Recognizing that I’m not as eloquent as the Drill, I nonetheless find myself compelled to respond to recent disparaging remarks regarding our men and women serving in uniform made by a certain elective representative. While I respect the congressman’s view on re-instituting the draft, as a career member of the profession of arms I sternly disagree with that view, however, I can’t help but to take issue with the following comment…

If a young fella has an option of having a decent career or joining the army to fight in Iraq, you can bet your life that he would not be in Iraq.

Well, this not so young fella had a lot of options at a decent career early on in life, and chose to serve in the Army, several times over in fact (read reenlistment), and I do indeed bet my life that the vast majority of the men and women who choose to serve and fight in Iraq and elsewhere, do so for nothing more than a sense of duty (trust me, the pay sucks).

In my current duty position, I spend a lot of time telling Soldiers how proud I am of them, of their commitment to the defense of freedom, of their individual achievements, and of the sacrifices they and their families make. I also try to remind them that their spouses, their children, their parents, and that most Americans are equally as proud of them.

I bet my life on it.

I attend at least one reenlistment ceremony a week, and I can say without hesitation that regardless of the Soldier’s situation in life when he or she initially enlisted, I gottdamned guarantee that they’re very marketable in the civilian sector, yet they choose to reenlist, and they do so knowing they’ll go to Iraq.

I bet my life on it.

On a daily basis, I witness your Soldiers master some of the most challenging technical and tactical tasks you can imagine. The same kid who is capable of setting up a digital network in the middle of nowhere, providing worldwide communications in mere minutes, can also deftly handle a .50 caliber machine gun on the back of a HMMV ready to kill an enemy determined to kill you. And oh, by the way, his civilian equivalent makes damned near six figures but has no idea what a mod-deuce is.

I bet my life on it.

To a man and a woman, each and every Soldier will fight to win, to defend.

You can bet your life it.

What is of greatest concern to me, is that our elected representatives, the very folks who make decisions regarding your Soldiers’ pay and benefits, have such a negative opinion of who exactly is betting their lives on winning the Global War on Terror.

What do you bet your life on?

Sgt Hook out.

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Posted by Hook @ 0657 zulu | | Permalink
This post is filed under: Homefront & Soap Box

The Thunder Run linked with Web Reconnaissance for 11/30/2006

That was remarkably eloquent. You’re never anything but eloquent.

This is an excellent post. Thanks for writing it.

Comment by KC — 29 November 2006 @ 0813

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I found myself to be remarkably offended by Mr. Rangel’s statement. First he accused my son of being stupid - too stupid to “make it” in the civilian world - then he accused my husband and I of not giving him the option of living a nice civilian life. (whether or not Mr. Rangel considered these to be accusations is beside the point, his condensending pat on the head of the “poor families” who couldn’t provide enough for their sons or daughters was just that).

As it is, every American bets their life on the fact that we have the very best military in the world. On the whole, we have to have some of the best and brightest in there, or this would not be the case. You can’t run a great military without great minds.

Comment by Teresa — 29 November 2006 @ 1609

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As a citizen in this great country, I bet my life everyday on the effectiveness of the US military - all citizens do. It’s too bad that more don’t know it, a express the respect deserved.

thank you for all you do to keep me safe and free!

Comment by Flag Gazer — 29 November 2006 @ 1922

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Congresscritter Rangel’s words are thoroughly offensive to me. I know some d@mned smart people in uniform (like you, SgtMajorHook!) - and I completely bet my life on the commitment, brains, honor and dedication of each and every one of them! Grrrrrrr!

Comment by Barb — 29 November 2006 @ 2041

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I am really getting weary of this type of crap - two of our country’s “leaders” in the last 4 weeks. IT IS NOT 1968 ANYMORE! As you say, CSM, the worst part of this is that these “leaders” are going to be sitting in Congress deciding what happens to us all…

Comment by Major John — 29 November 2006 @ 2141

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Great Job Hook. Here is my personal reply sent via regular mail to Rep Rangel.

http://chuckmansblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/rep-charles-rangel-is-also-a.html

Comment by Chuck — 30 November 2006 @ 0053

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What do I bet my life on? The fact that no matter what, our Military will never turn their backs on us…despite the uninformed and disgustingly idiotic comments made by some of the “leaders” in our Country.

