Supporting Combat Veterans

Colleges and Universities A-Z Service Academy Parents
61

<p>Bill and KP- not to digress off the topic, but.....
I am getting a chuckle out of all this legalese and medical jargon, remembering my own struggle through the pharmacoplia of stool softeners and other pharmacutical agents designed to treat something with so many sylables I could barely say it let alone spell it- </p>

<p>but then I got to Midspeak, and that opened a whole other arena of language- (ie: did you know "sucks" means "progressing as planned?")<br>
Anyway, to educate our contingent of supporters traveling down on I-day, I preped an entire glossary of terms of all the midspeak and scuttlebutt I could find- and ended up with quite a list! So they all got a personal copy- and when we got together just last week for a birthday party I heard someone tell their partner to stop "bilging" them, another to "carry on," another to "hit the overheads," and yet another to "N.A.V.Y." when asked to cut the cake! (I'll leave the last one up to 'yall to figure out!) Anyway- we are all having a lot of fun with it (although it is driving the Torpedo nuts)- and its proving to be a great way to get everyone on board and excited with I-Day coming up!</p>

<p>and Bill- you're not old, just well ripened! Like a fine wine! ;)</p>

62

<p>"Just to demonstrate how each profession has its own little scam, they run a strep-throat test on every child-- "Just to be safe"--"</p>

<p>We only have to do that because you lawyers got involved ;) haha</p>

<p>This is waaayyy off topic, but this is an example of what physicians are required to do to protect themselves from lawsuits these days. If they were to not run that test, and they missed the one patient who did have Strep throat it could be the end of their career's if taken to court. "Defensive Medicine" is the newest term. I feel your frustration on being told there's really nothing to do. Imagine being on my side and having to tell someone that is coming to you for relief "well, there's nothing I can give you." Not the best feeling, especially when it's a screaming two year-old with an ear-ache. Oh my, those parents are not happy campers. haha. Okay, I digress, back to the original programming.</p>

63

<p>Wow, just heard on the news that more journalists have been killed in Iraq than in all the years of Vietnam. Is that right? Is this because of the IED problem?</p>

64

<p>Shogun: I heard it too. I would guess that there are also MANY more journalists in Iraq vs. Vietnam in the first place. Then consider that "insurgents" target more than soldiers - they kill, kidnap and behead anyone for the publicity and for pure hatred. Make the Viet Cong look good by comparison.</p>

65

<p>On a much lighter note, Navy2010 - you can't leave us here wondering what was on that Midspeak list! Please do post somewhere for our entertainment and education (properly ***, of course).</p>

66

<p>Back to KP2001 - ABC journalists Woodruff & Vogt were just brought to Navy Med for treatment. Go Navy Med! and you can't have too much praise for the work they have been doing at Walter Reed.</p>

<p>As a taxpayer, I am bemused by Slate's article on who will pay for their care: <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2135162/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.slate.com/id/2135162/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

67

<p>I was somewhat surprised that they took them to NNMC vice WRAMC. All the Army guys go to WRAMC. I imagine they have them on the VIP Ward, but I'm sure they would rather reporters see the inside of NNMC than WRAMC (Much nicer hospital). I'm not sure if their choice of hospitals means anything to me in what type of injuries Mr. Woodruff has as there are certain capabilities at NNMC that WRAMC doesn't have in the neurosurgery dept. The neurosurgery depts at the two hospitals are combined Army/Navy programs though so it would be the same physicians either place.</p>

<p>It sure is nice though to be able to say that it is my service that is the one responsible for their care. Also interesting article weski.</p>

68

<p>"mrgreenapple. What was the point of posting those videos? Do you realize you are on a Service Academy Parents Forum? Our children have already chosen to serve in the military. What good does it do to undermine the authority of our CIC (2nd video) and preach gloom & doom (1st video). Just who is the "fear monger" here?? </p>

<p>Some people feel that the war in Iraq is a noble cause (see the Ben Stein article posted previously about Saints in Armor). Retention rates are high - doesn't that tell you something about what the guys seeing this war first hand are thinking about their mission?"</p>

<p>bz2010: My hope is that people can understand that civilians, parents, and current soldiers can be Pro-America without being Pro-Bush. You don't need to support the reasons behind this war to support the people in it. The Military isn't this 100% War mongering, liberal leftist crushing, Bush machine. From talking to COMBAT ARMS veterans, I feel that Bush has less support from the military than the general public. </p>

<p>Retention rates are NOT high. The Army is dishing out the largest bonus' and incentives in history to try and maintain the fighting force. The only type of retention thats high is the Army's stop-loss policy that keeps people in the Army past their contract so they have to deploy for another year! How noble is that?</p>

69

<p>"Retention rates are NOT high."
Sure beats the draft. The soldiers are worth every penny, but that is NOT what keeps them doing it in most cases. The extra money just helps keep the family 'together'. It's the extra separation in war time (especially ground forces) and likely the war trauma that is the killer on retention (along with higher casualties of course).</p>

70

<p>"From talking to COMBAT ARMS veterans, I feel that Bush has less support from the military than the general public." mrgreenapple</p>

<p>I would have to agree. Many of the senior military officers I know can barely conceal their contempt for dubya. Moreover, every enlisted Marine/National Guardsman that I personally know who has been deployed to Iraq once or twice, is NOT reenlisting OR doing everything in their power so that they won't be sent back. For those of you who doubt this, don't miss the recent Pentagon report, "The Thin Green Line."
<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11009829/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11009829/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>dad2b'2010, Again, I vehemently disagree with you! Bring on the draft! Let's get the Bush twins in camo, and I can guarantee you that this war will come to a screeching halt in less that six months when the middle class is faced with military service. The military draft (male/female) is DEMOCRACY personified! American citizenship requires defending your country! What the heck are you talking about "sure beats the draft"??? </p>

