Active Users:214 Time:29/03/2024 04:51:03 AM
Probably. Joel Send a noteboard - 22/09/2011 04:33:49 PM
One of the things I liked about it is that it is a very Marine Corps type of response. It doesn't matter if I agree with the orders or not these are the orders and I will do everything I can to make it work. I know a generation growing up watching Vietnam movies thinks that a soldier who follows orders even if they don't agree with them is a bad thing but that is an ignorant response. Most of the really bad things that happened in Vietnam was because of the break down in discipline and a failure to follow orders. The desire to have soldiers act not on orders but on their values ignores the fact that these young men in combat are going to have a very different value system than the average war protester.

I'm not parsing Vietnam, but I will say that William Calley didn't invent Free Fire Zones any more than Lynndie England (can't believe I'm referencing HER twice in the same day...) decided to unilaterally withdraw the US from the Geneva Conventions. Commissioned US military officers swear an oath to the Constitution, precisely because there's no guarantee every order they receive will be in compliance with that highest law of our nation. I don't envy them that responsibility, because it can and occasionally has put them in situations where their only choice is the basis of an inevitable court martial (hence MacArthurs famous statement that it's better to be tried by twelve than carried by six.)

Having said all THAT (which was more than I intended), I don't have to tell you that discipline, especially in combat, remains vital, so the military can't afford to convene the local debating society every time an officer under fire gives an order to eliminate the source of that fire. I don't think the Marines have a monopoly on that concept though. The main thing the Marines have over the service branches is much higher admissions standards based on the fact that their combat role is frequently more demanding that of other services. But, hey, the Army is really good at garrisoning positions the Marines capture.
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.

Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!

LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Reply to message
USMC first to fight - 21/09/2011 03:36:17 PM 894 Views
Good for them. - 21/09/2011 03:41:43 PM 658 Views
That is the optimal word for it. - 23/09/2011 01:14:18 AM 606 Views
In my imagination it went down something like this: - 21/09/2011 04:22:08 PM 505 Views
Something went wrong here... - 21/09/2011 04:23:04 PM 413 Views
There could be some truth to that - 21/09/2011 04:34:36 PM 485 Views
They need military chaplains, right? *NM* - 21/09/2011 04:36:06 PM 187 Views
not in the marines - 21/09/2011 04:45:48 PM 421 Views
I had a friend who was a Navy chaplain attached to the Marine Corps. - 21/09/2011 07:23:10 PM 490 Views
also - 21/09/2011 04:51:15 PM 418 Views
That actually sounds about right. - 21/09/2011 08:17:02 PM 470 Views
Very interesting, but encouraging. - 21/09/2011 08:28:38 PM 526 Views
The answer on women in combat: - 21/09/2011 10:07:04 PM 579 Views
I still worry about how the men will react. - 22/09/2011 02:33:15 AM 592 Views
Well, you can worry about what might happen. - 22/09/2011 09:17:02 AM 403 Views
and how much actual combat have these units seen? - 22/09/2011 02:40:50 PM 505 Views
Sweden has not been involved in many hot conflicts during those years, no - 22/09/2011 05:04:26 PM 509 Views
The other branches could benefit in a lot of ways by trying to emulate the Marines - 22/09/2011 03:25:16 PM 521 Views
Probably. - 22/09/2011 04:33:49 PM 473 Views
The Lynndie England case makes my point - 22/09/2011 06:16:32 PM 501 Views
The Lynndie England case is debatable. - 22/09/2011 07:28:53 PM 584 Views
sorry not interested in arguing rhetoric *NM* - 22/09/2011 09:01:04 PM 160 Views
The US Army Field Manual is policy, not rhetoric. - 22/09/2011 09:44:58 PM 413 Views
no Joel the rheotoric is all you - 22/09/2011 10:45:29 PM 382 Views
I thought there was a reason I loved The USMC. *NM* - 21/09/2011 08:39:50 PM 194 Views
Good story. - 21/09/2011 10:01:33 PM 418 Views
This kind of reminds me of Full Metal Jacket... - 21/09/2011 10:49:57 PM 452 Views
Re: This kind of reminds me of Full Metal Jacket... - 21/09/2011 11:14:38 PM 485 Views

Reply to Message