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Service members are property of the government. We give up many freedoms with our oath. We give up our freedom so our citizens can have theirs? Some of us have never thought about it like that. Just look at the UCMJ and especially Article 138.
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Freedom
Commitment
Freedom Commitment
Posted >1 y ago
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How are you defining freedom? Do you mean freedom to come and go as we please? Yes, we're beholden to our employer, but isn't that also true of civilians? Like us, they are expected to be at a certain place at a certain time, and are required to perform certain tasks. It was an agreement they entered into with their employer in exchange for a paycheck. We signed a contract.
Do you mean economic freedom? I would argue that service members (particularly active duty) enjoy greater freedom than civilians. Yes, there is a drawdown underway, but civilians are still at greater risk of losing their jobs than we are. I don't worry about where my next paycheck comes from. That's freedom.
I'll grant you one particular area where we are less free: health care. Military medicine is socialized medicine. I don't get to choose my doctor in most cases, and the process of receiving specialized treatment is slow and laborious. But what I don't worry about is paying for health care. I don't worry about paying for doctor visits, tests, medications, etc.
Also, why do you reference article 138 of the UCMJ? Article 138 is about petitioning the commander for redress of grievances.
Do you mean economic freedom? I would argue that service members (particularly active duty) enjoy greater freedom than civilians. Yes, there is a drawdown underway, but civilians are still at greater risk of losing their jobs than we are. I don't worry about where my next paycheck comes from. That's freedom.
I'll grant you one particular area where we are less free: health care. Military medicine is socialized medicine. I don't get to choose my doctor in most cases, and the process of receiving specialized treatment is slow and laborious. But what I don't worry about is paying for health care. I don't worry about paying for doctor visits, tests, medications, etc.
Also, why do you reference article 138 of the UCMJ? Article 138 is about petitioning the commander for redress of grievances.
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PO3 Andrew Kelly
We do sacrifice some of our 1st amendment rights, or at least did during my service in the name of security. But I accepted that as part of the package i agreed to in serving. You could be written up on charges for openly supporting certain issues including better regulation or elimination of nuclear power. I remember sitting through a long debriefing because the hotel we had stayed in during a weekend getaway just happened to have been chosen for a convention of the Spanish Communist Party. (We only went there because the hotel we had planned to stay at had closed down for a few weeks to do some needed repairs due to a fire the prior week.)
When I was stationed for a few months to NAS Key West our orientation lecture included a list of clubs and eating establishments we were not allowed to patronize for no better reason than they were popular with some number of the Gay and Lesbian community of Key West. So yes we gave up some rights while we served but I accepted that even if I did not agree with the reasons.
When I was stationed for a few months to NAS Key West our orientation lecture included a list of clubs and eating establishments we were not allowed to patronize for no better reason than they were popular with some number of the Gay and Lesbian community of Key West. So yes we gave up some rights while we served but I accepted that even if I did not agree with the reasons.
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Capt (Join to see)
A couple of differences. If I just leave my job and move elsewhere in the civilian world it is not a crime and I am not subject to arrest. As for the medical, yes, it is different. But, if you want you can go to any doctor you choose. Of course you will have to pay for it.
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Andrew Jackson
PO3 Andrew Kelly - As far as the clubs and eat establishments I always thought that that was just a recommendation. I do recall while my dad was stationed and ultimately retired in Charleston, there was a car dealership that was highly advised not to do business with as they were known to screw over military personel
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