<p>mrgreenapple, if I'm correct, you are active military?</p>

<p>I'm punishing my students. Tomorrow, they have to watch part of the state of the union address. ;)</p>

71

<p>"Let's get the Bush twins in camo, and I can guarantee you that this war will come to a screeching halt in less that six months when the middle class is faced with military service."</p>

<p>This is the second time you have brought this argument up about the Bush daughters. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't matter if they were drafted because they would end up in a position that would not be combat related and they would not end up in Iraq. Simply a silly argument.</p>

<p>The second part of your statement is simply uninformed. The middle class is what is fighting this war. </p>

<p><a href="http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/demographics.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/demographics.htm&lt;/a>


</p>

<p>"The military draft (male/female) is DEMOCRACY personified! American citizenship requires defending your country!"</p>

<p>Unfortunately the draft is not democracy personified. As shown during Vietnam the "haves" will find ways around the draft, while the "have-nots" will not. A volunteer armed services is democracy personified, you get to choose if you want to serve. And I'm not sure where the second idea comes from. I've never read anywhere that we are required to defend the country. I only had to agree to that when I took the Oath of Office. Personally I wish that US citizenship did require defending your country.</p>

<p>As an aside; one idea that I think would be interesting to debate (we can move it to another topic if needed) is mandatory 2 years of civil service at some point (haven't quite figured out if it should be 18 or a different time). This could be served in several different ways including the military. Other possibilities: public health, peace corps, etc. I know this would take a major revamping in the way we American's think, but I think it would help build character among our young people (and be cheap labor ;) )</p>

72

<p>"I feel that Bush has less support from the military than the general public."</p>

<p>Disagree, if you have seen any of the polls from Navy/Army/Air Force/Marine Times you would see that President Bush consistently receives well over 50% support from those polled. (This number I think is closer to 70%, but because I don't have the exact number I will shoot low) I have pretty good faith in those publications and in their polls. </p>

<p>Another way to look at this is to see how many Bush stickers you see on cars Vs. Kerry stickers on cars when on a base.</p>

73

<p>"This is the second time you have brought this argument up about the Bush daughters. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't matter if they were drafted because they would end up in a position that would not be combat related and they would not end up in Iraq. Simply a silly argument."</p>

<p>Because they are the president's daughters or because they are women? Neither scenario really is valid. Sitting and former president's have had their children in active theatre's of war in the past, and there are thousands of women serving in Iraq in combat situations.</p>

<p>The draft is the only legitimate response to a global war on terror--anything else is war on limited means and with limited resolve. Forcing volunteers to stay on active duty because of retention challenges really is a sort of "back door draft." It's time ALL American's started paying a price for the cost of this war, up front, either with a higher wartime tax or with personal service.</p>

74

<p>shogun, Amen.</p>

<p>"Another way to look at this is to see how many Bush stickers you see on cars Vs. Kerry stickers on cars when on a base."
kp2001</p>

<p>Not exactly the SCIENTIFIC METHOD!</p>

75

<p>Bush absolutely has more support from the military than the general public. But you have to remember...half the 'military' votes are waiting at home for thier soldier mate, wondering if he/she will return safely.</p>

<p>It is not easy to keep perspective when your loved one is on the the front line.</p>

<p>Some stuff on this thread is really getting rediculously liberal blindfolding like!</p>

<p>It is OK to hate the war! But how about some concrete, real suggestions on how better to secure WORLD peace into the next centuries (in the context of events since 911 anyway...)</p>

76

<p>Shogun:</p>

<p>You are correct in that there are many, many women who are serving in combat situations in Iraq. The government can classify them however they want, but they are definately serving on the front lines of this war, hence the female bilateral lower extremity amputee who I used to see WALKING around WRAMC. My point was more as they are the President's daughters. There is no way, no how, that as daughters of the President they would be in Iraq unless they specifically requested it.</p>

<p>I agree with the comment on the stop-loss policy. Don't like it one bit, but if you read what you sign when joining the military it is well within their right to do it.</p>

77

<p>"Not exactly the SCIENTIFIC METHOD!"</p>

<p>You are correct it is not. It merely provides anecdotal evidence which is near the bottom of the pyramid when it comes to research. Only thing lower that I can think of off hand is a consensus statement. I had however quoted a study in the lines above.</p>

78

<p>usna09mom -
One of my worst fears... ultra liberal educators...brainwashing our future leaders. Disgraceful ;)</p>

<p>Maybe you are from the second most liberal state?</p>

<p>Oh...one more thing, we are middle class. If the draft becomes needed to even the load (especially in the case of preventing exit after 8 years of service), than that is an additional price of freedom and security that must be paid in earnest.</p>

79

<p>MrGreenApple - I've been thinking about your video posts & I'm glad you have the freedom to "speak" your mind on a forum like this. I respect your service & I respect your opinion. I was concerned about how the videos would be received by other parents on this site.</p>

<p>Please reference this link for some retention figures:
<a href="http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050711-3941.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050711-3941.html&lt;/a>
(Granted, these are for June 2005 - I'll try to find something more current).</p>

<p>The percentages shown are:
Army 109%
Navy 101%
Marine Corps 103%
Air Force 101%
"Active duty retention. All services met or exceeded their overall retention goals for June and are projected to meet their retention goals for the current fiscal year."
(I'm not sure what percentage of these figures are a result of the stop-loss policy).</p>

<p>BTW, there is still lots of support for Bush in our "Fightertown".</p>

80

<p>Conservatives: Spend money on protecting our national future, and improving our ungoverned kindness.</p>

<p>Liberals: Spend money on everything else and pretend that we are a eutopian society, invincible, and surrounded by an entirely freindly world.</p>