Social Change in the Military Community: Why It's Vital We Don't Fight The Tide

2015-07-09T17:30:50-04:00

We've entered a time of turbulent social growth and change in the United States. We can dislike it all we want based on our personal morality or politics, but change is happening and it is, in point of fact, completely inevitable. However, do changes to the needs of the basic Joe or Jane really make as big of a professional impact as many seem to take it? Big DoD seems to be taking a lot of these changes in stride, and a fair amount of the fire over say, homosexual men and women serving in the armed forces. As marriage equality spreads across the U.S. these issues will ultimately be decided by Supreme Court Order once and for all in the very near future. So is marrying and having families in the armed forces really so alien? Does a gay couple really want anything very different from a straight couple? The wide answer is a resounding no, and it's more or less becoming the common feeling with the active forces.

The problem we're really running into from my ground eye-view is, with us veterans and retirees on the other side, we're all nasty, crusty and mean. Some of us are older than dirt; some of us are the salt of the Earth. However we are letting our comrades down. Every time a female Veteran is asked where her husband is when she walks into a Legion post or a VA hospital, that's a problem. If parts of our community violently scorn and reject our homosexual, trans, and even female brothers and sisters, that’s a problem. These days there are already high casualties amongst our ranks just as Veterans - from mental wounds sustained in combat, the stresses of the civilian world, or whatever it may be. Harassment, marginalization and being cut off and left alone are certainly well known vectors for life ending drastic measures. These measures are not something we as a group can allow to happen for any of us.

Even if you can't get past that you sure wouldn't leave any of them on the other side of the defensive fortifications, exposed and alone to their fate, that's what we do when we exclude, expel and otherwise eject our brothers and sisters from our communities. They might get by…one group or another will pick up the bag - or not. Shouldn't we be there first though? If that one gay guy from motor T did a ride along, and got blown out of his turret, are you going to jump for him and pull him into the Humvee so Doc has a shot at keeping him alive long enough for a CASEVAC bird to get there? Would you hesitate, if they were the ones looking at you, needing a brother or sister to save you? I don't presume to speak for Chief Beck, or any trans or homosexual service member, but based on her record, based on the people I know, they wouldn't even blink. Because that's what family does for family. If you wouldn't do that for someone wearing the uniform, no matter what their deal is, maybe you need to reconsider what brotherhood, camaraderie and standing together, being willing to fight and die for each other without a word of reservation means to you. You won't stick out your hand or hesitate to fight back against the enemy within that is slaughtering so many of us. Are you really my brother or my sister?

It's not about beliefs. It's not about morality. It's about saving lives and standing together. It's just us. We're cut off and alone, and only we can help and save each other, and we have to do it without hesitation or restriction, without forcing people out of our special clubhouses. We are the special club. Why do you need more of a qualification than honorably serving, just like the rest of us? Is it right to remember our fallen by declaring a small group of us, who did nothing different than any of us, don't count?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 5:52 PM

2015-07-09T17:52:43-04:00

Well said, LCpl Private RallyPoint Member. At the end of the day, I don't like many of the people I work with, and I could probably count my truly close friends in my unit on one hand. I disagree fundamentally with most of them about most things, politically, socially, religiously, in what music we like... and it doesn't make a single ounce of difference. At the end of the day, they're brothers and sisters in arms. We put on the uniform, and the rest has to stop mattering. We do what we have to in order to accomplish the mission, win the fight, and come home, and we do it together.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 7:08 PM

2015-07-09T19:08:45-04:00

Such a great post.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 9:27 PM

2015-07-09T21:27:39-04:00

intentionally blank

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 11:47 PM

2015-07-09T23:47:28-04:00

For the record, this article was written about three weeks in advance of the Supreme Court ruling, which is why the future tense is there.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 11:50 PM

2015-07-09T23:50:48-04:00

Bravo.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 9:50 PM

2015-07-14T21:50:37-04:00

When we stop focusing our attention on the capability required to fight and win America's war, we weaken our ability to accomplish our mission. So, while we are focused on social engineering of the military and including people to provide sex change operations, provide equality, or become more progressive/politically correct in our standards, we are not focused on our mission and capability. Now, if we can move the discussion to standards and capability for members in the military and away from sexual orientation, sexual identification, sexual preference, having sex with others, etc., then we are focused on the right topic.

