RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,161268,00.html
says it all.

According to the most recent statistics obtained from the VA under the Freedom of Information Act, more than 260,000 US veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have sought medical treatment due to illness or injury related to service in one of these countries. These statistics are not voluntarily released by the Department of Defense, which insists that this data should not be included when evaluating the human cost of war.

Obviously, the British are facing the same type of problem, and reporting it in a similar manner: "off the books".

Thank god the cold war never went hot. we'd all be spending rubles now. Good news is we wouldn't have those pesky exchange rates to deal with. "Hey comrade, how many rubles is the ruble trading for"?

Way I see it, the Brits have got a **** load of street crime and no conscription. Most kids who might think of joining would not pass basic fitness, - so - any kid found guilty of violent or anti-social behaviour should not get the choice. Sentence of the Court - two years compulsory military service. No excuses, no notes from doctors/psychiatrists/moms. Straight in, and if basic training does kill you, it will save the enemy a couple of bullets. If not - it just might make a decent citizen out of you.
I reckon that the only people who should be allowed to vote in a country are those who have served in the armed forces. They're the only ones willing to put themselves on the line for their country.

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I reckon that the only people who should be allowed to vote in a country are those who have served in the armed forces. They're the only ones willing to put themselves on the line for their country.

Shades of starship troopers, back to the future.

A "non-story" by somebody or something that knows nothing about soldiers or maladys that go with any war. These are not draftees; these soldiers are volunteers. Always trying to defeat the cause, these news people. When you look back at WW1 and WW2, now there were some real statistics: 30 or 40 THOUSAND KIA's in one day. Look at the US rates at Iwo and Okinawa, or the Air Force casualities bombing Germany (60,000!!!)...can anyone imagine trying to overcome that? I have a theory, and it would work, if I know my military: If they want to quit, let 'em; if they don't want to fight to protect the world from terrorism, let 'em go home and wait for the terriorists to knock down their door and kill them in the name of Allah.

The Brits have paid more than their fair share in casualties, not a few of which have been friendly fire from US. I salute them.

We face the same problems in our forces, and many people who by the books would be considered unfit to deploy are deployed anyway. But by the books, fat people should be discharged, gay people who out themselves should be discharged, people who can't pass a PT test should be discharged, and lo and behold most of that doesn't apply anymore. We need all the people we have is waht it comes down to, and more, if we can possibly get them.

Sherwin, your idea is crazy. You ever been pushed past your limits, your combat tour extended, along with it your enlistment, expected to the job of two or three guys with yesterday being your perpetual deadline every day day in and day out with no time off and no regard for any situation back home?? Yeah, I'd give up in a minute some of these days. It's too much to ask that I do this willingly every day for fifteen months. Fortunately for me, and for the military, I don't have any choice.

People are being pushed to their limits, and some of us past them. That's the reality of war, and I think most everyone recognizes it. It doesn't excuse the media making a maudlin spectacle of us, though. Just send us re-inforcements, ha!

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckSherwin:
If they want to quit, let 'em; if they don't want to fight to protect the world from terrorism, let 'em go home and wait for the terriorists to knock down their door and kill them in the name of Allah.

The troops that are 'unfit to deploy' are being held back in the UK because they havn't recovered from the injuries sustained from their last deployment. Many British troops return from Iraq to be sent to Afghanistan very soon afterwards, and don't have much time in between. The ones who leave the forces usually have several tours of intense fighting behind them and have been pushed very far by a military that has been overstreched for far too long.

Bunch of weak a$$ little sisters of St. mary's school for the blind! Thier dismal showing is directly related to training and the caliber of recruits that the British Army has! Look no further then the behavior of thier so called British Navy and " elite royal marines, when they were captured by the Iranians. Disgracefull! They are weak , and have weak leadership, and I say this about the American military also, if we had such a problem!

I'm sorry you feel that way; it is a problem trying to fulfil all of your duties and still feel motivated. The military is probably undermanned, to say the least, but that is out of our hands...we should have declared War and made an all-out effort to win quick as in the previous World Wars; we are running this on supplemental requests as is forced by the Congress so they can legislate our success, and its wrong, and the only people that really suffer are the troops. But this too shall end and you will look back and be as proud of your service as the rest of the millions of War Vets who look back with pride and marvel at how you did it. And you will speak of how tough it was and how easy these new guys have it. I can't say that I blame you on the fat and the homosexuals though: they should go regardless if there is a shortage of manpower. They are capable of breaking down and killing others by either their effect on unit cohesion or lack of physical ability. Don't ask, don't tell...I remember guys that when they got orders to go to VN would tell their supervisor they had "tendacies" just to get out of it. It didn't work, they just managed to get placed nearer the action. If your doing the job of three, you should be a hell of a soldier. Of course, if your at Drum, you need to move quick to keep warm, and could use three sets of arms, legs, etc., just to shiver. Good luck and God be with you and your fellow soldiers.

quote:

Originally posted by Ruanne:
The Brits have paid more than their fair share in casualties, not a few of which have been friendly fire from US. I salute them.

