I think it was Marine Gen Zinni who had a great observation just before he retired from active duty. I see folks tending to speak more freely with less concern about their "political/military" futures after they've dropped their retirement/separation papers. The gist of the talk was about the "Warrior Monk".
He stated that the military demands a soldier (and insert airman, marine, sailor, etc where applicable) to be a "Warrior" for the dirty work of protecting the USA's interests. People who have the attitude, personality and drive to be the killers in the field, who can think/react under the highest of pressures during the fog of war, and who can repeat all the above aggressive activities on an everyday basis. They are trained to that level and expected to perform such duties on order.
Yet, in today's military and under supervision of the type of leaders the military has developed over the last decade, the soldier needs to be a "Monk" in his everyday life. He needs to live to higher standards than the everyday US citizen...not getting in any trouble and seeing to it that no one else does either. He needs to be big into his church and the local volunteer scene...not into the bar scene. He needs to spend more time on his own military/civilian continuing education and not out riding his Harley with the crowd that doesn't present a proper image. Everything he does needs to present a nice image to the public so that the military gets good press and lots of good newspaper articles/TV sound bites.
And...as Gen Zinni pointed out...you can't have it both ways. In a very few instances you can get an individual that can handle both mentalities...but not usually in the 18-25 year old demographic the military needs for the majority of the force. The individuals that are best at being a Warrior doesn't excel at being the nice, plain Monk everyday. And the Monk just doesn't have the stomach for the knuckle-busting mentality that's necessary for the field work.
Gen Order #1 is a necessity in some parts and a convinience in others to the leadership. Some parts are valid, others are add-ons that make the leadership's life easier...they can hide behind it and have the legal folks throw UCMJ paperwork around daily. Sounds like some of the leadership tried to provide a stress relief area in the clubs overseas, but then got spooked and provided shotgun justice that blasted everyone for a few folks over-indulgence. Maybe over the next decade, the youngsters of today's actions will make the higher ranks. Then it'll be up to them to remember what it was like to be under the thumb and maybe they'll come up with a better solution. Just depends on whether the warriors of this conflict get promoted, or the monks...
P3 (Orion) Tweek USN
