Posted on Jan 3, 2019
The 8 Presidents With The Most Badass Military Records
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In light of President Bush's passing and general Mattis's termination, I thought about the American heads of State who were military leaders. In my reflection I found this article. Do you think military service should be a prerequisite for the presidency? Have military leaders historically been better Commander in Chief and foreign policy makers?
The 8 Presidents With The Most Badass Military Records
Posted from taskandpurpose.comPosted in these groups: 
Office of the President (POTUS)
American History
Military History
Leadership
Office of the President (POTUS) American History Military History Leadership
Posted >1 y ago
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SPC (Join to see) 1st - Thank you for the post.
2nd - I agree with SGT (Join to see) it is a case by case basis. Despite not having military experience I think Abraham Lincoln was a President who, though a "civilian", understood the importance and responsibility he held as a President in working hand in hand with the military to achieve objectives. Reagan too understood the importance of a strong military and is a President that is not on the "Great 8 List." https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sreference/military-service-of-ronald-reagan.
3rd - Had things gone very different for President Carter and the Iran hostage rescue (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis) gone the way the Israeli lead Entebee raid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Entebbe) gone, President Carter a form navy nuclear submarine officer would have been seen very differently in terms of his military prowess. he would have been haled as "bad ass" for going into Iran, getting out the hostages with minimal losses ad getting home safely. This said, some my also argue that the successful elimination of Osama Bin Laden by US Navy SEALS under President Obama's watch, could by extension make President Obama "bad ass" for having the courage to send SEALS into an area where like "Black Hawk down" in Somalia would have been on par with Carter's failure had that mission failed.
4th - I think, while people have mixed emotions about President Truman and his relationship with Gen MacArthur after WWII and during the Korean Conflict, his experience during WWI, in part contributed his decision to drop the H-bomb to save an estimated 5 million more lives and extension of WWII is something that is interesting to consider as well.
So, while I like the list you offer again, I believe each President should be rated on how well they understand the words in their oath in terms of their core character traits regarding their relationship and support of the military:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
It is the words to "... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.", that each President needs to be able to align with the members who take one of these oaths:
(Enlisted) "I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
(Officer) "I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the _____ (Military Branch) of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God."
It is in how well a President, any President, provides us the tools and capacities to help fulfill the words in these respective oaths to "...support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic ..." that I, personally, judge a President by. Meaning, if our men and women, our equipment and our capacity to do our jobs is compromised by a President and that compromise is further enable by the 535 members of the US Congress then that President does not "cut the mustard" as far as I am concerned, regardless of any of their other social or political accomplishments. Because, if our nation cannot defend itself the list makes little difference.
All of this said, I believe you posed an interesting question with some coming down hard on both sides of the issue. Again, SGT (Join to see) is right, and his implied commentary by taking a more comprehensive view of each President's performance specific to the military is the correct view for informed observers. So, the better question is are the benchmarks that determine - BAD ASS?!?!?!?!
Just my 2 cents!
COL Mikel J. Burroughs; COL Lee Flemming; Lt Col Charlie Brown; LTC Stephen C.; Maj Alea Nadeem; Maj William W. 'Bill' Price; LTC Jason Mackay; Maj Marty Hogan; CMSgt (Join to see); SMSGT Gerald "Doc" Thomas; SCPO Morris Ramsey; MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi; SSG Carlos Madden; SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth; Sgt Elizabeth Scheck; MSgt Paul Connors (Publishing); LTC (Join to see)
2nd - I agree with SGT (Join to see) it is a case by case basis. Despite not having military experience I think Abraham Lincoln was a President who, though a "civilian", understood the importance and responsibility he held as a President in working hand in hand with the military to achieve objectives. Reagan too understood the importance of a strong military and is a President that is not on the "Great 8 List." https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sreference/military-service-of-ronald-reagan.
3rd - Had things gone very different for President Carter and the Iran hostage rescue (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis) gone the way the Israeli lead Entebee raid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Entebbe) gone, President Carter a form navy nuclear submarine officer would have been seen very differently in terms of his military prowess. he would have been haled as "bad ass" for going into Iran, getting out the hostages with minimal losses ad getting home safely. This said, some my also argue that the successful elimination of Osama Bin Laden by US Navy SEALS under President Obama's watch, could by extension make President Obama "bad ass" for having the courage to send SEALS into an area where like "Black Hawk down" in Somalia would have been on par with Carter's failure had that mission failed.
4th - I think, while people have mixed emotions about President Truman and his relationship with Gen MacArthur after WWII and during the Korean Conflict, his experience during WWI, in part contributed his decision to drop the H-bomb to save an estimated 5 million more lives and extension of WWII is something that is interesting to consider as well.
So, while I like the list you offer again, I believe each President should be rated on how well they understand the words in their oath in terms of their core character traits regarding their relationship and support of the military:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
It is the words to "... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.", that each President needs to be able to align with the members who take one of these oaths:
(Enlisted) "I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
(Officer) "I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the _____ (Military Branch) of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God."
It is in how well a President, any President, provides us the tools and capacities to help fulfill the words in these respective oaths to "...support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic ..." that I, personally, judge a President by. Meaning, if our men and women, our equipment and our capacity to do our jobs is compromised by a President and that compromise is further enable by the 535 members of the US Congress then that President does not "cut the mustard" as far as I am concerned, regardless of any of their other social or political accomplishments. Because, if our nation cannot defend itself the list makes little difference.
All of this said, I believe you posed an interesting question with some coming down hard on both sides of the issue. Again, SGT (Join to see) is right, and his implied commentary by taking a more comprehensive view of each President's performance specific to the military is the correct view for informed observers. So, the better question is are the benchmarks that determine - BAD ASS?!?!?!?!
Just my 2 cents!
COL Mikel J. Burroughs; COL Lee Flemming; Lt Col Charlie Brown; LTC Stephen C.; Maj Alea Nadeem; Maj William W. 'Bill' Price; LTC Jason Mackay; Maj Marty Hogan; CMSgt (Join to see); SMSGT Gerald "Doc" Thomas; SCPO Morris Ramsey; MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi; SSG Carlos Madden; SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth; Sgt Elizabeth Scheck; MSgt Paul Connors (Publishing); LTC (Join to see)
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CPO Nate S.
SPC (Join to see) - Chris, glad you liked it! What did you learn? What made it in your words "bad ass."
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