OT: Young Military Folks ** Need Help

[Guest guest]

Butch,

 

Well you did it to this military person also, I

read this portion of your email:

 

> Nightengale .. obviously I don't know your son

> personally. But I can say from deep within my

heart that I might love him more than you do.

> My love is a different kind than yours but at

> this stage in his life it might be a more

valuable type of love. He has joined a

fraternity that all soldiers .. especially old

soldiers like me .. hold to be sacred and

> we honor and protect our brothers and sisters

> who are or have been members of this very elite

group. :-P

 

It is so very very true. I agree with everything

you have said here too, as you know anyway.

 

It was much easier for me to let go because I

knew it was absolutely necessary for my son. By

letting go my son was able to pursue a dream he

had had since he was 5 years old - to join the

military and fight for his country. He wanted to

follow in Mom's footsteps like most children who

follow in their parents footsteps.

 

Nightingale,

 

Butch is right - all you can do is let go. But,

if your son really wants to come home there are

ways - like I posted in a previous email.

 

It is really hard to let go, from one mom to

another, but as a military person and a military

mom - it is absolutely necessary not only for

your son but yourself. Be there for him yes,

listen to him and give him common sense advice

but keep your feelings out of it. Very hard to

do.

 

Cheryl Smith

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

From my husband ...

 

*Smile*Chris (list mom)

 

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

Nightengale,

 

I agree with Col. Butch. What your young Marine is doing is easier than what the Millions of Marines, Soldiers & Sailors before him did and yet it is still harder than most anything a Civilian will ever do. Don't worry about him getting a good holiday meal. One thing that every base knows how to do, is throw a great holiday meal. Mom your boy is becoming the kind of man that all little boys dream of being. Do not interfere with this. He needs your support not your sympathy. When he is done with his training he will be a capable soldier who can be counted on to do whatever it is that his God, Country, Corp and Unit needs of him without a second thought. Universe willing, he will come home some day and take on a civilian job and his employer will be very happy to have a person working for them that understands that fair is a child's word. Whatever you do please don't make a joke out of him. I had a friend who we all made fun of because his mommy called the Red Cross because she hadn't heard from her little boy in a month. Mind you that this little boy was a 6 foot 3 inch 200 pound man who had spent more than 2 years of his life in a combat zone and was a Second Class Gunners Mate Missiles in the worlds finest Navy. Of course he was serving aboard a war ship at sea when the Captain got the message that the Red Cross wanted him to call his mommy. The Captain chewed him out before he set him down and made him call his mommy. If you want to honor you son on Christmas then give him a call and tell him thanks. Remember and support your military men and women during the holidays and please don't cry for them. It only makes us sad to know our mothers are crying because of us.

 

Blessed be,

James J. Bollum

DK2 USNR

[Guest guest]

Hey Butch,

No I am not up set about your e-mail. You help me look

at things a little differently. My son is coming home

for x-mas. And he is doing it all on his own. They are

many parents out there who's kids can't afford to come

home. I guess if that was my son, my husband and I

would drive out there. NC and MO is not that far away

fOrleans Orleasn.

This has been a big adjustment for me. Just 5 months

ago he still had to answer " where are you going " , how

late are you going to be " and etc. This is so hard

for me. He was always independent, he started working

with my husband cutting yards at 9 yrs old. At 14

against my wishes, he started working on a tree lot at

x-mas. He was capt. of the football team, funny

personality-which no the marines did not mess up his

head and make him loss his personality. I would hear

that so much from people thinking the kids are

brainwasmental mentaly changed. No he is still a goofy

and friendly boy. What they did do was make him more

maturresponsibleponsable young man.

So I guess it is time to let go. This is so hard for

me to do.

I love the poem, in fact I was crying at work while I

was reading it.

Thank you for all you info and help, I would never

want to embarrass him. He would be very upset with me

if I did that.

Thanks again Butch,

Nightengale

--- Butch Owen <butchbsi wrote: > Hi

Nightengale,

>

> > Merry Meet everyone,

>

> Right. I'm gonna give you my opinion of the below

> and odds are you

> won't like it .. but then, those who come across

> with lots of sympathy

> aren't gonna do you a danged bit of good. I am NOT

> your enemy!!!

>

> > My son is in the Marines and I am shocked on what

> the airlines are

> > doing to all military men and women who want to

> come home for x-mas.

