It's freezing here in Texas because anthropogenic global warming has heated up the atmosphere making everything colder. No kidding, thanks to racist carbon dioxide emissions there's snow in North Texas, thus proving the old adage, "Don't pay your climate tax, suffer the Ice Age, Fascists." That in mind, I've got the heat on at the Compound and time to reflect.
"Reflect on what?" you ask in baffled amazement, "The climatic disaster of cis-gendered appropriation of the ecosphere, allied with systemic oppression of the mujerista other?" Well yeah, obviously, but also the US military. A few thoughts.
As Private LSP guided us around the National Infantry Museum he turned to me and said, "I'm part of the greatest military the world has ever seen." He wasn't boasting, just stating a fact, and I replied that unless I was missing something he was right. America, to put it simply, can put more ordnance on target than any other force in history, and can do so with remarkable speed and accuracy on a global scale -- from land, sea, air and space. The US military is, in a word, a devastating machine.
A brief visit to Fort Benning gives you a glimpse into it, an immense base, modern, tight, remarkably efficient as thousands of recruits go through their paces under the eyes of the Drills. It's a far cry from its English equivalent, not least because of the size and newness of the thing. For example, the entire Prince of Wales Divisional training depot as it was in Lichfield would fit into the 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry facility at Benning. And that's just one one of many, all of them up to date, in excellent order and professional as the day's long.
The young soldiers were professional too, or at least learning to be. All the privates I met, and I met lots, were intelligent, motivated and comparatively mature. I was seriously impressed by the caliber. That said, Private LSP relates:
"When we were training for the graduation parade, the Drills would order us to march up and shout out the Soldiers Creed, ending with 'I am an American Soldier!' then they'd look you in the eye and say 'No you're not. Next!'"
I had to laugh. It reminded me of long ago being asked by my Platoon Commander on a somewhat beat up infantry training depot in the Midlands:
"LSP, do we pay you?"
"Yes, Sir."
"That's ridiculous and absurd. You should be paying us."
And there you have it, just some random observations.
Stay warm,
LSP
The size of the Army is small enough to maintain very high standards. When I went through basic training 56 years ago not much had changed from WW II including the facilities. For instance, we had ten days of bayonet drill. We also had a 1,000,000 + Regular Army not counting guard and reserve units. That number rose to 1,500,000+ during the Vietnam war.
ReplyDeleteToday's Army is around 500,000.
'Tis a bit brisk out today. Heat is on here as well. Our power company (Reliant) has started a new feature whereby they will be sending out weekly email summaries of your power usage for the week. Just got our first one. Our average cost per day from 11/3 to 11/9 (admittedly mild weather) was $3.83. Actually, this is a slight increase over our previous "100% Wind" plan. IMO, the subsidies for wind farms are drying up. Thanks to all for their involuntary contributions. What is this carbon tax you speak of?
ReplyDeleteMy compliments to the newly minted young private. Sounds like he gets it. It is an honor to serve. It is true, a fish rots from the head down. The reverse is also true. From what you report it sounds like things are improving over the past. Hooah.
If you don't mind my asking, how did the new private fare on the rifle range?
When I was in basic, one of my buddies asked the Senior Drill Sergeant: "Senior Drill Sergeant, are we soldiers yet?" His reply: "You're not soldiers. You're little green monsters!".
I was very impressed by what I saw, WSF, mind you I'm an outsider and compare it to the British Army I experienced for a short while in the '80s. The US thing is so much larger and better resourced, the culture's different too, but I'm no expert.
ReplyDelete10 days on the bayonets!
It is a bit brisk, RHT.
ReplyDeleteHe shot well and scored "expert" so he gets a wreath, which is good and yes, seems to get it, thank God. He's been shooting since he was 10 and that doubtless helps, but says the marksmanship training was excellent. Thanks, Sergeants.
Little Green Monsters! I like that.
Impressive and inspiring, LSP
ReplyDeleteGreat Read.
ReplyDeleteWell, 14 degrees here in Cincy and not a single transgender in sight.
Times haven't changed. When I arrived at boot camp, from the time I got off the bus and told to toe the line until I left the post (Ft. Ord, CA) in 1974, I was not a soldier. If you believed what all of the TRADOC cadre yelled at us all day, we were 'eff-ing lowlife maggots.'
ReplyDeleteYou're not really a soldier until you graduate from AIT.
Thanks, Adrienne. I was impressed by what I saw.
ReplyDeleteFreezing here, Kid. Well, cold for Texas.
ReplyDeleteFredd, I recall all kinds of curious insults...
ReplyDeleteMy wife took a picture of me, retired Infantry platoon sergeant, attaching the blue cord to my youngest's uniform at Fort Benning while my oldest, a SSG at the time, watches. My oldest retired five years ago with two Iraq deployments and two Afghanistans. My youngest has 15 years in and is a recruiter, after two Iraq deployments and three years as a drill sergeant at Benning. They were so much better trained and equipped than we (now old) Vietnam veterans. Not too many people in the USA know what it is to be the parents of soldiers. Our daughter was an Air Force navigator and had five deployments to another desert location.
ReplyDeleteSgtBob, respect, at every level.
ReplyDeleteSay a prayer for the recruit as he launches.