I almost shed a tear....but its been 10 years since I have

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Its been 10 long years. It may not seem like much, but for a 28 year old thats nearly a third of my current life. 10 long years since I woke up early that morning and kissed my mother, father, and sister good by. The last time my father saw me shed a tear as his scared little boy. 10 years since I first walked into that cold-a$$ed M.E.P.s building on San Jacinto St in Houston, TX, right across the street form the city prison. As scared and sad as I was, it gave me slight releif seeing those young men in shackles being shove into the jail or a cops car, having the feeling I beat the statisticle system. A young black man, who typically should be in jail, dead or saling dope and robbing people on the streets. Thats seem to be what most of america view us as anyway. Young black hoodlums right?? I knew I'd scored a high enough score on the ASVAB to request any job and any location I want in the military. I chose communications intelligence, figureing if "TSHTS", I'll be in my nice cool office pushing buttons.... But not quite.... 1 month later while still in basic....9/11 happend. But by this time I was too HOOAH!! and gung-ho to give a damn.
I spent 90 plus days, in Echo Company, 1st of the 38th Infantry, at Ft. Benning, GA for BCT, another 14 months in Delta 447th, Ft, Gordon, GA, for AIT... 1 year in the dirt box of Iraq.... And few years in Deutchland, drinking and chasing fruelings(sp).... I do not regret a single moment of it. I had a multitude of options, but the US Army is what I chose and its what made me the person I am today, along with my father constantly beating my a$$ for the first 17 years of my life.

I see a lot of animosity towards our troops on this site.... Just know, that alot of us had no clue we were going to war, alot of us would have rather been CONUS near our family. For some of us, this was simply a way to get away and see the world. Dont hate us because we chose a path you were to timid to take.
And dont think none of us can sympathize with how the government is treating civilians, because to be honest, those troops get screwed before any of you do, but we learn to suck it up and drive on, and take it like a champ.

It has nothing to do with someone being to timid to take the military route, some us dont see the pride and honor in killing people, fighting unjust wars and taking orders from a corrupt government.

Sorry, just how i feel.

Allthough i gave you a star for expressing your opinion in a well versed manner, respect!

reply to post by AdamAnt


Isn't that being ignorant?

The government relies on their soliders being ignorant as then they can implant their own ideas of what they want done. They can tell you your fighting the boogeyman and it's your job not to question but just blindly follow.

If some soldiers knew what was really going on they wouldn't join the army, but, that's their own fault. And after they see what is really going on, they are still quiet.

Lying by omission is still lying...they are the ones doing the atrocities and abuse we see in which we call 'war'.

Pred...

Originally posted by kn0wh0w
It has nothing to do with someone being to timid to take the military route, some us dont see the pride and in honour in killing people, fighting unjust wars and taking orders from a corrupt government.

Sorry, just how i feel.

Allthough i gave you a star for expressing your opinion in a well versed manner, respect!

edit on 10-8-2011 by kn0wh0w because: (no reason given)

Truthfully, neither do I.. But i do take pride in taking the sacrifice of being the one that might have to had killed others in defence of my country. Never would actually want to, never did I exspect to before 2001. Like they say, its a dirty job, the crappiest of jobs, but someone has to do it. If we dont, then who will.
Honestly I spent 4 years of high school in JROTC, I seriously wanted to join the Marines to twirl rifles around all day, and accept a challenge most could not handle in their 13 week bootcamp. The last thing on my mind as a 18 y/o high school graduate, was going to iraq and assiting in damaging inoccent peoples lives for a system that does not give a half of a fly turd about mine. I made a choice, I understood the concequences, and I hung in there til my mission was over.

I took that route long ago
I have nothing but respect for those who serve our country

Thank you for your service

The military often is a way out and a way up !
Im glad you chose that route instead of the other

reply to post by AdamAnt


It is my honor to give you a star and flag. That's a very small "reward" but there are some people in America who still have respect for the uniform and the people wearing it, regardless of their political leanings and personal convictions.

