Sometimes You Should Just Stay Home
I’m back home from Ft. Gordon. Three weeks relearning to set up a Combat Support Hospital. Physically refreshed. Emotionally exhausted.
Before leaving a young soldier passed out in formation. When the decision was made to let him proceed to Georgia he was assigned a permanent Battle Buddy. A Battle watches your back. You watch his. Makes sure you OK at all times.
My real Battle did not make this exercise. We mesh perfectly. She’s my best friend. She’s great in garrison and I thrive in the field. Naturally watch out for each other and push each other.
This kid was a weight around my neck. I had to wake him up 4 or 5 times to get to morning formation. Tell him to drink water, made him sign up for additional classes to better his chances for promotion. During the last day of the exercise he was unable to function. Sat with his arms on his knees and head on his arms, or lying on the floor in the triage tent. At which point it was brought to my attention that he had been consuming adult beverages. Not only was that against the rules of the exercise but at 20 years he should not be drinking to begin with. He has popped hot on a urinalysis. His platoon Sgt. talked the Colonel out of booting him out. His home life sucks, he’s unemployed, the only positive thing in his life is the reserve.The reason he was allowed to go after falling out is he needed the money.
But instead of building on the chances he was given he throws them in the trash, spits in his platoon Sgt’s face (figuratively), and bitches because I’m “riding” him.
Trying to get him to do the right thing and help himself was draining. I put his needs before mine. Bought him things he needed and dragged him to where he needed to be.
By not getting everything he could out of the training this kid endangered not just military members, but also civilians. Woman and children. Parts of my unit went to Haiti to provide health care there. While in Afghanistan two girls who were shot by their brother were saved by one of our doctors.
So here is my point. If you are not willing to actually serve, stay the hell out of my military. Want to use the military for an education? Fine, my best friend got her bachelor’s degree that way. The last Gunny I worked for in the Corps got has Master’s degree. But they were Soldiers and Marines while doing so. A Lieutenant Colonel who just retired, started as a private, the military helped pay for him to become a surgeon and he gave another 28 years to them. On his last exercise at 64 he out worked this 20 year old kid.
For what ever reason you join the military, bring your all or stay home. I would rather have no one at my back than someone I can’t trust.