does it make me a good soldier if im not afraid to die?

Question

Im willing to go above and beyond for my squad, im even the first to enter a unchecked building. Or am i just crazy?

Answer 1

It makes you an exceptional soldier. Thank you for protecting us =)

Answer 2

Jeremy,
You are a liar. I have read your "Questions" history. You dishonor yourself. You are an overweight college freshman in remedial math, who enjoys riding motorcycles (that is what I gather from your question history).

If you were in the military i'd tell you this:
I think the reason you are the first to enter the building is because that is the position you have been assigned by your squad leader.
Not being afraid to die doesn't make you a good Soldier. A good Soldier is one who follows orders and adheres to the Army Corps values.

I am in the Army, and I am in Iraq, and I have been in Combat. Your insinuation of the fact that you serve and that you are at the forefront of combat operations is an insult to those of us who are here. You haven't got a clue young man - join up and you will learn first hand about "Fear of Dying." Honestly, there isn't a "Fear of Dying" it is more of hoping your decisions and actions don't result in the death of innocent by-standers or the Soldiers on your team and under your command.

Answer 3

I can't believe a question like this even exists to pander to idiot civilians who don't know better than to "ooh" and "ahh".

Yeah, I read your question history. You're a college kid studying game design and computer drafting - IF that's even accurate, I'd say you're something even less - but you're definitely not military.

f you're really military (and every indication is that you are not) then you know what a good Soldier is without having to ask. It's all there in your unit. Have you been boarded, either Soldier or the Month or Promotion Board? Do you take Military Correspondence Courses? Have you completed a requisite number of DA Schools (ABN, AASLT, etc) that earn you leadership skills and promotion points? Do you follow AR 670-1 without fail? Do you follow the Army Values without fail? Do you lead PT Formations and commendations for your discipline? Are you technically and tactically proficient for your skill level and the two right above your pay grade? You already know the answers to these.

The idiot civilians you pander to don't know any better.

Willing to go above and beyond is good and entirely normal in a line unit, but taking point consistently is something that doesn't benefit anyone. It screws people in MOUT, and your squad leader should know better. It's not beneficial to the squad to have you as point over and over again. It screws with professional development of the other members of the squad, for starters. It reduces your efficiency because point gets burnt out if used repeatedly - and that endangers EVERYONE in your squad when number one man goes down because he goes through charging room after room after room and gets careless, ends up getting hit.

I've been in MOUT and I know firsthand the LAST sort of person I want to clear rooms with is someone like you - who "isn't afraid to die". Because when you actually do charge ahead on point, ignoring commands, and get hit? Guess who has to now step over you, screaming for dear life, in the fatal funnel and deal with the threat. Not you. Definitely not you.

Then again, the chances you're actually military are low, low, low. I dare you to prove otherwise. Not that it matters.

You're not a Soldier. You're just a fraud.

Answer 4

Wellllll, it's hypothetical, but if it were reality, you'd be either crazy or stupid. By being unafraid to die, and not afraid to enter an unchecked building. Fear's not to be denied. It's a natural defense mechanism. It causes adrenaline, and makes the nervous system (including reflexes) go into overdrive. This is the principle behind the "quick and the dead" cliche. Someone who's too dumb to be scared, or too nuts to care about death is almost certain to get himself, and those around him dead, and quickly. Going above and beyond is'nt the same thing at all though. I think Mark Twain said it best: "Courage is'nt the absence of fear, it's mastery of one's fear. Bravery is defined by those who do what must be done though they're terrified to their very core." or words to that effect.

Answer 5

It doesn't make you a bad soldier at all. In fact, it could help you and your squad if you are less afraid. But if you are afraid, that's ok because it makes you an even better soldier for going out and fighting even if you dont want to die.
Whether you're a good or bad soldier isnt based on if you are afraid of death or not.

Answer 6

Dear God,

why haven't you or you Drill Sarge incarnation quoted the good General Patton?
to paraphrase
"It is not your job to die for you country, it is to make the other soldier die for his"
It costs the taxpayer more to bring home a corpse in a casket than a trooper in a seat.
What a ****. I hope you are never near any real soldiers like the guy above

Answer 7

Crazy. I don't think it makes you a good soldier. It's all well and good your ready to fight but most times fear of dying is what keeps most people alive, and sane. Like your not scared to go into an unchecked place, well you go marching in and there is heavy fire power or a bomb, you die. But a scared person will be a little more concerned with thier life and wait for it to be checked or whatever. And hey, they live.

Answer 8

Depends. I dont know you but some soldiers suffer from PTSD and tend to block trama out and thats why they are no longer afraid to die. They become numb and that makes them a danger to themselves and others. Some are just fearless or barry their fear deep inside and believe it makes them weak and less of soldier to admit they are in any way like a regular civilian.

Answer 9

Trauma causes people to engage in high risk taking behavior. If you are not afraid of dying you might ask yourself why... I do not think loyalty to the squad is a sufficient answer from a mental health perspective.

You are not crazy, but if you are ina a war zone, you may be suffering from PTSD.

think about it and remember that (in my opinion) we only have one time around, one life, nothing after this one, one earth that is a very special thing, the right coordinance from the Sun, all that...

So make decisions morally and get through this so you can acomplish the other goals you have in life, learing a language??/ writing a book? who knows.

be well.

Answer 10

Only you can answer that! LOL! I doubt you're crazy, but have you ever asked yourself why you do what you do? Maybe a need to stand out, get recognition? Feels good to have people notice how brave and selfless you are? Maybe your just an overachiever. You want to be the best at what you do, no matter what you do. Please, take care. A little fear is a good thing, it could save your life. Thank you for all you do. My son, who is 17, is a member of the Army National Guard. Scares me to death.

Answer 11

Through my years as an NCO, I have learned this.......

Don't expect your Soldiers to do anything you wouldn't. An effective leader sets the standard. Though you don't have to do it all of the time, it is a good gesture to show your Soldiers that you are willing to do the same as they are. Doing this shows your Soldiers your level of committment to them, and will also gain you respect.