separated us from them for good. Like it or not, the draft helped make us one nation in times of national emergency. It served to remind us that a polity should be composed of more than people who share real estate. Not that the VOLAR (another acronym) is not brave and professional. They are in spades.
But how many rich kids, how many PHD candidates, how many aspiring M&A jocks will take time out from their self-obsessed lives to eat bad chow, get screamed at by NCOs, sleep in the snow and generally get to the point of not giving a rat's behind about creature comforts as long as the mission gets accomplished?
A scant few these days, I would guess, and America is poorer for it.
So okay, maybe it's not that we don't like them. Maybe it's just we don't get them a lot of the time. How many times have you heard someone diplomatically say that anyone who joined up had "no other career options"?
Really? Not fit for corporate or Chattering Class life are we?
Army Rangers, Navy Seals, AFSOC and Marine Force Recon types are losers huh? Most people I know would wet their pants after two minutes of Basic, much less special ops training. And I say that as a proud staff puke.
Their day is ruined when Starbucks is out of good mocha. Our boys and girls in uniform face slightly more intense challenges, and as the old slogan went, all before 9am.
So I guess we gotta live with them, the civilians. When it comes right down to it they are our moms and pals and co-workers and we love them. And yeah, it does make us swell up inside and even stifle a tear or two sometimes when they remember one of our own on Veteran's Day.
But don't tell any of them I said that. They're annoying enough already.
So to my brothers and sisters in arms yesterday and today, look at some old pics, have a beer or two and slightly smile as you recall your youth and the electric charge of happy camaraderie and a tough op accomplished.
Lest we forget...
Comments
Great article and so true. We are so self obsessed. The reason did not go into the military is because I was afraid to have to get up at the crack of dawn. Still am.
Wow, you're a big military man. Probably did KP during peace time.
This is not helpful. I'm an Iraq Veteran, took part in Operation Phantom Fury and am proud of my service in the Marine Corps. BUT I don't shove it down peoples throats whenever I have a foreign policy disagreement. The last thing you want to be is obnoxious and then call people out for not respecting you enough.
you sir, are a jackass.
KP? nah. not smart enough for that. was in Intelligence. btw Doug, leaving Corregidor like that? bad idea...BA, sorry. meant no offense. but free speech sometimes will do that...BB, you sir are correct. but a jackass with a column you read. hope you'll read more. if not, c'est la guerre.
D
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