Quote Originally Posted by MajMike
Did you even read the other posts, where I discussed my own stint as a grunt and my respect for them to this day?

I think you hear what you want to hear. You are one who said that whoever didn't agree with you was 'brainwashed', I merely pointed out the fallacy in that.

You seem to think you know everything about the military after a short three years, but if you really did you would have to recognize that people can differ in opinion without being 'brainwashed' by the opposition.

There are some poor officers in the military, just as there are poor performers in every large organization, but the idea that they all suck is just as bad as the idea that they are all perfect.

Caveat: I can understand your opinion better if it was about the military of your experience, a draft heavy group sent to fight a shitty war overseas. The Army was so fucked up then I share your thoughts about the officers they sent to you, and the politics of the 'Nam made the grunts already shitty life even worse.

But, today's military is very different, even if a shitty overseas war is on again and the Army is stretched thin. I spent more time in combat zones than you spent in the military, and I've worked at every level up to and including the Pentagon (left 1 month before 911, lost friends there too). Despite this, I recognize that I don't know everything about the military, or even the Air Force for that matter (PJ/CSAR).

Lastly, let me reiterate, you definitely have the right to your opinion and your viewpoint is as valid as mine. All I'm saying is that extreme views no matter what the perspective are usually wrong, or at least not well balanced (see our politicians).

Whatever our differences, I'm glad you made it here for us to discuss them. To another survivor I say, welcome home brother.
Thank you, thank you very much. Maybe had I known you, I'd have known 7 good officers. Most of the ones I came in contact with were shitheads. I drove a sedan at 7th army headquarters for a while, so I got to drive a lot of officers. Mostly majors and colonels, with a few captains thrown in. I also drove a few 1 star generals and General Clark once. There were a couple of times that they treated me like an equal, but generally speaking it was the hey private thing, shut up and drive. I had one major thet was a good old boy, came up through the ranks in Korea. He respected EMs. He invited me to eat with him and hang out at the bars, that guy could drink. we'd both get in that sedan shitfaced to the max and head for the barracks. Of course he went to the officers quarters and I to the enlisted barracks, but he was a real character.