Response by Sgt Den OBrien made Jul 15 at 2015 4:19 AM

2015-07-15T04:19:08-04:00

my CG wants soldiers to wear USMC uniforms to improve morale. What do you think?
http://www.duffelblog.com/2015/07/co-soldiers-will-wear-marine-corps-uniforms-improve-morale/?utm_source=DuffelBlog.com+fans&utm_campaign=d21cfe1e4a-Duffel_Blog_Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6d392bc034-d21cfe1e4a-23781113&mc_cid=d21cfe1e4a&mc_eid=b770689249

CO: Soldiers Will Wear Marine Corps Uniforms To Improve Morale

FORT CARSON,Colo.—In an effort to improve morale within his unit, Army Col. David Hodne has ordered his soldiers to eschew wearing traditional Army uniforms laden with combat patches, jump wings, and other insignia. They will instead spend their timewearing Marine Corps uniforms. “It’s a culture thing,” said Hodne. “Ours sucks.” At first, Hodne was just …

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jul 15 at 2015 8:51 AM

2015-07-15T08:51:32-04:00

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member I've always been about change and I agree there will be different generations of veterans and retirees that won't understand all the changes that are coming at a very rapid pace throughout the military and civilian society as well. I embrace change for the good, the bad, and the ugly. I definitely don't have al the answers to all the issues that are yet to be introduced, have been already, and are being debated. I will always support veterans and brothers and sisters in arms, but at the same time we as senior leaders are driven by mission (brain washed), so COL Private RallyPoint Member has some valid points as well. I think you both do and that is the great thing about the military and leadership, we agree to disagree and disagree to agree and in the end we can meet somewhere in the middle. I look forward to changes whatever they may be, even though they don't affect me personally because of my retirement status, but they do affect those that I still have a relationship with in the military (that I still coach and mentor). Therefore, I need to stay on top of these issues and understand them. That is what is important to me (understanding and processing the changes). Good post, but keep an open mind to us old Colonels - we bring a little value to the table as well when it comes to focus, mission, and capabilities.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Jul 15 at 2015 11:26 AM

2015-07-15T11:26:08-04:00

The thing I always find hilarious is that people think this is new. In Desert Storm I served with and was friends with gays and lesbians. They did their jobs and served honorably, and it didn't take a genius to figure out their sexual preference, but at the same time they weren't running around with a rainbow flag. I never felt compelled to participate in their choices, in the same way that I never felt compelled to do Tequila shots until I threw up, even though I had friends that thought that was the best way to spend a Friday night.

It seems to be part of the "circle of life" for the "nasty, crusty and mean" to reach a point in life when people start saying things like "back in my day", "new music isn't any good", and "the morals of this country are going to hell in a hand basket"... but the truth is it's always been there. Eleanor Roosevelt preferred the company of women, there's evidence that Lincoln slept with men. People haven't changed that much.

So the question really is "Do you want honesty?" is what you really want is for someone to hide their true character until it boils over so you can act shocked and horrified when you find out the truth?

I personally like to know what I'm dealing with.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jul 15 at 2015 12:36 PM

2015-07-15T12:36:57-04:00

Well said, I think some of what has happened is the speed of change, In the span of what few years, we are looking at full integration of women into 99% of all roles in the military. repeal of don't ask, don't tell, marriage equality, transgendered service members, and an openly gay SecDef, and new breast feeding policies. That is a lot of social change to accept, more so considering the general conservative nature of people in the military. I for one don't have to o many issues as well as they are well thought out, presented logically, give service members a chance to voice their concerns. The reality is, that doesn't happen. Now I understand the average 18 year old is far more accepting of the ways of life then I am at 51. In the end our mission remains the same, "Defend this nation against all enemies foreign and domestic," So if that means you can hump that base plate of the mortar, change the 5 ton tire, break track, load the shell in a breech and feed your kid, all the power to you. If you are computer whiz gizmo (for which I am not) and want to be man or woman and can keep the ship, fire control system, radar unit operating, frack go for it, but all I ever ask is, don't bother me with it, don't get in my face about it. Now if you got some old pig 155mm, or a Sherman in your back yard and you want to restore it I don't care who you are, or what you wear, just pass the GAA (General Automotive Artillery Grease) so we can get that piece of iron ready for the range.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2015 1:39 PM

2015-07-15T13:39:11-04:00

Changes are indeed inevitable, and as a society I don't think we currently are aware of or understand the number or severity of the changes occurring. In my opinion as a society we need to embrace the positive core of people and the organization which we belong. Through using the positive core to drive collective understanding we can emerge from this social fog much stronger as a country.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Dec 11 at 2016 3:59 AM

2016-12-11T03:59:02-05:00

Very, very well put. Much logical thought went into your post.
Very well done.