We face the same problems in our forces, and many people who by the books would be considered unfit to deploy are deployed anyway. But by the books, fat people should be discharged, gay people who out themselves should be discharged, people who can't pass a PT test should be discharged, and lo and behold most of that doesn't apply anymore. We need all the people we have is waht it comes down to, and more, if we can possibly get them.

Sherwin, your idea is crazy. You ever been pushed past your limits, your combat tour extended, along with it your enlistment, expected to the job of two or three guys with yesterday being your perpetual deadline every day day in and day out with no time off and no regard for any situation back home?? Yeah, I'd give up in a minute some of these days. It's too much to ask that I do this willingly every day for fifteen months. Fortunately for me, and for the military, I don't have any choice.

People are being pushed to their limits, and some of us past them. That's the reality of war, and I think most everyone recognizes it. It doesn't excuse the media making a maudlin spectacle of us, though. Just send us re-inforcements, ha!

I checked out your blog. I'd like to see you posting there again. Your favorite books list contains many of my own favorites from my teens and twenties. Now that I'm an old fogie of 50 I don't get to go back to those books very much except for my occasional forays back into C.S. Lewis and Tolkien (one really must re-read the whole Lord of the Rings trilogy at least once a decade). I haven't read Canticle for Leibowitz since high school, but it's a terrific book. First book of futuristic fantasy I ever read.

Anyway, you've put your finger on the problem, which is that a tiny group of devoted soldiers such as yourself are being asked to make the same sacrifices over and over again and that can be a terrible burden. I wish you good luck and most of all I wish you your reinforcements and a break from all this.

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Originally posted by MarineAuntie:

quote:

Originally posted by Ruanne:
The Brits have paid more than their fair share in casualties, not a few of which have been friendly fire from US. I salute them.

We face the same problems in our forces, and many people who by the books would be considered unfit to deploy are deployed anyway. But by the books, fat people should be discharged, gay people who out themselves should be discharged, people who can't pass a PT test should be discharged, and lo and behold most of that doesn't apply anymore. We need all the people we have is waht it comes down to, and more, if we can possibly get them.

Sherwin, your idea is crazy. You ever been pushed past your limits, your combat tour extended, along with it your enlistment, expected to the job of two or three guys with yesterday being your perpetual deadline every day day in and day out with no time off and no regard for any situation back home?? Yeah, I'd give up in a minute some of these days. It's too much to ask that I do this willingly every day for fifteen months. Fortunately for me, and for the military, I don't have any choice.

People are being pushed to their limits, and some of us past them. That's the reality of war, and I think most everyone recognizes it. It doesn't excuse the media making a maudlin spectacle of us, though. Just send us re-inforcements, ha!

I checked out your blog. I'd like to see you posting there again. Your favorite books list contains many of my own favorites from my teens and twenties. Now that I'm an old fogie of 50 I don't get to go back to those books very much except for my occasional forays back into C.S. Lewis and Tolkien (one really must re-read the whole Lord of the Rings trilogy at least once a decade). I haven't read Canticle for Leibowitz since high school, but it's a terrific book. First book of futuristic fantasy I ever read.

Anyway, you've put your finger on the problem, which is that a tiny group of devoted soldiers such as yourself are being asked to make the same sacrifices over and over again and that can be a terrible burden. I wish you good luck and most of all I wish you your reinforcements and a break from all this.

I made it all the way through high school english on the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. so many different avenues of attack to write book reports. % essays and I never recycled the topics.. And you're absolutely right IMO about so much weight being borne down on so fine a point. Truly never before have so few....

quote:

Originally posted by AGBrina:
According to the most recent statistics obtained from the VA under the Freedom of Information Act, more than 260,000 US veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have sought medical treatment due to illness or injury related to service in one of these countries. These statistics are not voluntarily released by the Department of Defense, which insists that this data should not be included when evaluating the human cost of war.

Obviously, the British are facing the same type of problem, and reporting it in a similar manner: "off the books".

Look, kook! What ever happened to you that makes you so anti-military and anti-establishment? You seem to have 24/7 access to this web-site. You are the "first with the worst". Don't you have a job or another outlet in life? A family, maybe? A girl friend? A boy friend?

You consistently seem to delight in attacking the military, the administration, and anyone else that wants to put a "positive-face" on the world-at-large. You, sir, are a "DOWNER"! You are the "cancer" that is attacking the USA. Nothing is right in your world. You delight in revealing "statistics" that are negative and are in support of your warped view of the world.

Unless you are a "shill" for the ultra left-wing nut-jobs, then you truly need some personal help. As an obiviously intelligent person, your comments are bordering on being a socio-path. Being an anti-war advocate is one thing, but you, "sir", cross the line. If you really are a military veteran, I suggest you seek help at your nearest V.A. facility before your anger manifests itself into action that will harm someone or incarcerate you.