>

> There are close to a million young military men and

> women who want to

> come home for Christmas .. it is NOT the mission of

> the airlines nor of

> the Department of Defense to be charitable in that

> regard. Nor would

> the shareholders of the corporations allow such

> charity.

>

> > My son is going to put out 375.00 to come home for

> 13 days. Now we

> > may not think that is a lot but if you knew a new

> marines pay you

> > would understand.

>

> Its a lot for sure. And I've always been a champion

> for increasing the

> salary of military folks .. got into a big peeing

> contest on one wimp

> butt list about it and resigned because of that. At

> the same time, I

> don't think young soldiers or young civilians should

> expect to live a

> champaign and cavier lifestyle on a hamburger and

> beer pocketbook. If

> your son stays in for a time, he will be in better

> financial shape and

> will climb the ladder as is the norm in any

> professional organization.

>

> > I offered to help but he is independent and newly

> married so he

> > wants to do this on his own.

>

> I salute him on two counts .. one for joining the US

> Marines and two for

> wanting to cut loose from his parents purse strings.

> Sound like a fine

> young soldier to me .. and I've known a few tens of

> thousands of them.

>

> > So again they will have no money.

>

> This is a norm for young soldiers.

>

> > He is still in training and since he has only been

> married since

> > Oct. he is not getting the extra money for his

> wife yet.

>

> Also a norm .. he's hanging in there with thousands

> of others who got

> married afore they left home because they feared

> they would lose their

> lady if they delayed it. I've been there and done

> that myself. ;-p

>

> > This process of adding her on has not been easy

> for him to do.

>

> Right .. that's why we try real hard to discourage

> young troops from

> doing that until they are at least grade E4 .. but

> its like talking to a

> door when dealing with young folks who have a lot of

> growing to do.

>

> > He had to wait till he went to training and then

> he had to fill out

> > paper work by him self.

>

> Not sure what that means .. but the admin clerks in

> ALL military

> services assist young troops in filling out their

> requests for pay and

> other benefits. If they didn't, the documents

> wouldn't be acceptable.

>

> > He had to answer question for you new wife when

> you have no idea of

> > the answer. And of course he couldn't call right

> then and there.

>

> I think I'll not comment on this one. ;-p

>

> > So long story. I just got off a site for marine

> moms and one poor

> > mom is crying cause at one base there is only one

> airline that

> > lands at the airport near them. And they have

> raised the price to

> > over 600.00 with there discount.

>

> I think the son of that " poor mom " might be feeling

> more comfortable

> with his military comrades than he would feel at

> home .. and seems he

> had a good reason for wanting to join at a young

> age.

>

> > Of course she doesn't have that kind of money so

> her son might not

> > come home for x-mas.

>

> There are not enough airlines operating in the world

> for half the sons

> and daughters in the military to come home for

> Christmas .. and none of

> the military services will allow that many people to

> leave at one time

> anyway. Its not like a civilian company that

> announces they will be

> operating at half manning for a certain period.

>

> > I think if these young men and women are willing

> to put there life

> > on the line for this country, not knowing lately

> where they will be

> > tomorrow, the airlines could at least lower there

> prices for them

> > during the holidays

>

> I disagree .. however, there is such a thing as

> military stand-by

> flights which are considerably cheaper .. but no

> guarantees that the

> soldier will not wait 24 hours or so in this or that

> airport. Still,

> its an option that this ol' kuntry boy has used many

> times before.

>

> > and if a a death occurs in the family.

>

> EVERY military service give emergency leave and pays

> the tickets for

> soldiers who have a death in the family.

>

> > You have no idea how many military men and women

> will not be home

> > for x-mas due to the fact no one can afford the

> airline ticket.

>

> I'll say that at least 75% of them will not come

> home .. even those who

> can afford a ticket.

>

> > Most of the marines I am speaking about are in the

> age group of 19

> > to 21, and it has been hard for them.

>

> Here comes the hard part. The thing that is most

> hard on them is the

> misguided attention of their loved ones who don't

> want to let go of

> these young men and women. Let them grow up .. they

> are NOT children

> now and they need to learn that life is not a bed of

> roses!!!

>

> > Soonly MainealMainea mairne for 5 months, like my

> son, and deep

> > inside they still need to be with family and feel

> like a kid again

> > for x-mbuses he overebooked erbooked since they

> all the military run

> > there next.