Good job with the letter you wrote Chuck.

Comment by Gypsy — 30 November 2006 @ 0259

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Ditto Gypsy… and that regardless of what I ‘hear’, I can find clarity and well-thought, reasonable opinions here; Sgt. Hook’s AND his commenters.

‘Night all.

Comment by Pixie — 30 November 2006 @ 0426

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How come Brit troops don’t rape and massacre in Iraq?

You can’t blame “the stress,” because Brit units like the Black Watch have been rotated up into the “Triangle of Death” to ease pressure on US forces, and there are no massacre or rape allegations against them. The worst allegations against the Brits are things like kicking a kid’s ass after a protest, or unnecessary roughness toward prisoners.

The worst credible allegations against American troops involve a 15-year-old girl being stalked and gang-raped and then having her family massacred in front of her before being burned.

Are American troops just worse people?

I know, I know: the vast majority of the American troops aren’t raping and massacring.” But this is irrelevant. The same can be said both of the residents of Gary, IN and the residents of Atherton, CA. And yet, there is a powerful difference.

British soldiers surely have done some things that just haven’t been uncovered. But how does this claim not also apply to US troops? Either way, it reflects poorly on the US, because not only do they committ these atrocities, but they also suck at opsec/keeping it on the DL.

The only major difference I see is that the Brit military is smaller overall, and they don’t hesitate to reject unqualified applicants, or flunk them out of boot camp.

But that’s how the US military is SUPPOSED to operate, so, no excuse there.

Also, some idiot told me several months ago that US troops don’t drink alcohol while on duty, because “it’s hard to find, and the penalties are too high.”

Now it turns out the rapists were drinking on the job constantly!

We’ve been in this insurgency for three years. The troops there aren’t fresh-faced virgins, a lot of them are on their third deployment. If they can’t learn by now, in 2006, something ain’t right with ‘em.

Comment by petro — 30 November 2006 @ 0549

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BRAVO, Sarge.

Comment by Jim - PRS — 30 November 2006 @ 1108

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Web Reconnaissance for 11/30/2006

A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.

Trackback by The Thunder Run — 30 November 2006 @ 1627

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I served back in the ’60s, the time of the Draft and of some handcuff volunteers who were offered the choice of join or jail. The large proportion of those men were some of the finest I have ever met, to this day.
I do not bet my life of today’s young men, and now women. I’m quite capable of taking care of myself for a few more years. Instead I bet something far more important than my life.
All eight of my grandchildren slept safe in their beds last night. Hook, you get the chance thank your soldiers for me.

Comment by Peter — 30 November 2006 @ 1654

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As a Navy Vet I landed many great jobs: Field Service Engineer to a world wide printing manufacturer, Technology Specialist for our school system and finally as a Satellite Internet Field engineer. I also landed my husband the doctor. Damn I must be a pure idiot for enlisting for 6 years in the National Guard. Somebody help me from myself.

Comment by SGT Lori — 1 December 2006 @ 0119

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It is simply sad not only that our political leaders think this way, but that they are confident enough in the anit-military bias in the MSM to actually say it aloud. Nice response. I am personally offended as I joined the National Guard to help pay for college, and now have a great career working as a finance manager for a Fortune 500 company. And guess what, I re-enlisted, in Iraq of all places. I guess I’m just too dumb to know any better.

Petro,
The vast majority of soldiers don’t drink while on duty not because they can’t get it, but because it is the wrong thing to do. We follow orders or people die, it is that simple. Comparing misconduct of British soldiers to US soldiers in Iraq is asinine. The British have operated at less than 10k troops for the majority of the war. Surely you can agree that with 15 times as many soldiers, the percentage of bad apples is at least 15x times higher. Considering that the number of transgressions by our forces like the despicable rape you mention are less than 10, logic will tell you that these incidents are isolated. Unless you have served in combat, be careful judging the actions of those that have.

Comment by SGT Sack — 1 December 2006 @ 1931

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