Actually it just might be better if one was to read the original article from The Daily Telegraph instead of the rehacked piece by the news agency ‘Agence France-Presse’ that mil.com has provided.

Original article is here
Sickness thins the ranks of troops on front line

quote:

Originally posted by jollydriver91:
Bunch of weak a$$ little sisters of St. mary's school for the blind! Thier dismal showing is directly related to training and the caliber of recruits that the British Army has! Look no further then the behavior of thier so called British Navy and " elite royal marines, when they were captured by the Iranians. Disgracefull! They are weak , and have weak leadership, and I say this about the American military also, if we had such a problem!

Oh dear, we have another ignorant post - thank goodness most people who use this forum have intelligence, common sense and good manners. The 'so- called' Royal Navy - in his words, elite Royal Marines and British army are some of the most professional forces in the world and have suffered many casualties along with our allies in this war. I do not think the families of our dead and wounded would agree that their performance was deplorable and I feel that your comments about the blind are out of order. You only go to show that you have no understanding of the world around you or the sensibilities of others and seem intent on causing disharmony between allies. Please grow up.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

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Originally posted by DocVQone:

quote:

Originally posted by AGBrina:
According to the most recent statistics obtained from the VA under the Freedom of Information Act, more than 260,000 US veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have sought medical treatment due to illness or injury related to service in one of these countries. These statistics are not voluntarily released by the Department of Defense, which insists that this data should not be included when evaluating the human cost of war.

Obviously, the British are facing the same type of problem, and reporting it in a similar manner: "off the books".

Look, kook! What ever happened to you that makes you so anti-military and anti-establishment? You seem to have 24/7 access to this web-site. You are the "first with the worst". Don't you have a job or another outlet in life? A family, maybe? A girl friend? A boy friend?

You consistently seem to delight in attacking the military, the administration, and anyone else that wants to put a "positive-face" on the world-at-large. You, sir, are a "DOWNER"! You are the "cancer" that is attacking the USA. Nothing is right in your world. You delight in revealing "statistics" that are negative and are in support of your warped view of the world.

Unless you are a "shill" for the ultra left-wing nut-jobs, then you truly need some personal help. As an obiviously intelligent person, your comments are bordering on being a socio-path. Being an anti-war advocate is one thing, but you, "sir", cross the line. If you really are a military veteran, I suggest you seek help at your nearest V.A. facility before your anger manifests itself into action that will harm someone or incarcerate you.

Not sure if I should laugh at the post or just feel sorry for you..

The fact is both militaries are suffering from the strain of this war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sickness caused by combat is significant and needs to be addressed so that troops are ready for the next deployment. Hiding it in the system is not going to help the troops but just help the administrative element brush it under the carpet.
That means nothing gets done for the troops.
If you don’t see the real numbers then you don’t and can not serve the troops where it is needed.

The health and welfare of the troops is a commander’s responsibility from the low NCO to the top brass. If it is failing then some are not doing their job properly. Poor rotations too long a deployment, low recruiting numbers all add to the equation.

I would have appreciated more logical comment, possible solutions or reasoning from yourself considering your valued experience.

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Thank god the cold war never went hot. we'd all be spending rubles now. Good news is we wouldn't have those pesky exchange rates to deal with. "Hey comrade, how many rubles is the ruble trading for"?

Dawg, maybe they can pull the soldiers who are making sure the Zulu's are acting right and use them...lol Oh sorry, that was 1879 - my bad...

quote:

Originally posted by jollydriver91:
Bunch of weak a$$ little sisters of St. mary's school for the blind! Thier dismal showing is directly related to training and the caliber of recruits that the British Army has! Look no further then the behavior of thier so called British Navy and " elite royal marines, when they were captured by the Iranians. Disgracefull! They are weak , and have weak leadership, and I say this about the American military also, if we had such a problem!

What a stupid, ignorant post you a$$hole! Just goes to show the US military truly can find a place for anybody, even the village idiot! What's a grunts basic training 8-10 weeks? The UK military may be small compared to the US but it is one of the best trained in the world. After 33 yrs in the Royal Navy I know. I've worked with most, including 3 tours with the US Navy and 1 with the USMC. You guys have the best kit, but we're better trained.

Don't you watch the news or do you just stick to the Disney Channel? The Brits have been more thanpulling our weight for the size of our Armed Forces. And just like the US the same units keep going back time and time again. Yes, we have some war dodgers just like you, but most do a very professional job with 2nd rate kit against an inteligent and determined enemy.

I see from your bio that you reached the great height of Corporal and spent most of your time defending the US at home. So thats where you get your vast military experience! For someone like you to think, even to print comments like that are a disgrace and an insult to me and my fellow servicemen. Who have stood firm alongside the USA as your greartest ally for so many years and continue to do so now.

Next time think before you print or better still keep dumb a$$ comments like that to yourself. They do you and the good name of the USMC no good at all.