You are appreciated. Thank you for your service.

those troops get screwed before any of you do

Before we get started I served my time also 3 years in the Rangers (UK) althrough I dident see any TOD's because with my # luck I gained an incureable disease and had to be discharged but never the less I did join up in 2008 knowing full well I would be going to Afgan.

Now to my point, please dont say army personel get # before any other member of your country as in the UK's army

*subsidised housing, 3 bedroom semi detached rent £150 per month. For a private citizen £500-600 per month.
*Holidays, 40 per annum. Most citizens 25
*Pay £17,000 @ 17 years old. Private citizen starting pay at 17 is around £11,000
*You get to see the world, granted in some places its a war zone but hey a holiday is a holiday.
*subsidised meals, last time i checked £23 a month provided you with 3 hot meals a day.
*Healthcare, free. I even know in some instances of penis enlargement surgery and also breast enlargement surgery being carried out on the tax payers benifit.
*Now I know this is definatly for the Americans, GI bill or reeducation for us in the UK. Free education after time served, never have to pay an exam fee ever again.
*Free bus pass when you pass 40
*job security

I know there are plenty more benifits as to why its better at 16 to join the army than go into the civilian sector unless you have 1/2 a brain.

So please dont cry your getting # before US. Many thanks.

Dont hate us because we chose a path you were to timid to take.

I like this post up until that line... You are kidding right?

reply to post by AdamAnt


Then i think we differ on some points, again i mean no harm!
I for one believe 9-11 was a false flag to gain support for invading afghanistan, i also think the us went to irak under false pretences.

So i therefor think all victims both us and other are pointless.
Take a step back and look..

It's been 10 years and what have we got to show for it?
Not much really.

Except for a broken economy and a garantueed financial enslavement for mutiple future generations.

Maybe i'm a bit too white and black, but i really don't see the point of war?


And one last question..
If a foreign country's military invaded the us, wouldn't you pick up arms and start defending your homeland?
I think that goes for a lot of people over there as well.

I believe a lot of people reported to be taliban or AQ or just civilians fed up with the occupation of their country.

Wouldn't you?

Again no harm and take care

I have had a couple of little stints related to the military, almost went in full time but once I found out the truth about 9/11 it suddenly changed my whole approach to it. The military has been an important part in the development of civilisation, but when it get to the point that needs to cause self inflicted damage to have something to do then some serious questions do need to be asked.

I have meet some good and bad people associated to the military. With the current games going on can understand how someone would join up, I almost did. A lot of the hostilities towards the military that you see on these boards is due to the lies, deception and immorality of the system with its current actions. If you cannot be honest about why you are killing people then there is clearly something wrong.

For your service!! You can not be commended enough! What many people that I see express is the anger over our involvement pushed by our government, Libya being the prime example. They did not provoke the U.S., nor started another war with any country. That is where the anger and distrusts comes from, except for the wacko libs.
Anyone with a brain blames our government, not the servicemen and women.

Ps. I'm off to bed. Need sleep badly, been awake for 23 hours.
My young soul can't handle that, it needs regular naptimes =D

Goodnight!

Originally posted by michaelmcclen

those troops get screwed before any of you do

Before we get started I served my time also 3 years in the Rangers (UK) althrough I dident see any TOD's because with my # luck I gained an incureable disease and had to be discharged but never the less I did join up in 2008 knowing full well I would be going to Afgan.

Now to my point, please dont say army personel get # before any other member of your country as in the UK's army

So basicly you did not do much of nothing during the short time you were in...

*subsidised housing, 3 bedroom semi detached rent £150 per month. For a private citizen £500-600 per month.

I stayed in a 50 man barracks, then a 8 man barracks room, then a 2 man barracks room, the entire time I served....this is not the UK

*Holidays, 40 per annum. Most citizens 25

the only "holiday" i had was christmas exodus after basic training, and RR during my tour in Iraq, this is not the UK

*Pay £17,000 @ 17 years old. Private citizen starting pay at 17 is around £11,000

I made $1058 a month and that was as a E-4, this is not the UK

*You get to see the world, granted in some places its a war zone but hey a holiday is a holiday.

