Do you think the troops should be politically educated before shipping off to Iraq?

Question

In the military, they make people feel very intimidated and helpless to stand up for themself because they’re under all this pressure to follow orders and go with the flow. Don’t stand up for yourself--not only because you face punishment, but also because you don’t want the people you’re serving with to say that you’re hurting the integrity of the team.

PRIOR to enlisting maybe some course should eb required so people know what the implications of thier actions are and what damage could be incurred if they do someday figure it out.

For example PTSD.

Answer 1

You obviously know nothing about the military or military life. There's a chain of command just as there is in any large corporation, there's structure, rules and regulations to follow. Post boot camp there's defense training, MOS schools, they learn codes of conduct and warfare and are held to a higher standard than sloppy, low moral civilians. You don't see ANY service member wandering through Wal Mart in their pajama bottoms like you do civlian slobs. There's an actual education to be had upon enlisting that goes well beyond the confines of a classroom....an education and lifestyle, pride in your job and pride in defending your country and the Constitution.

Answer 2

So many people have this misconception about the military. They think it's important for soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to practice democracy and express their individual beliefs and opinions. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Speaking of the military in Crimson Tide, Gene Hackman said, " We are here to preserve democracy; not to practice it." That sums it up. Also this importance civilians place on individuality is crap. Nothing matters more than the team. Only as a team can the military fight and win. If everyone got to have their say, we'd be going in a thousand different directions.
Furthermore, nobody lies to recruits about this. Upon joining the military, everyone swears to support and defend the Constitution and to obey the orders of the President and the officers appointed over them. So everybody knows going in that they will be expected to obey, even at the risk of their own lives.
Civilian ideas have no place in the military. If the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard tried to run themselves like a civilian business; if they bought into all this modern, touchy-feely, civilian crap about everyone being equal and equally important, then we wouldn't have a Constitution left to defend. It would have been taken from us long ago.
And to clarify my point about equality: All men are created equal. The course and character of their lives then determines their value. Some are better than others.

Answer 3

The military would want their own people to be on their side. If the army provide some cultural and political education, the soldiers might get all soft and there could be a possility that they might join the other side.

The 1st briefing is to list out all the cons of the other country to psyche the soldiers to fight their heart and soul for their country. Nothing good about the country will be mentioned. Only people with a conscience would realise that killing innocents or even judging other people's lifestyle is wrong.

Why do you think they enrol the people they enrol?

Answer 4

I believe that you should support the military men that have served to make this country free. If you sign up in the military you should not expect it to be a party. Men have died over the years protecting this great country of ours so that you can get on the Internet and say anything you want to about them and this country. It is your right. Men that join the military know the consequences that could happen if they go to war. So support them, and keep their spirits up, so they can make it home to the country they love. How do you know their intimidated and helpless, have you ever been in the military yourself.

Answer 5

Another fine example of an ignorant liberal that thinks he knows more about the military than the military...

So how do you know so much on military training, leadership and discipline that you're an expert? Have you ever been in the military or ever actually even talked to any military members?

Liberals like "enlightenment" are exactly what's wrong with liberals since they're not enlightened at all... With their pseudo-intellectualism and single source liberal information they think they have all the answers...

Answer 6

Who educates, the left or the right? The left will try and convince them not to go in at all and the right is super patriotic. There isn't much of a middle road. By the way, my husband and I stand up for what we believe all the time! As did my parents. We aren't afraid to say our opinions, we let people know how we feel about politics and current events. Think about what you ask before asking it.

Answer 7

For delusionale who left the comment that the military briefs the service members on the country they are up against by telling them nothing but bad things about that country, I would like to know where you get your facts. And our military doesn't teach service members that it's okay to kill innocent civilians. Yes, that happens in war and it's really sad, and I wouldn't want to be the person that has to live with knowing they killed an innocent person, but it's like these men and women are just walking up and blowing civilians away! And for you to say that they are taught to judge people and how they live their lives in other countries, are you insane? Why don't you educate yourself on the subject before you make up crap. Those men and women that over in Iraq now are fighting to try and make a better life for those people over there. You think that the Armed Forces only recruit people that have no conscience? Our Military men and women are some of the finest people on this earth. It's because they aren't cowards and they are willing to protect other people from sadist like Saddam and Hitler! Your screen name fits you perfectly because you are delusional.
As for the person who ask the original question, I don't that the military teaches their members to not stand up for their selves. As a matter of fact, they teach them to fight for what they believe in. No amount of political education is going to really prepare anyone for a war. These people that enlist are aware that the day could come that they have to go to war! And what could really be taught? Every situation and every war is different, so they can't prepare them for individual cases. People have this image that military members are all about killing and fighting. People seem to believe their life is about whatever service they are in, but that's not true. Yes, it's a way of life, but they all lead perfectly normal lives like everyone else! My husband is in the Navy and when he walks through the door everyday he is actually ready not to talk about work! He is like anyone else and does his best not to bring his work home. It's all about him and I and our kids. Nobody brain washes these people, and they join the military because they want to. Because they believe strongly in what they are doing.

Answer 8

Since you still have no idea what you are talking about, I will educate you.
They do have classes that discuss things like the following 14 leadership traits.

Justice
Judgment
Decisiveness
Integrity
Dependability
Tact
Intelligence
Endurance
Bearing
Unselfishness
Courage
Knowledge
Loyalty
Enthusiasm

The Marine Corps teaches these in boot camp. Unfortunately not everyone remembers them all at the right time. Kind of like when Your teaches told you to have an open mind. You must not have been paying attention that year.

Answer 9

lets not ponder issues like that and just let them do their job and support them, as a military man " The best thing for any of them is home support", everyone in this country (few exceptions) is always behind a conflict until a few soldiers are killed, then its "this is taking too long and too many lives." That kills moral quicker than anything....

Answer 10

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