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Author Topic: Troop Whines?  (Read 1229 times)

Offline Sixpence

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Troop Whines?
« Reply #30 on: July 19, 2003, 03:43:25 AM »
Well, when you sign up, they own you. And you do what they tell you till your time is up. You join with the understanding you can go anywhere at anytime.

When a soldier voices his displeasure about being there, that's one thing, and I have no problem with that. But I think that deck of cards thing about rummy went a little too far. They shouldn't be making derogatory remarks about their superiors. Aside from that, I have no problem with what was said.

Was this aired on arab television? I wonder if this will change the attitude of the locals, will they throw more rocks, or less? I'm hoping the locals will have some sympathy for the troops, but i'm not betting on it.
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"My grandaddy always told me, "There are three things that'll put a good man down: Losin' a good woman, eatin' bad possum, or eatin' good possum."" - Holden McGroin

(and I still say he wasn't trying to spell possum!)

blue1

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« Reply #31 on: July 19, 2003, 10:07:31 AM »
As Maverick says griping is a cherished right in the military. All soldiers everywhere volunteers or not moan about their situation they find themselves in.  It's easy for us REMF's (look it up) and civvies sitting here in cosy safety to tell them to 'toughen up'  or 'suck it up'.  

Of course they want to go home, who wouldn't. I'll bet the grumbles not aired would make certain politicians hair stand on end.  Criticising Politicans is par for the course after all they are the people who put them there in mortal danger thousands of miles from home. Politicians are not 'their superiors' Their Officers are their leaders, criticising them on camera would be unacceptable. But in the army or not they are still Americans who believe they have the right to criticise their politicial leaders.

Criticising the 'The left liberal media' for reporting this is off base too. What do you want? Fox news in there reporting that the 'boys are all saying "bring them on" or we'll stay as long as it takes' .  Or some other propaganda exercise.  Do you want some form of Baghdad Ali type reporting from the media, a  slant that suits your political agenda?

In the end the troops will do their duty. Don't expect them to enjoy it though and when the they do come home don't expect them share your love of the politicians who sent them there. War has a way of stripping out people's illusions.  They'll eventually look back and take pride in what they did but right now they want to go home. Who can blame them?
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Offline Sixpence

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« Reply #32 on: July 19, 2003, 10:11:30 AM »
I thought sec of defense was their superior...my bad.
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"My grandaddy always told me, "There are three things that'll put a good man down: Losin' a good woman, eatin' bad possum, or eatin' good possum."" - Holden McGroin

(and I still say he wasn't trying to spell possum!)

Offline LePaul

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« Reply #33 on: July 19, 2003, 10:53:39 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Raubvogel
Just to set the record straight, I'm going on my 14th year of Army service, and I spent 9 months in SW Asia during the last Saddamapalooza. After 6 months I was told I was going home, then a week later I found out I had to stay 3 months more. **** yeah I was pissed off, who wouldn't be? These guys were told they had to do a job, they did it. Now they find out the job isn't finished. It's human nature to get pissed off at **** like that. Volunteer service or not, it sucks.


Then leave the service?

All your whining is doing is giving the anti-war klugs more ammo.  See?  We shuoldnt be there, even the troops there don't want to me there....that's the media blah blah we're getting on the radio/tv all day.

Congrats on 14 years of service, really.  6 more to retirement, pension, and recalling the good ole days, rght?  :)

Being deployed isnt all fun and games.

Geez all these rah-rah/hoorah-kick bellybutton guys couldn't wait to dive into the fight.  Then when the going gets tough, sadly the few whiners there are making the daily news.  I don't think that's fair for the rest of the troops that are doing what they've been trained to do and sucking it up.  But when's the media not over sensationalized something...:rolleyes:
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blue1

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« Reply #34 on: July 19, 2003, 12:18:50 PM »
Jeez, LePaul I'm sure your advice will hit home with the guys who fought and won the war and now unreasonably want to go home and not get killed by some Iraqi patriot in a dusty ville on the other side of the world. Stop moaning guys or you'll give ammo to all those anti war klugs. Just lock and load and get on with it. We armchair heroes are with you all the way! Yo

Sixpence Superior/leader. It was a play on words. Get it??????????
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Offline Sixpence

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Troop Whines?
« Reply #35 on: July 19, 2003, 12:34:51 PM »
cc, re read it, although I still think the deck of cards thing was a bit much. But you make a point.
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"My grandaddy always told me, "There are three things that'll put a good man down: Losin' a good woman, eatin' bad possum, or eatin' good possum."" - Holden McGroin

(and I still say he wasn't trying to spell possum!)

