Do you think our time in the military has made us better equipped to deal things like the restrictions put in place to combat COVID-19?

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 21:32:59 -0400

I had an interesting conversation with this week and the topic was "did being in the military help develop way to cope with this current situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic". Thinking about it, it might have. For those of that found ourselves in a combat zone, we were forced to go weeks/months with minimal resources. I can remember being told we only had one bottle of water per Soldier per day in the early days of the assault into Iraq. So I was just wondering what the RP community thinks.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2020 9:41 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 21:41:15 -0400

Having friends die in combat was much harder than what we are going through now. We endured then, and we will endure now. Military service did help prepare us to adapt and overcome all challenges.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2020 11:46 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 23:46:12 -0400

I think the sanitation tag is what SGT Keen is referring to. i.e. wash hands 20seconds. Just my humble opinion. This virus doesn't discriminate. Apparently at some point everyone is gonna have it or know someone that does.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2020 6:21 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 06:21:41 -0400

Did my service better prepare me to to deal with knee jerk government over reactions that are more harmful than the events they want to protect me from? Yes, Obviously

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Mar 21 at 2020 9:59 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 09:59:25 -0400

Good question. In one sense I feel like we're better prepared if only because we understand how to sit around and do nothing for long periods of time.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 21 at 2020 2:59 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 14:59:59 -0400

Yes, keep calm, act decisively, 1st aid, treating people, etc.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 21 at 2020 4:47 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 16:47:26 -0400

Two words: Pax Terminal...like right after you are customs inspected.

Response by 1SG Joseph Dartey made Mar 21 at 2020 5:04 PM

1SG Joseph Dartey — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 17:04:55 -0400

I believe it has prepared me. The motto "Do more with less" is proper for this situation because we will be doing more at home with the family with less if we are quarantined.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Mar 21 at 2020 6:25 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 18:25:58 -0400

Three basic words from my past...”Don’t Mean Nothin” and I just heard something about Malaria drugs having a good effect on COVID 19..Little white ones daily,big orange weekly sound familiar guys?

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Mar 21 at 2020 9:00 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 21:00:35 -0400

Reminds me of three weeks at sea, restricted as to where you can go and not much interesting if you leave the room. Of course I only said three weeks because we would normally pull into port and live the good life at least once a month.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2020 10:28 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 22:28:18 -0400

Did the hurry up and wait thing hunkered down in bunkers forever sheltered in place. Big voice said execute did that. Stood guard in the snow all day. Tired hungry cold pissed scared bored. Did as told. Had to believe someone above my pay grade knew more than I. So yes follow orders and take care of the team. Right now the team is at home.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 22 at 2020 2:47 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 14:47:00 -0400

I think the utility of the military is centralized decision making can be rather quick.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 23 at 2020 1:47 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 13:47:41 -0400

NBC and decon certainly helps.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Mar 26 at 2020 8:05 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 08:05:15 -0400

"Do you think our time in the military has made us better equipped to deal things like the restrictions put in place to combat COVID-19?"

We are used to taking orders we dont like and sometimes dont agree with, so sure, it likely helps in the current mindset of "Just stay home" as unrealistic as that is as a nation.

For many of us, our service helps in another way
"You all must stay home and isolate, otherwise some will die someday soon"
Ahh Karen, we lived day to day, not knowing if I or the guy next to me was going to die on the patrol we were on right now..... " some will die someday soon" is not all that scary Karen, just not.