What is wrong with our troops today? What are your thoughts on this problem child?

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Posted 11 y ago

As a retired 20 year Army vet here is my view. The Soldier should be held accountable definitely but not removed from service unless this type of behavior continues. The CoC should also be looked at for the following reasons. Way too many young Soldiers are getting promoted to leadership positions way to early. They are being asked to be leaders but have not be taught how to lead. Also, in a lot of unit's the Senior leadership has been neglectful in their duties. I have had Soldiers for DUIs, burglary charges, assault and domestic charges who I was not allowed to chapter out even AFTER counseling and UCMJ action and the behavior continued. However, when the draw down began again good Soldiers whose only problem was weight were being put out because it was EASY. It's funny how for years Soldiers who were good Soldiers but fighting a weight problem were allowed to stay in because we needed them for their expertise and unit numbers but not are being pushed out. I loved being in the Army and all that it did for me. However, the last few years of my career were spent dealing with the 5% of problem Soldiers sometimes to the neglect of the 95% of the good ones. The military service in general has allowed this to take place. The atmosphere created over the last few years of my service is now being seen. We lowered standards across the board to get our numbers up for deployments and act all shocked that this is what we have to deal with now.

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SrA Victor Michael Garcia

Posted 11 y ago

I am a DAV Vietnam era Vet. I entered the US Air Force in July, 1968. In boot camp, besides the physical training, we had classroom instructions which included the Uniform Code of Justice and all the other Customs and Courtesies of the Military, such as standing at attention in the direction of the flag on base during evening taps and salute until it is lowered, respecting your Commanding officer and any officer, saluting appropriately, etc.

Now, the issue begs this question: if this is a true incident, then why hasn't her commander sent her to remedial training? Article 15 can be employed with the re-do of the basic training courses as a refresher, detail is a good thing as a reminder that this individual is in the Military and must respect the uniform the laws, Customs and Courtesies of the Military. Additionally, immerse this individual in the meaning of the Flag, to this Country, to all the Veterans who gave all in support of it. Then, if this individual does not agree, i would suggest a Dishonorable Discharge and no benefits.

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LT Robert (Bob) Kroeger

Posted 11 y ago

Dishonorable Discharge!

She doesn't deserve to wear the uniform. She also needs to be sent to Afghanistan to find out what it means to wear the uniform.

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SSG Willis Baker

11 y

Would you trust her in Afghanistan?

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SGT Bryon Sergent

Posted 11 y ago

I see the problem as we in leadership positions usually don't see our joe's do this because they know better. If they where around their leader they wouldn't do it for the most part. With that being said I have seen that what the leader does the joe's will also follow, and if that is the case it needs to be brought to that leaders CoC. Me being a SPC in a team ldr spot, I don't get the respect as a CPL. But that is another ball of wax altogether. For instance I salute the flag when I walk past it in front of my armory, I see Officers and NCO's and Jr enlisted alike pass under it without rendering the proper salute. I have questioned my leaderdhip about this and just continue to do the right thing. Hopefully that passes do to the lower enlisted and makes the highes see and then do the right thing. If I see my joe doing it the I correct him. I think that Us as NCO's not being able to smoke the piss out of them is taking the athority of the NCo away. Most Joes dont care if the get wrote up because in the guard they will still get promoted any way.

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SGT (Join to see)

Posted 11 y ago

She needs to get the hell out of the army and quick. There is NO need for this bullcrap "I do what I want on the internet" attitude.

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SGT Thomas Sullivan

Posted 11 y ago

If you are a representative of the US Government however directly or indirectly, there should be cause/effect for any and all actions you take. If you rose your hand and pledged allegiance to you country and your service/swore an oath to uphold the constitution etc, then you must be ready for the consequences of your actions. Did this soldier do anything Illegal? Technically her action is punishable by UCMJ, but does that make it Illegal? I don't know. Does her involvement in social media show disrespect, absolutely, but then again, according my right to freedom of speech, I can show as much or as little disrespect as I want to anyone I want, I just have to be prepared to face the consequences of said actions in the long term.

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SGT (Join to see)

11 y

Although her act wasn't illegal, she does have the right to freedom of speech, however; according to the UCMJ and our many briefings we are told not to make our unit, our military, or ourselves look foolish on a social website as it can be punishable and depending on whatever the policy letters are posted by her CoC she can be found also for failing for following orders.