>

> Not sure I understand the above .. the message was

> garbled during

> transmission .. over? But I will say that those who

> feel a need to be

> like a kid again are going to have a rougher time

> making the transition

> when they return to base and have some Gunney or

> Drill Sergeant chewing

> on their young ass in an attempt to teach them to be

> all they can be and

> learn to survive in combat without mommy and daddy

> being there to call

> when times get rough.

>

> > The bases are always out in now where land and

> there is always only

> > one airport near, where in my sons case it is 2.4

> hrs. away.

>

=== message truncated ===

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Ok you need to be on the Marine Mom web site. Which

includes dad's as well. And retired marines. You have

help me so much to see what I should be seeing and

feeling. You would help a great deal of people on this

site. Just reading what you have to say made me feel

better.

Thanks Again

Nightengale

 

--- Butch Owen <butchbsi wrote: >

Hey Nightengale,

>

> > Hey Butch,

> > No I am not up set about your e-mail. You help me

> look at things a

> > little differently.

>

> Happy I am to hear that. :-p

>

> > My son is coming home for x-mas. And he is doing

> it all on his own.

>

> Happy I am to hear that too. :-P

>

> > They are many parents out there who's kids can't

> afford to come home.

>

> Not surprised I am about that. But in time, no such

> conditions will

> restrict these young folks .. who by the way, are no

> longer kids. ;-p

>

> > I guess if that was my son, my husband and I would

> drive out there.

>

> That would be a nice thing to do.

>

> > NC and MO is not that far away from Orleans

> Orleasn.

>

> Right .. but his next assignment might be Silver

> Strand in Los Angeles

> or somewhere overseas .. so count on him missing a

> Christmas or two.

>

> > This has been a big adjustment for me.

>

> I believe you .. but a bigger one for him .. and a

> good one too.

>

> > Just 5 months ago he still had to answer " where

> are you going " , how

> > late are you going to be " and etc. This is so

> hard for me.

>

> Its sorta hard for him too cause he's still being

> asked those questions.

> Only difference is he might have been able to talk

> his way around a bit

> of trouble at home .. that's not gonna work now. ;-p

>

> > He was always independent, he started working with

> my husband

> > cutting yards at 9 yrs old.

>

> Good show .. glad to hear that.

>

> > At age 14 against my wishes, he started working on

> a tree lot at

> > x-mas.

>

> I expect you can now see that you might have been

> wrong to object.

>

> > He was capt. of the football team,

>

> That leadership experience will serve him well now.

> :-P

>

> > funny personality-which no the marines did not

> mess up his head and

> > make him loss his personality.

>

> The military has always been the leader of change in

> the USA .. in the

> vanguard of social change. They were the first to

> accept minorities and

> women on an equal basis. But never has the military

> tried to change the

> personality of their folks .. they know its not

> possible. They do try

> to instill values, attitudes and behavior that will

> lead young troops to

> change their own personality in areas that require

> adjustment.

>

> > I would hear that so much from people thinking the

> kids are

> > brainwased mentaly changed.

>

> There is a certain amount of reconditioning of the

> thought process.

> When they cut your hair off and dress you in baggy

> fatigues where you

> look like the dude next to you .. what they're doing

> is stripping you

> down to the basics. Matters not what one WAS before

> the haircut and

> change of clothing .. matters only what they ARE

> now. :-P

>

> > No he is still a goofy and friendly boy.

>

> Friendly I'll buy .. but goofy maybe not. I expect

> you will see him

> strutting around like a peacock one of these days

> soon. ;-p

>

> > What they did do was make him more maturre

> ponsibleponsable young man.

>

> Damn betcha on that one .. but they merely showed

> him the path and let

> him know what the consequences would be if he

> strayed from that path.

> And more importantly, he has to deal with peer

> pressure now. That alone

> can force more change than any ranking folks in the

> chain of command.

>

> > So I guess it is time to let go.

>

> Right. Mankind are the only critters on Gawd's

> Earth that have a tough

> time letting go of their offspring. I lived that

> when my son graduated

> from high school. My ex-wife was an extraordinarily

> fantastic military

> spouse .. total support and ready to kick butt when

> anybody criticized

> our involvement in Vietnam, etc. But when my son

> graduated he wanted to

> hang around the house and work at McDonalds for the

> summer cause he had

> a little gal on the hook .. said he hadn't yet

> decided what he wanted to

> do with his life. She was ready to accept this but

> I damn sure wasn't

> so I gave him some options. 1. Go to school and I

> will help. 2. Go to

> the Peace Corps. 3. Go to the military. 4. Work at

> McDonalds but you

> pay for the three slops and a flop while living at

> home .. no free ride.

