Over the weekend I’ve listened to, watched, and read about some of our civilian leaders in Washington who seem to be using the military as a means to push an agenda, and as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Pace said, it has “energized” me.
In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, The Mudville Gazette, as usual, provides an outstanding sitrep.
Additionally, Michelle Malkin has posted video clips from a Town Hall meeting hosted by some of the aforementioned representatives at which Army Sgt Mark Seavey had a question, as did Vietnam Veteran, General (ret.) Wagner.
I’m reminded of a comment made last month whereby John Murtha said that the Army was “broken”, now it seems that he is discouraging Americans from serving in uniform. General Pace’s remarks concerning the issue were spot on…
Q: If I could switch topics, sir, this week Representative John Murtha was asked if he would join the U.S. military today, and he said no. And pressed in that ABC interview — and I don’t know if you saw it or not — he said — the interviewer said, “I think you’re saying the average guy who’s considering recruitment is justified in saying, ‘I don’t want to serve.’” And he said, “Exactly right.” Can get your response to those statements?
GEN. PACE: You know, when I got back yesterday, one of the first questions I was asked was what I thought about that. I had not seen the clip. I did get a chance to see it yesterday.
A large segment of the clip had to do with opinion about the war, and that’s not my lane. This country’s strength is based on the ability of its citizens and its leadership to have divergent views.
There were two parts in what I saw that went directly to my lane in the road, which is the health of the U.S. military. One was a statement that the U.S. Army is not well trained. The United States Army is well-trained. It is the best trained army in the world. It has never been better-trained, and we will continue to make sure that it stays well- trained.
The second was a quote that you just mentioned. That’s damaging to recruiting, it’s damaging to morale of the troops who are deployed, and it’s damaging to the morale of their families who believe in what they’re doing to serve this country. We have almost 300 million Americans who are being protected by 2.4 (million) volunteer active, Guard and Reserve members. We must recruit to that force. When a respected leader like Mr. Murtha, who has spent 37 extremely honorable years as a Marine, fought in two wars, has served the country extremely well in the Congress of the United States, when a respected individual like that says what he said, and 18- and 19-year-olds look to their leadership to determine how they are expected to act, they can get the wrong message.
Q: Sir, you look and sound a little angry about this. Am I misreading that?
GEN. PACE: I would describe myself as “energized” — (laughter) — because we have an all-volunteer, all-recruited United States armed forces. I believe that all young people should have the opportunity to serve their country in whatever way they see fit, and that those who would elect to serve in the armed forces of the United States should be encouraged to do, especially when we’re in a war where our enemy has stated intention of destroying our way of life.
It occurs to me that Representative Murtha and others may have forgotten a key component of our Nation’s military, that is, that the men and women wearing the uniforms of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard do so in service to them. America’s military is civilian controlled. It is the Senate’s, the House’s, the Executive’s and the Judiciary’s armed forces. It is the press’, lawyers’, short order cooks’, cab drivers’, and landscapers’ military. It is an Army beholden to fishermen, an Air Force working for farmers, a Navy representing teachers, and a Coast Guard defending bartenders.
I’ve got news for America, and maybe it is bad news for some, but the military is YOUR military. If the Army isn’t meeting recruiting goals, then YOU aren’t meeting recruiting goals. If the soldiers don’t have the best equipment, then YOUR soldiers don’t have the best equipment. The military is YOUR military, take ownership of it and for the love of Pete, be gottdamned proud of it. Afterall, the soldiers are proud to serve YOU. Sgt Hook out.
Posted by Hook @ 0513 zulu | | Permalink
This post is filed under: Americana & Army Times & Soap Box
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