Should the military create a warrior class?

I had/have a lot of friends that were 11B's and had/have a lot of respect for what they do.

They called me "REMF", and "pogue". I called them "rock with lips", and "cannon fodder". It was good natured ribbing. I picked their brains and learned a lot from them in the event that particular skill set was needed.

I fixed CH-47D's, and I was grateful that I didn't have to step off the aircraft into a hot LZ, and they were grateful that I pulled them onboard and gave them a ride home to a hot meal.

Respect was mutual... we held each other in high regard.

I think I understand where you are coming from. I to was an SFC and was Light Infantry. I was a 11B and damn proud of my unit. I at one time did agree with what you say, being the first to face the bad guys face to face and take a bullet or get cut by one of them. All the running jumping diving, being in the wake of concussion after concussion from Grenades and incoming rounds, bombs being dropped danger close and closer, Makes one feel they are the ones that gets the brunt of the action and it does have a toll on the body, a devastating effect on the human body and mind. HOWEVER! what we as the (Warrior) don't see is that without those men and women behind us we could not do or be whom we are and or were. Their jobs are just as important as ours. Without them we wouldn't have the food, water, ammo, clothing, Intel or anything else we need to do the job we had or have to do! And they also pay a toll for what they do. maybe not with a bullet hole in their body but with slipped disks and hernias and god an ex-stream amount of stress and strain that we don't see. My father was an Administrative tech before becoming a 1SGT that man put in so many hours trying to make sure we had fuel for the trucks and the heaters for tents we never got to use or see but he had to make sure it was there. I watched him as the pressure mounted on him year after year. Our supply SGT was the same! He became old before his time trying to support and fast moving light Infantry company and make sure we had what we needed to make us the Warriors we were! WAR EAGLES! Company "C" 2nd of the 151, 38th infantry division and later company "D" vietnam

You take away supply and chow from an infantryman. He will make a weapon kill an animal and fight in close combat with his hands if that's all he has. I get what you're getting at sergeant, most look at it as arrogance and it is but we can't do what we do the way we do it without believing we are the best. It's what keeps us motivated and keeps us alive. Infantry leads the way

I'm going to disagree with you. This job isn't about getting a pat on the back. It's not about "atta boys". If you are good at your job, and a decent, dependable person you will earn respect. What you are proposing is all about entitlement. Respect is not an entitlement.

No!

SFC Esquivel-In general, I do get (and respect) where you're coming from. In terms of "pointy end of the spear" comparisons...yes, I would defer to a PFC in the Big Red One when relating specific expertise/experience in combat arms; more so, any member of elite forces.

However...We fight in a much more complex and widespread battle-space than that.

An aviator flying missions over enemy held territory faces enormous risks; before, during and after ejection. Sailors at sea have been actively prosecuting interdiction operations against the desperate criminals supporting our enemies-criminals who sometimes fight rather than surrender at the first sign of a U.S. warship. With the increasing op-tempo, numerous Navy, Air Force and National Guard personnel have been asked to "fill in" duties on the ground, and outside the wire. Of the three combat losses I personally experienced with the JTF; two were National Guardsmen, and the third, a doctor.

Are any of those "equal" to infantry, let alone elite forces-No. Still, they are taking risks that exceed their designator, rating or MOS routinely, and that, in and of itself, counts for something.

All of that aside...None of us get to the AO without logistics, communications, hell, even finance. Those folks are doing their job so that everyone else can do theirs.

More to the point, I think sincere and rightly earned respect DOES exist; When I see a trident, jump wings, red or green berets, crossed arrows, or those much discussed "tabs"...the rank/service of that individual suddenly pales against what I know they've endured in defense of every American, myself included.

I hope when they see my uniform, they at least give it the benefit of the doubt that I've participated enough for my sincere respect to mean something.

What about those supply guys and gals that run the convoys through enemy territory? or the cooks that are at the Op Base? or the aircrew that is dodging SAM's to either airdrop you supplies or to direct the fire to get your butt out of trouble? I agree with Col Smallfield below when he said this is a team sport...period...one person fails and the chain breaks. Everyone that has ever raised their hand and took an oath is a warrior class. Just because they didn't get selected to be a grunt doesn't make them any less a warrior than the guy engaging the enemy. By writing this you just blew 2 of your seven Army core values...Respect and Selfless Service!!!
https://www.army.mil/values/ Definitions are at this link for your reading pleasure.