> 4. was Go To Hell. None of these set well with my

> wife but my son knew

> I was serious so he chose No. 3. Signed up for 4

> years instead of 3 to

> get a fat bonus. Served as a Military Policeman in

> South Carolina and

> Panama, and while he was in, he took advantage of

> the Tuition Assistance

> Program and got two years of college. Got out and

> used the GI Bill to

> finish his undergraduate and masters. Now he is an

> IBM Systems Engineer

> pulling down over 200 K if per diem is included.

> But none of this would

> have happened if I had let him mother have her way.

>

> > This is so hard for me to do.

>

> Yep .. but nobody said everything in life had to be

> easy. The rewards

> will be far greater than the temporary discomfort.

> :-P

>

> > I love the poem, in fact I was crying at work

> while I was reading it.

> > Thank you for all you info and help, I would never

> want to embarrass

> > him. He would be very upset with me if I did that.

>

> Glad you did and thanks .. and thanks to the other

> folks who commented

> on and off line. Lemme tell you that soldiers are

> not immune from a

> tear now and then .. they just don't advertise it.

>

> > Thanks again Butch,

> > Nightengale

>

> Welcome you are and I thank you and salute you for

> having the courage

> and class to post this email. I also wanna add a

> bit of dialogue (folks

> who know me understand that means a helluva lot) ;-p

> to what Jim wrote.

>

> Jim .. Well said podner! Nothing much left to say

> but .. well said!

> But .. due to my verbose nature, I'll add a bit to

> your comments. ;-p

>

> I see three types of folks in the armed forces ..

> soldiers, sailors and

> airmen. Its a norm in the U.S. Army (my service) to

> consider Marines as

> being soldiers .. and its still politically correct

> in the corporate

> minded U.S. Air Force to refer to male and female

> members

=== message truncated ===

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Hey Nightengale,

 

> Hey Butch,

> No I am not up set about your e-mail. You help me look at things a

> little differently.

 

Happy I am to hear that. :-p

 

> My son is coming home for x-mas. And he is doing it all on his own.

 

Happy I am to hear that too. :-P

 

> They are many parents out there who's kids can't afford to come home.

 

Not surprised I am about that. But in time, no such conditions will

restrict these young folks .. who by the way, are no longer kids. ;-p

 

> I guess if that was my son, my husband and I would drive out there.

 

That would be a nice thing to do.

 

> NC and MO is not that far away from Orleans Orleasn.

 

Right .. but his next assignment might be Silver Strand in Los Angeles

or somewhere overseas .. so count on him missing a Christmas or two.

 

> This has been a big adjustment for me.

 

I believe you .. but a bigger one for him .. and a good one too.

 

> Just 5 months ago he still had to answer " where are you going " , how

> late are you going to be " and etc. This is so hard for me.

 

Its sorta hard for him too cause he's still being asked those questions.

Only difference is he might have been able to talk his way around a bit

of trouble at home .. that's not gonna work now. ;-p

 

> He was always independent, he started working with my husband

> cutting yards at 9 yrs old.

 

Good show .. glad to hear that.

 

> At age 14 against my wishes, he started working on a tree lot at

> x-mas.

 

I expect you can now see that you might have been wrong to object.

 

> He was capt. of the football team,

 

That leadership experience will serve him well now. :-P

 

> funny personality-which no the marines did not mess up his head and

> make him loss his personality.

 

The military has always been the leader of change in the USA .. in the

vanguard of social change. They were the first to accept minorities and

women on an equal basis. But never has the military tried to change the

personality of their folks .. they know its not possible. They do try

to instill values, attitudes and behavior that will lead young troops to

change their own personality in areas that require adjustment.

 

> I would hear that so much from people thinking the kids are

> brainwased mentaly changed.

 

There is a certain amount of reconditioning of the thought process.

When they cut your hair off and dress you in baggy fatigues where you

look like the dude next to you .. what they're doing is stripping you

down to the basics. Matters not what one WAS before the haircut and

change of clothing .. matters only what they ARE now. :-P

 

> No he is still a goofy and friendly boy.

 

Friendly I'll buy .. but goofy maybe not. I expect you will see him

strutting around like a peacock one of these days soon. ;-p

 

> What they did do was make him more maturre ponsibleponsable young man.

