In reference to my post last night, how many of those criticizing the US military for being Woke at the direction of the Commander in Chief, have started to write their US Representative and Senators?
If you haven’t then for gosh sake, either quit complaining or take action and write to your elected representatives.
In reference to our concerns about the US military:
Acceptable Recruits
The military has forever been accepting recruits that are not qualified. Perhaps their virtues had to overshadow their shortcoming. Me for instance, when I enlisted in 1976. I had 5 stainless steel pins put in my hip when I was 11 years old. To enlist I needed positive recommendations from my surgeon and football coach. I served in the Marine Corps for 21 years before that hip was so severely worn out that I hobbled around for three days after a three mile run. I was no longer “combat deployable”. Along the way I was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant, Chief Warrant Officer 3, and finally Captain. I think that I must have been doing something right! During my service I performed a lot a technical work, provided leadership to units of 400 Marines, got an all-expense paid trip to a combat zone, and left the Corps a little better than I found it. Not bad for a potential cripple who on paper didn’t meet the acceptance standards. Like a lot of Marines, I just had to try harder than some of my peers. I've had two operations on my bad hip since retiring but still was able to put in 10 mile days chasing elephants in Zimbabwe.
The same be be said or thought about most career military.
Diversity Training
In 1978 and 79, we Marines participated in Human Relations, or “HUMROUTE” as we derogatively called in. Let me tell you, that was the absolute BEST diversity training I ever participated in!
For HUMROUTE us white guys would read from a script posing as “back on the block” black guys. The Dark Green Marines would in turn role play as either up-tight Caucasians or hillbillies. The commentary of those imitated gave each group insight about what it was like to be who we were. It was so darn funny that I laugh thinking about it!
The American Professional Non-Commissioned Officer:
Strategic Corporal and the Three Block War
In the January 1999 edition of Marines Magazine, General Krulak, Commandant of the Marine Corps described “the Three Block War” utilizing a fictional story of Cpl. Hernandez, who finds himself in a failed and famished central African state, leading a squad, and providing humanitarian aid. Alongside that humanitarian aid effort, peacekeeping missions are being conducted and mid-intensity conflict is occurring in different blocks of the city he is operating in. Cpl. Hernandez’s challenge is to correctly identify which “block” (and related operation) of the city he is in and respond with the appropriate amount of force required to achieve tactical goals while supporting strategic objectives. This environment requires junior leaders, like Cpl. Hernandez, to “confidently make well-reasoned and independent decisions under extreme stress.” And in today’s super-connected world, Krulak continues, where internet connectivity and video equipment abound, junior leaders’ decisions and actions will likely be captured by the media and every action will meet with the scrutiny of the “court of public opinion.”
This gives the actions of even the most junior leaders a degree of strategic impact that no previous battlefield did. To develop strategic corporals, Krulak stressed three developmental priorities.
- The first is the instillment of the Marine Corps’ enduring ethos. By educating Marines in the virtues of the Corps with an emphasis on building character, they are enabled to appropriately address what Krulak describes as the “moral quandaries” common on the battlefield.
- The second priority is providing quality professional military education, which “sustain the growth of technical and tactical proficiency and mental and physical toughness.”
- Finally, Krulak emphasized, the Marine Corps must provide examples of quality leadership to inspire Marines to “rise to the same great heights” as those who “who have set the highest standard of combat leadership” throughout the Marine Corps’ history.
Leaders inspire others to greatness!
One's Mindset
For those who NEVER served in the military, and those who served one tour long ago, and at over 50 years old are still in the same mindset as they were as a PFC or Corporal, please watch this. It's about being part of something larger than oneself.
Such as Regiments Hand Down Forever
I first watched “
Such as Regiments Hand Down Forever” in 1983 while assigned to escort fallen Marines home who died in the Marine Barracks in Beirut during 1983;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Beirut_barracks_bombings
There is a movie staring Kevin Bacon called,
Taking Chance which tells of this much better than I ever could;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taking_Chance
This is our service, our family, we take care of our own.
Why don't the Generals all Resign?
If you cannot understand why every General Officer just doesn’t resign instead of serving Woke leaders, perhaps these miniseries may help:
Band of Brothers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band_of_Brothers_(miniseries)
The Pacific https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pacific_(miniseries)
Senior leaders stay in service to guide their service, their Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen through the rough seas. LEADERS LEAD, they do not quit!