Hahahahaha is this a joke? The air must be pretty thin up on that pedestal. Good job on embarrassing yourself. Probably some of the worst drivel, I've ever heard coming from a senior NCO...

It sounds like a video game title

How important is a resupply of your ammo? How about that medic who saved your closest friend? I know a few military personnel who have made it a NUMBER ONE priority to LOCATE, NEUTRALIZE and PUNISH those who feel that it's OK to FRAG another. If you are an 11 Bravo, 13 Delta or a LRRP, ask a member of Special OPs , the importance of RELIANCE on the man next to you. Ever wonder why, during a " firefight", it would NOT be a good idea to SALUTE your Platoon Leader? or worse still, your Platoon Sgt, Squad leader? The enemy knows exactly how important LEADERSHIP is to the survival of any unit. So, that resupply chopper is manned by NON II Bravos. Fair to consider them AS IMPORTANT??

I was in a support MOS 92G, while I was a cook I worked more hours and made sure my 13 bang bangs got more than their fair share when the came through the chow line even to make sure the simplest thing as getting a hot meal would, could possibly remind them something of home away from.
Now that being said being an infantryman when I see other support MOS escp. Cooks I know the hard work that they put in and I make sure to thank them whether in garrison or in the field.

Respect has to be earned. NO to the question. What about "team" don't you understand. Yea, I down voted you because if this is how you think, then you need to reclass into a CSS MOS and learn a bit.

You sound so foolish right now.

1. This POG will kick your ass. Proven at every combatives tournament.
2. I am a mechanic who does all the training you do, would have been the only true blue at EIB lanes if I was 11 series, selected over all combat arms to be COL's PSO, still selected for 7 in 7, and still have to fix your trucks everyday.
3. I did 3 deployments in 5 years, all combat positions down range. Don't tell me shit. Rant complete.

that's fine, as long as you recognize those that reclassed after their early days, if you see a PAC NCO, or supply sgt, or cook with an EIB or CIB, recognize him as such

Those 11Bs are always so big and tough until they need Fires...

I find it offensive that you classify infantryman with operators while in the same breath belittling every other warfighter. Is that close in air support your receiving....you know the dude dodging rockets any less of a warfighter. I appreciate your bravado and the my job is more dangerous then yours mentality but you are not special. I promise you that if you don't show up tomorrow your service will roll on. You are no bigger then your unit, your command, and your service. Think I'm kidding.....run out of toilet paper and see who the most important person around is.

Well there it is, the stupidest thing I'll read all day. I'm embarrassed for you SFC for making such an absurd statement. I have been a POG for my 25 years of service, had a POG job when I was deployed to Afghanistan. In my career I always had a high respect for the Infantry for obvious reasons. I knew they were warriors and my job was to provide proper support to them. I didn't need anyone to point that out to me. That came to me with my own common sense.

I am a 13B and have deployed 3 times 1 to iraq and 2 to the stan. All three times i have done patrols and fought the enemy earned a purple heart and lost brothers and delivered some real pain to the enemys of my country. I am not infantry but in this days wars we have been used along with other MOS in this way for the entirety of this war and i have never regretted it. But if you say just infantry and operators then your are sadly mistaken on the dynamics of our current battfield you should do some research before making comments that hold no weight

I am a mustang officer. I was Infantry enlisted and Armor as an officer. I served in combat as an NCO and a Officer. I earned both the CIB and CAB. I say this, not to toot my horn, but to give context to my comment.
I think that the Infantry plays a very special role in the military. It is the Queen of Battle for a reason (think Chess). it is the only branch whose main mission is to close with and destroy the enemy. Other combat arms and combat service and support branches are also exposed to danger on a regular basis, but they are not tasked with the same purpose as the Infantry.
All that said, I don't remember ever hearing one 11 or 19 series soldier ever give respect by POG's as a reason for serving in their respective branches (I use this two branches only because they are the ones I served with in Iraq).
To demand respect by others is a bit much. It is earned, not demanded. The Infantry and combat arms guys already know they are the warrior class. We don't need recognition from others. In fact, the sina quon non of our branches is not to give a crap what others outside of them think.