A war zone is not a holiday, I served with UK soldiers in Iraq, we used to go to you all tents for the parties and alchohol in Iraq, this is not the UK

*subsidised meals, last time i checked £23 a month provided you with 3 hot meals a day.

We had meal cards in Garrison, so they took money for food, and in war or feild we ate T-Rats... This is not the UK

*Healthcare, free. I even know in some instances of penis enlargement surgery and also breast enlargement surgery being carried out on the tax payers benifit.

To enlarge your penis take Ibruprofen, to cure a broken arm, take Ibruprofen, that is the Armys health care,... this is not the UK

*Now I know this is definatly for the Americans, GI bill or reeducation for us in the UK. Free education after time served, never have to pay an exam fee ever again.

After they take $1200 for your first year in service, you only get college benifits after extremely long struggles with VA... This is not the UK

*Free bus pass when you pass 40

In who's city.... This is not the UK

I know there are plenty more benifits as to why its better at 16 to join the army than go into the civilian sector unless you have 1/2 a brain.

So please dont cry your getting # before US. Many thanks.

edit on 10-8-2011 by michaelmcclen because: grammar

When you complete a full tour of duty in the US Army then you can chime in on this conversation... Basiclly you were medically discharge for some sort of incompetence... Please do not insult my time in service with a half a$$ response as if you know anything about the United States of America

You were used OP against humanity and sent to murder innocents by
corrupt and twisted leaders of a currupt and twisted system.
I feel that if i was in your shoes, I could do nothing but cry.
We are all victims of contrived circumstance.

Originally posted by AdamAnt

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Really my last post, promise!

I think this is rather funny since there are individuals in the us, who are in positions of power, that could be considered a terrorist.

Why not fight those?

reply to post by Tachalka


Not kidding at all, there are plenty that are to timid, weak, and lack discipline to survive in the military. And I'm not even talking about the war and fighting part. There were plenty of cadets while in high school who were scared to join simply becasue they could not handle authority, and were scared the Drill Sgt was gonna yell at them... and they lacked discipline. Or they really were quite timid. Basic training tends to weed those type of people out.... I know plenty of men now that are bitter with the military because they were phased out during basic training cause they could not hack it...

reply to post by kn0wh0w


I think you miss my point.... I, as an ex soldier do not agree with 95% of this bull ish the government is doing... NOW, but at that time, that was my choice, and I completed my obligation... So, yes if my duty was to protect citizens agaist currupt politicle terrorist, so be it...

Star and flag for ya. Just ignore the naysayers, they have to be the way they are so the military can exist. Them lacking in intestinal fortitude is the sole reason for the military to exist....and thank God it does.

reply to post by AdamAnt


I will freely admit on my own that I could never be a soldier, especially an Army soldier. The Army is the most deployed, depleted, and under appreciated branch of the US military. You guys get crappy perks, trash thrown at you by other branches, and are basically the red-headed stepchild of the US Armed Forces. I've never understood this.

I always go the extra mile when dealing with Army personnel. Not out of pity but because the Army is seen as a crappy job and you guys do a very fine job of protecting our country.

Again, I say thank you.

reply to post by AdamAnt


Yes cause Chrons is incompetence, least I did more than the people you are openly insulting in your opening post.

And I Quote "Dont hate us because we chose a path you were to timid to take"

I took your path but my body failed me and i never once put your profession down nor did I say a bad word about your choice.

I did however in my opening statement say my experience was from the UK not the US.

Not to mention you complety missed what my post was all about. I took the time to read , digest and understand your post , the least you could have done was to do the same with mine instead of skim over it and disregard everything.

I signed my affidavit on the bible just like you to defend the west so please stop with the insults about my disability. As I said nothing bad about you as a person.