 

Damn betcha on that one .. but they merely showed him the path and let

him know what the consequences would be if he strayed from that path.

And more importantly, he has to deal with peer pressure now. That alone

can force more change than any ranking folks in the chain of command.

 

> So I guess it is time to let go.

 

Right. Mankind are the only critters on Gawd's Earth that have a tough

time letting go of their offspring. I lived that when my son graduated

from high school. My ex-wife was an extraordinarily fantastic military

spouse .. total support and ready to kick butt when anybody criticized

our involvement in Vietnam, etc. But when my son graduated he wanted to

hang around the house and work at McDonalds for the summer cause he had

a little gal on the hook .. said he hadn't yet decided what he wanted to

do with his life. She was ready to accept this but I damn sure wasn't

so I gave him some options. 1. Go to school and I will help. 2. Go to

the Peace Corps. 3. Go to the military. 4. Work at McDonalds but you

pay for the three slops and a flop while living at home .. no free ride.

4. was Go To Hell. None of these set well with my wife but my son knew

I was serious so he chose No. 3. Signed up for 4 years instead of 3 to

get a fat bonus. Served as a Military Policeman in South Carolina and

Panama, and while he was in, he took advantage of the Tuition Assistance

Program and got two years of college. Got out and used the GI Bill to

finish his undergraduate and masters. Now he is an IBM Systems Engineer

pulling down over 200 K if per diem is included. But none of this would

have happened if I had let him mother have her way.

 

> This is so hard for me to do.

 

Yep .. but nobody said everything in life had to be easy. The rewards

will be far greater than the temporary discomfort. :-P

 

> I love the poem, in fact I was crying at work while I was reading it.

> Thank you for all you info and help, I would never want to embarrass

> him. He would be very upset with me if I did that.

 

Glad you did and thanks .. and thanks to the other folks who commented

on and off line. Lemme tell you that soldiers are not immune from a

tear now and then .. they just don't advertise it.

 

> Thanks again Butch,

> Nightengale

 

Welcome you are and I thank you and salute you for having the courage

and class to post this email. I also wanna add a bit of dialogue (folks

who know me understand that means a helluva lot) ;-p to what Jim wrote.

 

Jim .. Well said podner! Nothing much left to say but .. well said!

But .. due to my verbose nature, I'll add a bit to your comments. ;-p

 

I see three types of folks in the armed forces .. soldiers, sailors and

airmen. Its a norm in the U.S. Army (my service) to consider Marines as

being soldiers .. and its still politically correct in the corporate

minded U.S. Air Force to refer to male and female members as Airmen,

though I expect that will change in time as the USAF is unique. ;-p

 

I believe that there are probably other concerned parents out there in

email land .. and I want to address their concerns. And Nightengale,

you might want to pass some of this along to some of those mothers that

have not attempted to see things differently .. as you've done so well.

 

Reference military chow .. not to worry. On the worst of days its far

more tasty and nourishing than the majority of folks in America eat ..

but on holidays, its mind-boggling. And I miss it .. very much.

 

The military takes care of its own .. and does a fine job of it.

 

Soldiers/sailors/airmen who aren't with parents, spouses or children on

holidays are NOT without loved ones .. though we don't specially refer

to brothers/sisters in arms as such (well, maybe Bill Clinton did) the

fact remains that the military takes care of its own .. its a old family

with old traditions that are held in great esteem. One can't understand

this unless they've been fortunate enough to have been a family member.

 

RARE is the soldier/sailor/airman who elects to ReUp for a second tour

of duty one who later does badly in life .. this includes those who

choose to go back to the " world " after a second tour. This is because

they are taught qualities and principles that are often new to them ..

and behavior and attitudes that are not normally found in a domestic

family environment. This is why many corporations will hire an ex-GI

over a civilian in a heartbeat .. they presume that the quality expected

within the corporate environment will be more than met by this person.

 

I say again ... the military takes care of its own .. and these are not

just words but an attitude and a reality that prevails to this date.

This attitude is instilled early on .. in training of the lowest junior

non-commissioned officers up to the most senior officers in the armed

forces. Concern for the health, welfare and morale of subordinates is

primary amongst the basic principles of supervisors and leaders. As

such they are able to teach and guide in a manner that isn't possible in

the emotionally familiar environment typical in most homes/families.

