Most civilians don't have a clue what military life is like

Dear editor:

Tyson Baker's letter last week stirred up plenty of folks, but one must consider that most civilians have no clue of military life.

A 20+ year career in uniform has nothing at all in common with ANY civilian endeavor. Over the years, I've even heard remarks that military pensions are government giveaways (like welfare), and that people make military careers because they can't handle it on the outside. That so?

I've always been curious, if we had it so good in uniform, how come lines to enlist weren't wrapped around the block? Seems like EVERYBODY would want to get in on this massive "gravy train," wouldn't ya think?

A military enlistment is a CONTRACT, and if you're willing to serve Uncle Sam for 20 years or more, there'll be a "little something" for you at the end if you happen to survive and not end up scattered in pieces on some foreign soil. A service pension is merely Uncle Sam living up to HIS end of the bargain, which really IS a "bargain" for the politicians, who don't have to risk THEIR hides, get shot at, live in a hole and dine on C-rations.

Let's start with this "only 20 years" thing. Time-wise alone, when you figure in all the 12-hour shifts (that you don't get "time and a half" for), the weekends, the holidays, the deployments, it's a lot closer to 30 than it is to 20.

Then there's the freedoms YOU give up so these civilians can keep THEIRS. You will dress, groom and conduct your life to Uncle Sam's liking, not yours. Until your enlistment is up, your life no longer belongs to you. If you don't like your job or the base you're assigned to, that's just tough. YOU signed up for this and do NOT have that "two week notice" clause the civilians do. An Airman for example, turning wrenches on F-15's through the night, is at poverty level. If Uncle Sam had to pay him what his civilian counterpart at McDonnell-Douglas makes, we couldn't even to begin to afford a military.

Got tickets to a rock concert tomorrow night? Family coming to visit? Kid has a softball game this weekend? Really? When the phone rings at 0200 and three hours later you're on the way to God only knows where, your family comes SECOND, son. Depending on service branch, you might be coming home in a body bag or as a "wounded warrior." But then, that's easier than having to try to make it as a civilian, eh? Christmas? Thanksgiving? Easter? Yeah, if "Uncle" doesn't need you MORE somewhere else at the moment. It's a great life. Give it a try.

The bitter truth about "not making it on the outside," is that most CIVILIANS lack the guts to do for REAL what they do on their computer video war games. When the mortar rounds, bullets and bombs are ACTUAL, there ain't no "on," "off" or "re-set" buttons. THEY'RE the ones who couldn't handle it if required. They love that "milk and honey" as long as someone ELSE has to fight for it.

But the pensions few can live on, are pretty much the "same as welfare checks," eh? Sickening what this society has become.

Because of the poor pay, long hours and living conditions, the G.I. was enticed to re-enlist all through the '60s and '70s with all this "free stuff at retirement," as compensation for the lousy wages and sacrifices forced upon him and his family. As that "magic date" got closer, the rhetoric strangely turned into "co-pay," "Tri-Care" and etc. Lied to AGAIN. Then of course, when you DID retire (on a pension you couldn't really live on), you found yourself at 40-45, competing with 20-year-olds for jobs.

When you came home in the late' 60s from "Bang-Bang DaNang" to the "ticker-tape parades" and the "adoring public," you wondered what it was all for, (at least THAT part of it has changed for the better, as today's public is finally blaming the politicians and not the troops).

I have to deal with the V.A. today (courtesy of the Agent Orange that civilians only read about).

I've seen the Wall, and clearly see how our troops TODAY are being misled as well. Amazingly, we still have young warriors willing to sacrifice so our "holier than thou" civilians and ACTUAL welfare recipients don't have to, and the colleges can keep subverting our high school grads into future socialists as this country is continuing to be given away.

Finally, Tyson, all five branches have their own function. As proud as I am having been a combat Marine, I'm sure I can speak for our entire battalion when I say that in really tough and outnumbering situations, there wasn't ONE of us who didn't appreciate seeing those Phantoms (both Marine and AIR FORCE) come streaking down the valleys of Khe Sanh dropping bombs and napalm. Going out on "search and destroy" sweeps, it was always an added comfort just knowing that waves of AIR FORCE B-52's had "carpeted" ahead of us. Most of the old-timers remember "Puff," the C-47's, flying around up there in the dead of night. Whatever uniform you wore, nobody had an easy job.

It's a team effort to get it done. Those "tanks on the borders" you mentioned is a good thing. Too bad they aren't down there right now along the Rio Grande, because THAT'S where they need to be right now, but with Obama trying to stack the deck with "amnestied votes" for 2016, we're not going to see that happen.

-- Mike Bradbury