While we wear a uniform we all know there is a fine line we have to walk on what we can say or do so as to not disgrace our uniform or military. I feel bad for how young she is however she should have used better foresight for actions before posting what she did, photo fine but she went beyond by adding a comment.

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1SG Frank Rocha

Posted 11 y ago

If you are indoors during reveille or retreat your required to stand at attention while either one is sounding. How many can you honestly say actually follows that part of it?  I know I do, in fact many times I walk outside so I can salute the flag, but then I had pride in service and country built in long before I joined the service. Saluting the flag outside is too easy, hiding from it just shows a lack of discipline, which can be easily resolved with some effective leadership (easy for a true leader that is). Kicking a soldier out for something like this would be like throwing your car away when the tire goes flat. Sometimes the easy thing to do is the wrong thing to do. I'm shocked to see so many knee jerk negative responses to this. <br>

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted 11 y ago

What Honor or Intergity?? This is the third issue that has gone viral due to internet postings. Not only has the papers grabbed this, but TV News Cast has made it World Wide. In both cases, CNN, WNBC and CBS have shown this and this just rips me hard. It shows just how our Younger Generation of Soldiers do not care about the Country THEY raised their right hand for to Serve, Protect and Defend.

From MIA, Funerals to Rendering Honors the questions being asked are; Where was the Chain of Command and What are THEY going to do about it? Who else saw this and JUST STOOD BY and let it happen? They too need to be punished for letting it happen. Yes, some of these pictures might have been taken “Years” ago but it still doesn’t matter, it’s still WRONG.

After 16 years of Service, watching the Military change from an “In your face, break you down build you up mentality to a Kinder, Gentler Military. Could this be a cause for the effect of why our Younger Generation is acting like they do? I don’t know, it’s only speculation. Buy yes, I have been called that “Rouge, Hot Head, Go against the Flow, and Toxic NCO”. I’m not sorry for how I trained my Soldiers, lead them in Combat, Fought for a Bad or Good Soldier who made a mistake who I KNEW could do a better job than their counter parts.

And I too have made mistakes, learned from them and grew into a BETTER NCO. All due to my Leaders gave me just enough rope and I fell. So now I ask my fellow NCO’s, Junior and Senior (Officers included), are you apt to see an On The Spot Correction and correct it or just WALK AWAY? Even with these incidents being under investigation (and/or completed) what actions and how quick would you react?

Note: For you Marines out there, YOU are the only branch I know of who HAS NOT CHANGED your ways. So please do me a favor USMC….. DON’T CHANGE!

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted 11 y ago

What is wrong....many things. Just to name a few are lax standards in Basic and AIT...Society as a whole, since it does reflect on the Army as a whole...and the degradation of the powers of a NCO...no more wall to wall counselling, strict rules on corrective punishment, and the overall "nicer" Army. I know things went too far in the past in some circumstances...as a Private, I had "weapons racks" fall on me in the arms room...but I did learn...now there is no fear, no respect for tradition, and no accountability from new soldiers.

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SSgt George Brown

Posted 11 y ago

She needs to be dishonorably discharged. If she does not want to salute our flag, she can go somewhere else, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, the courts will be on her side and will outlaw saluting the Flag.

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SFC Chris Johnson

11 y

Respectfully, before saying someone should receive a dishonorable discharge, I think you should read exactly what that does to limit their future. A DD is not a term to use lightly, it's for people like SSG Frank Rhongi, who raped a young girl in Kosovo and then killed her and hid her body to try to get away with it. That is what a dishonorable discharge is given for, and to suggest it in this case is inappropriate.

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SGT Steve Mobley

11 y

I'll have to agree with Dishonorable Discharge. When I was a young Trooper, saluting and fighting for OUR flag, was an honor and a privelage. Any individual that so chooses to disrespect and or ignore basic military principals, shouldn't be able to serve in OUR military. Give her, and those like her, ALL, Dishonorable Discharges. Furthermore, this IS the start of their future, and if this is the New social norm, then the future of these people is one without values and principals, and is what will lead this nation in the future. Just look at what's already going on in our, so-called, Great Nation. It's time to be Americans again, and take back our values, principals, and our Country.

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