The NEW face of the American Military

**Til the Last Drop** · Jun 05 2012, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by 4Horsemen

The OP picture weakens the US Military in the sight of other nations.

LOL. I think our superiority outweighs how they feel about us. It's not like we launch breast feeding women at their installations from aircraft carriers.

**Mushroom** · Jun 05 2012, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by 4Horsemen

The OP picture weakens the US Military in the sight of other nations.

What?

It is an article from the Today Show, posted on MSNBC. If you had not pointed it out, I doubt most of us would even have heard of it. I certainly do not care, and I doubt that more then 2 out of 1,000 people around the world care about this at all. And if anything, I think that most areas of the world would be more shocked at the low percentage of children that are breast fed in the United States, as compared to the rest of the world.

**4Horsemen** · Jun 06 2012, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by Mushroom

What?

It is an article from the Today Show, posted on MSNBC. If you had not pointed it out, I doubt most of us would even have heard of it. I certainly do not care, and I doubt that more then 2 out of 1,000 people around the world care about this at all. And if anything, I think that most areas of the world would be more shocked at the low percentage of children that are breast fed in the United States, as compared to the rest of the world.

You missed it because you weren't paying attention. the media threw it out there subtley to make sure people like you didn't catch it. or it's unlying meaning.

Furthermore, you talk about how nobody cares about it, then why did they make it? ask yourself.

Everything has a meaning and a goal when you put it in pictures. everything.

This weakens our image to other nations. do you see other nations doing this? NOPE!

**Til the Last Drop** · Jun 06 2012, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by 4Horsemen

You missed it because you weren't paying attention. the media threw it out there subtley to make sure people like you didn't catch it. or it's unlying meaning.

Furthermore, you talk about how nobody cares about it, then why did they make it? ask yourself.

Everything has a meaning and a goal when you put it in pictures. everything.

This weakens our image to other nations. do you see other nations doing this? NOPE!

The only thing guys think is.....

**septimine** · Jun 06 2012, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by Herkdriver

All these distractions like repealing DADT, urinating on cadavers and this photo of nursing while in uniform...
if you're in the military you should be doing, or preparing to do in peacetime, one of two things...killing people and breaking their stuff or supporting those who do.

Even the U.S. Navy is playing the "we help people" angle...

No, at a moment's notice...you kill people or you support those who do.
If you're not doing so at a given moment, you are preparing to do so...

I can't believe how PC war fighting has become...folks are in uproar over the photo now...
it's an unnecessary distraction.

Actually, I think it's beyond "distraction", it's getting dangerous. It started when women wanted a bigger role in combat, and continued to this day. The biggest problem we have is that our millitary is being slowly turned into yet another "jobs" type program. The criteria are no longer based on "military strength", but whether or not it lets anyone join the army and do whatever job they want to within the Army. If it hurts unit cohesion, too bad. If it means putting weaker people in positions where not being able to carry as much as a man means dead soldiers, too bad. Even with the pictures, I don't know that such things hadn't happened in the past, but it was dealt with on the field by commanders. The eye even in this was on the combat, not some civillian's sensibilities. They might have punished soldiers who posed with and SS flag, but they wouldn't have risked taking elite snipers off the field. PC is going to kill us. Armies are for fighting, not jobs programs or political arms.

**IgnoranceisBliss** · Jun 06 2012, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by septimine

Actually, I think it's beyond "distraction", it's getting dangerous. It started when women wanted a bigger role in combat, and continued to this day. The biggest problem we have is that our millitary is being slowly turned into yet another "jobs" type program. The criteria are no longer based on "military strength", but whether or not it lets anyone join the army and do whatever job they want to within the Army. If it hurts unit cohesion, too bad. If it means putting weaker people in positions where not being able to carry as much as a man means dead soldiers, too bad. Even with the pictures, I don't know that such things hadn't happened in the past, but it was dealt with on the field by commanders. The eye even in this was on the combat, not some civillian's sensibilities. They might have punished soldiers who posed with and SS flag, but they wouldn't have risked taking elite snipers off the field. PC is going to kill us. Armies are for fighting, not jobs programs or political arms.

I very much disagree with this. Joining the military today is much harder than it's ever been. The standards are higher and the military's willingness to give waivers is lower than ever. Part of this has to do with the economy and the cutting of the defense budget, and part of it has to do with the military's evolution. The media tried to imply that the military seriously relaxed its standards around 06,07,08 because no one wanted to go off and fight in Iraq/Afghan (it's a sexy story to the media), but even then there was no shortage of troops, just a few months here and there where the Army missed it's recruiting goals.

The real problem is the media and now social media bringing the reality of the military to everyone's couch. In the past the military was left largely to its own devices. Your average citizen had no idea what went on. Today with youtube, CNN, etc. any kind of controversy is sent around the world in a matter of hours. This has brought a lot of scrutiny on the military by people in power and civilians who have no idea how and why the military operates the way it does. Trying to explain to someone who's never spent a night in the field or gone on a 20 mile ruck why it's bad to have women in combat is almost impossible. They watch CNN/MSNBCs opinion piece on the issue, which is often poorly researched or at least deliberately misleading, and think it's a good idea. Unfortunately, many politicians do the same thing. That's why this new wave of PC is hitting the military. As long as 99% of the American population is isolated from the realities of warfare but kept "informed" through media about it's ugly truths, it will be difficult for the military to operate as it needs to.

**Herkdriver** · Jun 06 2012, 07:58 AM

It goes back to professional decorum while in uniform and not in the field. Even having your hands in your pockets can look unprofessional and slovlenly to some.
The photo was taken on a CONUS military base, and it just looks...for lack of a better word...un-military. Mushroom suggested some type of covering, and that's a good idea...

Offices may be going to "business casual" but the uniformed military should remain squared away to a certain degree...the military should not be "civlianized" or "corporatized"
and that is certainly the trend now. Not to berate the point into the ground...again the core function of the military needs to be brought to the forefront.

War fighters.

**4Horsemen** · Jun 06 2012, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Herkdriver

It goes back to professional decorum while in uniform and not in the field. Even having your hands in your pockets can look unprofessional and slovlenly to some.
The photo was taken on a CONUS military base, and it just looks...for lack of a better word...un-military. Mushroom suggested some type of covering, and that's a good idea...

Offices may be going to "business casual" but the uniformed military should remain squared away to a certain degree...the military should not be "civlianized" or "corporatized"
and that is certainly the trend now. Not to berate the point into the ground...again the core function of the military needs to be brought to the forefront.

War fighters.

Exactly.

perfect example of dead serious military:

China

CHINA_Army.jpg

compared to this

9TA3_X16FET03.jpg