Offline Raubvogel

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« Reply #36 on: July 19, 2003, 03:11:59 PM »
Why would I leave the service? I love serving my country. I'd be over there again in a heartbeat if I had to. I enjoy defending the freedoms of people who sit 15,000 miles away and call me soft because I would like to come home after finishing my mission.

Keeping soldiers happy is pretty easy. You give them food, mail, showers, and keep them informed. When you tell them one thing and then come back and change it over and over, you are destroying their morale.

I'm done with this thread. Sometimes you just can't get a point across to someone who hasn't been in that situation.
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Offline jamusta

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« Reply #37 on: July 19, 2003, 04:31:09 PM »
The UCMJ does cover contempt towards officials but its for comissioned officers. I believe they are looking to punish the soldiers for their remarks.

888. ART. 88. CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS
Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

As a NCO I would not voice my anger towards my superiors or complain about going home. It would look bad plus funnel down to my troops. I would not keep any troop serving under me from voicing their complaints, but I would have simply told them to be mindful of what they say. The deck of cards comment crossed the line.
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Offline Scootter

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« Reply #38 on: July 19, 2003, 05:30:00 PM »
Just for a moment think what would happen if an interviewed troop said somthing to the effect of...

 " hell no I don't want to go home, this is cool stuff here, I get to shoot dinks and blow stuff up when ever I need to, and the perks wow look at all the neet stuff I have found in these old buildings"

" yes sir bub this is the life, no rain like back in Nam. and the food is a lot better, I'm staying right here."



Do you think they would get help, probably, but you would never hear or read the interview.

This is normal stuff, don't eat the crap the press is feeding, they will squeak but you can bet they will get the job done.

Semper Fi    ya'll

:cool:
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Offline LePaul

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« Reply #39 on: July 20, 2003, 10:59:40 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Raubvogel
Why would I leave the service? I love serving my country. I'd be over there again in a heartbeat if I had to. I enjoy defending the freedoms of people who sit 15,000 miles away and call me soft because I would like to come home after finishing my mission.

Keeping soldiers happy is pretty easy. You give them food, mail, showers, and keep them informed. When you tell them one thing and then come back and change it over and over, you are destroying their morale.

I'm done with this thread. Sometimes you just can't get a point across to someone who hasn't been in that situation.


I agree that if they've been told they can go, then cancel it...twice, that that is unfair...and yes, hurts morale.  But geezus, don't you think its inherently stupid as a troop to whine on national tv that you wanna go home?  

I support the troops and have been at the airport here helping greet the ones that are heading home.

I see your point, but I do not think you see mine.  Instead you seem to ignore it, acting aloof, that unless we've been there, we cant comment...

..anyways...
« Last Edit: July 20, 2003, 11:01:58 AM by LePaul »
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Offline Martlet

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« Reply #40 on: July 20, 2003, 11:14:36 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Raubvogel


I'm done with this thread. Sometimes you just can't get a point across to someone who hasn't been in that situation.


I've been in that situation.  I'd bet the majority of people that have served have been in that situation, whether it involved combat or not.  Ther service is notorious for changing their plans.  "Hurry up and wait".

When you raise your hand and take that oath, you are agreeing to to more than 3 squares and a paycheck.  You are agreeing to serve the needs of your country, whatever they may be.    This whole problem stems from them TRYING to keep the troops informed.  Perhaps they'd be better off to just tell them "you'll get home when you get home".  When they plane pulls up to fly them away, they'll know they are leaving.  No misinformation that way.
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Offline firbal

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« Reply #41 on: July 20, 2003, 11:38:28 AM »
You know, I don't care what they say. Been there. Done that. I was in the 1st one. I got there late. So I voluntered to stay behind and let the rest of the Battilion go home. I didn't have a family to go home to. But I was in country only 4 moths. So I can understand how them might feel after being there for so long. And having the chane of comman keep changing your departure date. I'd be pissed off at them. But then that would be letting off steam. And I would still do my job. You can bet that they may be pissed off at their leadership at the top. But they will still do their job to the best.
But if the top leadership cann't come up with a better way of rotation, you just screwed your troops. We have troops in places we need to bring home. Bosnia and Kosivo for 2. Europe should be doing that job. If they don't want to help in Iraq, then they can take over the mission there. After all, it's their back yard.
We are starting to get really short of troops. Too many places right now.
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Offline Hortlund

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« Reply #42 on: July 20, 2003, 12:45:10 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Frogm4n
i thought we fought those wars so crap like this didnt have to happen again.
 


Yeah...and wasnt WW1 the war to end all wars? I mean whats up with that?
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Offline Hortlund

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« Reply #43 on: July 20, 2003, 12:53:47 PM »
Oh...and as for troops whining...the brits have it right. If the grunts stop whining, THEN there's somethings wrong. Geez, havet you been in the army?
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