Should the military create a warrior class?

Wow! The question posed is so stupid that I don't think this thread is ever going to end.

While you may be right about the physical and emotional rigors of combat I disagree about the notion of a warrior class, as we already have Marines. But what is not recognized is the mental and academic rigor that many 'Support' people go through on top of the same physical demands during training. Take the wing Marines for example: we had to go through Marine boot camp which is undoubtedly the toughest basic training, but it doesn't end there. Then we join our Navy comrades in some of the most demanding technical training. Then we serve a longer enlistment which increases your odds of serving during a major conflict. During such conflict you may be asked to take an infantry role in protecting your forward operating base. In Gulf War 1, more of our people died serving support roles than in infantry when an Iraqi missile hit a barracks. Many support people came back with Gulf War Syndrome. How about the thousands of sailors who were killed serving in support roles in our fleets during WWs 1 and 2? The notion that you are safe in support roles, that you won"t be called to face the danger simply is not true. We POGs appreciate that grunts have it tough, with fewer creature comforts, but it is a slap in the face to not acknowledge that we make sure our grunts get what help they need, and often face danger in doing so. That is why we have one title in the Corps, Marine, and we all earn it the same way.

After recent changes pretty much anyone can be a grunt. Not everyone can be an operator. Maybe if Benning installed an actual selection and screening process you could consider yourself elite (30th AG doesn't count). If you want respect, hang your blue cord on your rear view mirror and get your cross rifles tattooed on your arm below your rank like a real man.

The moment I start to see Stolen Valor posers claiming to be cooks or mechanics then maybe all the "the army is a team" type comments will have a more significant impact on my opinion. I see a lot of but hurt comments on here from people who want equality and believe they're in the same level as other MOS'. Be proud of the MOS you chose. If you're a cook then be proud to go to the chow hall and flip eggs and fill drink machines and prep salads. If you're a mechanic be proud to turn wrenches and change wheels. If you're a pac clerk then be proud to flip file and submit paperwork. Anyone who is an infantryman is proud to be that. Same with tankers and cav scouts. They're proud of their branch. Be proud of yours and stop getting emotional anytime a question of distinction of MOS' are brought up. Stolen Valor people don't claim to have picked up cases of MRE's or turning a wrench or fueling a vehicle. Stolen Valor perpetrators wear CIB' and Ranger and SF tabs. They wear blue cords and blue discs and cross rifles. That right there should tell you that society views that there is a "warrior class". 80% of the comments I've read about this post tell me that people are in their feelings because they don't feel like they are being treated the same as combat arms. Well guess what? You're not treated the same. You're treated like whatever your MOS is. Point blank period. Everyone is not a rifleman. Everyone is not basically infantry. Everyone does not do what the infantry does. Just like the infantry doesn't do what other jobs do. The title rifleman is one of the first titles earned after the infantryman graduates infantry OSUT. The rifleman everyone speaks of is the regular soldier that should have a basic understanding of basic tasks....not basic infantry tasks or small unit tactics. But he'll once most of non infantry or combat arms people graduate your basic training you lose every ounce of proficiency gained. That's the reality. I've seen it time and time again in my career. You better be proud of the MOS you chose because infantrymen, tankers, and cav scouts are. Get out of your feelings ladies and gentlemen.

We are the warrior class. All of us regardless of MOS/AFSC are warriors. We all took the same oath and should all be equally willing to defend our nation and die for it if necessary. Elite military units are uniquely recognizable (SF, Rangers, PJs, SEALS, aviators). We don't need to separate them from the rest of the service members any more than already done. One team, one fight!

There is already a higher level of honor and recognition for Infantry and Medics. They respectively are awarded the Combat Infantry Badge or Combat Medic Badge for their combat service. Even for those with the above MOS who haven't been in combat, they can go through testing and earn the Expert Infantry Badge or the Expert Field Medical Badge. As far as promotions are concerned, the promotion cut off scores for combat arms have nearly always been lower due to needing a higher number of new E5 and E6 NCOs in those Moss. So there's part of our warrior culture.

No.

Remember we are the best trained soldiers in the world, as long as you never forget. Who cares what pogs think we know and understand what we do, I don't need someone reminding why my body hurts when I wake up. My body tells me and that's all I need. Our scars tell our stories

NO! There should not be the deliberate creation of a 'Warrior Class" as each member of the military serves a vital function. In effect, no one truly fights alone. Each branch, each career field, each occupational specialty, from Special Operations Forces to Recruiting, and everything in between, serve a vital role in keeping this Nation free. This includes, active, reserve, national guard, auxiliary, and civilians. To believe anything else is to display an unfortunate combination of arrogance an ignorance. Each service already recognizes the importance of combat arms personnel via distinctive items (e.g. blue shoulder cords for infantry, etc...).

it should be noted that in the 40 odd years since the termination of the draft and the creation of the all volunteer force in the early 1970s our society has in effect created an emerging "military class." The goodness or badness of this development and the larger ramifications for our future remain to be seen.

As a Marine Artilleryman, I found that the infantry had so much "Respect" for themselves, they didn't need any extra from me. If they were half as awesome as they thought they were, they wouldn't need me behind them slinging steel.

So, SFC Esquivel, what form should this extra respect that us lowly pogues owe you take? Maybe a modified salute? Head of the line privileges at the PX? I'd offer to polish your boots, but we're all wearing suede now...