Oh, Good Grief!
Nov. 10th, 2003 08:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gridloreRead this story:
Mom caught in custody fight also battling Army over return to Iraq Soldier declared AWOL as she seeks new child-care arrangement
OK. I have one question. If you have SEVEN children, what the fuck are you doing in the United States Army?!
What, did neither you nor your husband, a platoon sergeant in a combat unit, understand that being in the service meant that you might just be called on to head overseas for extended periods to, I don't know, FIGHT A GODDAMN WAR!? Did you think those camouflage uniforms and weapons were for show and tell? During WWII, soldiers (even the female WACs) were away from their families for years.
Then there is the sheer number of children involved. The woman involved is 30, Two of the kids are from her husband's previous relationship. That means this woman has had five children.. and she's thirty. I have to wonder how often she even made drills! Now dear old Mom is facing prison time (intentionally missing a movement to avoid duty in a combat zone is a death penalty offense in the military.) Realistically, she won't get lined up against a wall and shot. But she's screwed herself but good.
She's also screwed everyone in her unit who will now have to shoulder her load while she gets court-martialed. A 14-hour day will become a 16-hour day. A soldier won't be seen quite as quickly. Call me an old-fashioned reactionary if you like, but if there is anything that would prevent you from deploying and doing your duty for as long as it takes, you should be separated from the service. Ridiculous.
And now we'll see the usual suspects decry the "inhumanity of the military." Guess what? Nobody held a gun to this alleged adult's head and forced her to recite the Oath of Enlistment. Please read that. I don't see anything in there that says "unless it inconveniences me and my family."
Mom caught in custody fight also battling Army over return to Iraq Soldier declared AWOL as she seeks new child-care arrangement
OK. I have one question. If you have SEVEN children, what the fuck are you doing in the United States Army?!
What, did neither you nor your husband, a platoon sergeant in a combat unit, understand that being in the service meant that you might just be called on to head overseas for extended periods to, I don't know, FIGHT A GODDAMN WAR!? Did you think those camouflage uniforms and weapons were for show and tell? During WWII, soldiers (even the female WACs) were away from their families for years.
Then there is the sheer number of children involved. The woman involved is 30, Two of the kids are from her husband's previous relationship. That means this woman has had five children.. and she's thirty. I have to wonder how often she even made drills! Now dear old Mom is facing prison time (intentionally missing a movement to avoid duty in a combat zone is a death penalty offense in the military.) Realistically, she won't get lined up against a wall and shot. But she's screwed herself but good.
She's also screwed everyone in her unit who will now have to shoulder her load while she gets court-martialed. A 14-hour day will become a 16-hour day. A soldier won't be seen quite as quickly. Call me an old-fashioned reactionary if you like, but if there is anything that would prevent you from deploying and doing your duty for as long as it takes, you should be separated from the service. Ridiculous.
And now we'll see the usual suspects decry the "inhumanity of the military." Guess what? Nobody held a gun to this alleged adult's head and forced her to recite the Oath of Enlistment. Please read that. I don't see anything in there that says "unless it inconveniences me and my family."
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no subject
Date: 10 Nov 2003 22:30 (UTC)Life happens. If things get difficult, you cope the best way you can. The service member is ultimately responsible for taking care of his/her dependents, because God knows the military can't be depended upon. For every story you have of a woman (notice they never seem to think men with the same problem are newsworthy?) who has issues taking care of her dependents, however temporarily, I'll match you with a story of how the military made promises of help, then broke them. Just look at thousands returning from Iraq sick or wounded and still waiting for care in World War II vintage barracks.
Just to get the ball rolling, while stationed in the Philippines my wife had to fly home because her mother died. I was told I'd have at least eight hours notice if I had to deploy, to arrange my children to be picked up and cared for. As soon as I returned from that briefing I recieved a phone call saying I'd be leaving in 30 minutes. I managed but without the help of the Air Force.
I've seen the family services folks promising the young soldiers spouses that everything will be all right, that there is no need to leave the military because of family issues, that services are available. Until they need to use them.
I've read that oath of enlistment many times, many with my right hand held up. You are right, nothing in that oath says "unless it inconveniences me and my family" but that oath also doesn't say "you give up all rights as a human being," something at odds with the government's decision that its ok to test investigational new drugs on service members without their knowledge or consent. Thats still a crime against humanity anyplace but America, appearently. I've not yet met a single person who "knew what they were signing up for." You don't know until you get there. They keep changing the rules as they go along.
As for the remaining GIs having to work longer, harder hours; haven't you heard Ronald Dumsfeld saying over and over that we have way too many service members? This coming year he's suggesting cutting an additional 13,000 airmen, people we don't need. With our commitments increasing, our manpower decreasing and personnel policies getting as bizarre as those from the Vietnam era, I'd say we are in for some interesting times.
All of that said, I see the problem with the military is what laughingly passes for leadership. A look at the long running Air Force Academy scandal (this is where we train our leaders) will show what passes for integrity in the Air Force. The focus needs to change from doing whatever it takes to get promoted, to doing what it takes to create and maintain a professional military.
Just my two-cents worth.