Maybe its just me...

[Pooh21]

Perhaps the most difficult thing for a Soldier to do is to kill.  But in war, in combat it is not an overtly difficult decision to make.  Kill, or be killed, kill or watch my brothers die.  There are ways to rationalize it, there are men who have been and seen and know right there to help you through it.
With remote pilots...  there is no outside stress that forces the mind into basic instincts.  Just the confirmation order to push the button.
That's gotta be tough.

I hope those people get the help they need.

You mean you hope they quit whining like little girls.

[Rollins]

You mean you hope they quit whining like little girls.

That's a fantastic troll, because there's no way you could possibly diminish the sacrifice our troops make with such a stupid comment.

Talk like that might get ya clipped, chief.

[Pooh21]

That's a fantastic troll, because there's no way you could possibly diminish the sacrifice our troops make with such a stupid comment.

Talk like that might get ya clipped, chief.

Ive looked at an armed enemy over the sights of a gun, to this day I regret not taking the shot. How about you SailorMoon?

[Hoffman]

You mean you hope they quit whining like little girls.

No I don't hope they quit whining like little girls. It's a squeak of a job to have to do.  I know people who have been in combat, who have killed in combat.  I also know that they would far prefer wars to be fought, by our side at least, by remote.  And so do the people flying the UAV's.  For them the rationale is that every UAV kill they make is men, and bombs, and explosives that won't come into contact with our boys on the ground.  So the first one is easy.  Click.  5 Men will never plant that EFP.

But what about the 2nd time?  Tenth time?  Twentieth?  100th mission?  I imagine it gets to the point where after awhile it doesn't feel like protecting your soldiers, but more like murder.  And while its still about protecting our soldiers, its the mindset that it's too easy to kill that is probably getting to these people.

What I would recommend, is that they get rotated onto front line postings.  So that they can see, and interact with the people that are getting saved by their actions, that they can hear first hand the good they are doing.  I imagine that would make all the world to those people, and the whining like a baby bit would stop.

Stop me if I'm wrong, but being told that you saved someone's life feels pretty good doesn't it?  Kinda helps you get over the crummiest of jobs wouldn't you think?  Being an infantryman and getting a medal for your actions isn't about the medal.  Its about someone watching you and telling you that you are doing the right thing, and that you are doing it well.  That's all these people need.

How many medals get handed out for pushing a button inside an air-conditioned trailer hooked up to a drone 30 miles away?

[Shifty]

At this point:...
I think all of us are suffering war stress to some degree.

Really? How much war stress do you have?

[RipChord929]

Now what???

More REMF's whinin about their war stress???  Shut up boy, cuz you don't know squat!!!!

Oh brother!!!!  Turn the page!!!!

RC

[Serenity]

No I don't hope they quit whining like little girls. It's a wench of a job to have to do.  I know people who have been in combat, who have killed in combat.  I also know that they would far prefer wars to be fought, by our side at least, by remote.  And so do the people flying the UAV's.  For them the rationale is that every UAV kill they make is men, and bombs, and explosives that won't come into contact with our boys on the ground.  So the first one is easy.  Click.  5 Men will never plant that EFP.

But what about the 2nd time?  Tenth time?  Twentieth?  100th mission?  I imagine it gets to the point where after awhile it doesn't feel like protecting your soldiers, but more like murder.  And while its still about protecting our soldiers, its the mindset that it's too easy to kill that is probably getting to these people.

What I would recommend, is that they get rotated onto front line postings.  So that they can see, and interact with the people that are getting saved by their actions, that they can hear first hand the good they are doing.  I imagine that would make all the world to those people, and the whining like a baby bit would stop.

Stop me if I'm wrong, but being told that you saved someone's life feels pretty good doesn't it?  Kinda helps you get over the crummiest of jobs wouldn't you think?  Being an infantryman and getting a medal for your actions isn't about the medal.  Its about someone watching you and telling you that you are doing the right thing, and that you are doing it well.  That's all these people need.

How many medals get handed out for pushing a button inside an air-conditioned trailer hooked up to a drone 30 miles away?

I think the people who undergo such stress from using a remote vehicle perhaps just don't have what it takes to cut it as a semi-combat pilot. If they cannot handle the stress, rotate them out for someone who can. There ARE people out there, MANY, who can do this job without such suffering.

My $.02

[Yenny]

Let me guess, this would be the chair force warrior whining about seeing combat?

[lasersailor184]

I think the people who undergo such stress from using a remote vehicle perhaps just don't have what it takes to cut it as a semi-combat pilot. If they cannot handle the stress, rotate them out for someone who can. There ARE people out there, MANY, who can do this job without such suffering.

My $.02

No one's talking about that.  What we're talking about is the extreme disparity these pilots go through day in and day out.  Sure, the stress isn't nearly as high, and they aren't likely to die except in a freak pencil sharpening accident...  However the troops on the ground in Iraq don't go home to their wives every night.  They don't have to put on a smiling face as they walk over the threshold from their 9-5 grind.

And if there was any member of the Military that would be extremely embarrassed to show stress from their duty, it's these guys.

[Serenity]

No one's talking about that.  What we're talking about is the extreme disparity these pilots go through day in and day out.  Sure, the stress isn't nearly as high, and they aren't likely to die except in a freak pencil sharpening accident...  However the troops on the ground in Iraq don't go home to their wives every night.  They don't have to put on a smiling face as they walk over the threshold from their 9-5 grind.

And if there was any member of the Military that would be extremely embarrassed to show stress from their duty, it's these guys.

I guess unless I live through it, (And I pray I never will...) I just will not see it this way.

[RTR]

oh Puhleeze!

These guys aren't stressed. It's a freaking video game to them. This is what happens when you take the Human factor out of war. It becomes "clean".

Come on...fly a drone, drop a few eggs or spot a few "terrorists" for a strike and go home to the missus for a hot and a warm cot?

Gimme a break.

RTR

[Elfie]

gimme a break.
In your latest field of glory. Russia has shown all the skill that would be necessary for Hulk hogan to kick the arse of a 60 pound 11 year old parapalegic blind girl.

Fixed. 

[Elfie]

What?!

Your allmighty Georgian americanly-trained glorious troops got kicked by numerically inferior untrained Russian drafted soldiers armed by obsolet AKs not allmighty M4s!!!

Better watch news from Iraq right now. Peacemakers my ass!

You must live with a lot of pent up angst. Go ahead, let it all out man. You need the healing.

[Motherland]

BOOM HEADSHOT!
BOOM HEADSHOT!

shrecking raghead liberal bananas, oops that fool is still moving. Eat hot cannon leftist terrorist scum!

Ironically, Al Queada and their extremist Muslim friends are about as socially conservative as social conservatism gets...

[Elfie]

I can't be the only one here thoroughly enjoying the fact that a 14 year old just put Boroda in his place.

 

For a 14 yr old, he has quite the head on his shoulders.