 

There's no doubt that some leaders exercise these principles because

they're required to .. and perhaps without a lot of zeal .. and such

folks are probably lousy parents too. But lackadaisical behavior like

that can't go far in a military chain without being corrected. There is

a balance system that fears no rank built into the military .. not so in

civilian life. Troops can visit the Inspector General or the Chaplain

and express grievances at any time .. and without repercussion.

 

Above is but a short list of the benefits of belonging to this unique ..

and I think, elite .. family. Though its likely that a young trainee

won't become aware of the benefits during basic training and initiation

into the ranks .. once they're assigned to a home unit, they'll begin to

feel they're a part of this proud family and will likely kick butt if

they think someone else is even considering criticizing that family.

 

Defending oneself in combat is no big deal .. doesn't take much to get

folks to fight to survive rather than perish. And this crap you see in

the movies about fighting for mom, apple pie, Chevolet and the flag is

pure bovine-excrement. Those who become heros in combat do so to save

others from perishing. And you cannot train people to become heros ..

you can't program them to face a hail of machine gun fire to drag back a

wounded comrade, or to charge a bunker with grenades and a pistol, or

fall on a grenade. These actions occur without forethought and for

reasons that the troop never considered prior to the action. You can

bet your bippy that it has to do with concern, loyalty and maybe even

love for comrades in arms! There is NO SUCH THING as a reluctant hero -

period!! And there are few civilian organizations who even dream about

having folks exhibit loyalty .. almost a pure military state of mind.

 

Parents MUST accept that things will be different after their youngun

takes the oath .. and they should understand that the difference will be

so great and to a point of turning their son/daughter into something no

university, civilian job OR family member could ever have accomplished!

 

The best thing a parent can do when their youngun joins the military is

to help them become all they can be by showing support, understanding

and pride that they are making the necessary MINOR sacrifices that are a

norm of this new way of life. The only other choice is to make them and

self miserable by sympathizing with their homesickness and perhaps their

natural tendency to resist the major changes that are necessarily being

forced upon them to mold their attitude and behavior.

 

I've lived this so often .. and I wish I could dump my mental hard drive

into other folk's noggins. Whinners, cry-babies, pissers and/or moaners

don't make it in this family .. they wind up busted or never making rank

in the first place, or AWOL or in the slammer and then being discharged

with LESS than an Honorable Discharge .. which affects them negatively

for the rest of their miserable lives. As a commander I knew I could

mold and guide young people .. but the hardest thing was convincing some

parents that their options were helping their youngster SUCCEED or FAIL

in this new environment! In ALL cases of dealing with married soldiers,

I found that the successful ones had a spouse who also supported them

and was an integral part of the team. It is IMPOSSIBLE to be a success

in the military if a spouse does not provide support!!

 

Young folks today VOLUNTARILY join the military for a number of reasons.

Some want to make it on their own and might not even have the courage to

tell their families to back off. Others want a job and think they have

a better opportunity to make it in uniform than in civvies. Some want

civilian education .. the military pays for this. Others want security

for themselves and their wives .. financial security, medical security

and retirement security. Regardless of the reasons why they join, they

have joined VOLUNTARILY .. only difference between that and getting into

a civilian job at entry level is that the civilian job has no security,

won't TOTALLY cover their medical care and that of their family, won't

offer them an education .. won't provide them with retirement income

that's NOT offset by social security, and they can quit a civilian job.

 

Considering all of these benefits not found in the civilian workplace,

why should the military not have the right to expect something in return

and demand service that is not demanded in the civilian workplace?

 

Just because the armed forces are supported by tax dollars should not

mean that every tax payer has a right to criticize how they take care of

their members. Thankfully, there is no similarity between how they take

care of their members and how civilian bosses treat their workers. But

some people think they have the right to complain about how the military

treats their " employees " if you will. If a civilian boss tells someone

they must work on Christmas Day .. they work .. or get fired. And the

civilian boss doesn't want to hear anything from the parents or spouse

of their employee. So how can one expect the military .. who is doing

FAR more for the employee (I hate that word) than the civilian boss to

accept interference or criticism for how they plan their workforce?

 

God Bless all soldiers/sailors/airmen and protect them from those who

would do them harm, be it intentional harm inflicted by honorable enemy

soldiers or unintentional harm inflicted by their loving, well-meaning,

but misguided non-military family members.

 

Y'all keep smiling, Butch http://www.AV-AT.com