Scuba1 wrote:
It was a disgusting time in our history - agree or disagree with government policy, but support the soldier - period.
At least the individual soldier is respected these days, in stark contrast to the days of the Vietnam war
As an aside, remember a good % of the US Army and some Marines were not in the whichever-service by choice--they were conscripted i.e. no choice. These days, there is choice (although it is for a large number, a good one giving them a leg up the opportunity ladder). Only 1 of 7 in the Armed Forces is in the combat arms sector (I could be wrong on this exact # but not the concept). If I had a grandson or daughter who had medium-to-poor prospects in life, I take'm down to the recruiters and negotiate the best I could to get them a training-for-the-future MOS/Rating in return for my gran signing on for a longer-term obligation (you'd be foolish to not go on those terms, making sure the obligation by the Service was iron-clad). That completed training and subsequent OJT skill-honing, can be transferred into the private sector instantly (employers know how good most of the schools are) if a Service career doesn't do it.
PS--Everything I said above especially was me dismal prospects (bounced out of college, working in a second-rate discount warehouse) AND the leg up came true. I'm not a
better man because I got a spark of smart and went in unconditionally: I'm a MAN because of it. Semper Fi.
Sorry about the hijacking but I had to say it. About the topic: I haven't had enough experience to comment.