Posted on Aug 29, 2017
Combat vets say tattoo policy is big barrier to re-enlistment
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I think this is a timeless cycle the military goes through between periods of war and peace. During combat all sorts of regs and procedures are allowed to slide if not considered mission essential. Then in peacetime things tighten up. Then repeat the cycle. I don't recall the general who said it, but it was decades ago, maybe even after WWII, that the country needs two Armies. One for peacetime filled with people who look great and never get in trouble. Then the wartime one filled with rough characters who you want fighting for you.
Since I came in as an LT in 1977 I can remember soldiers being characterized as "good in the field but bad in garrison". For a while being good in the field bought you some leniency on garrison problems. But then the philosophy changed to the idea that there were enough soldiers that were good both in the field and garrison, so we didnt have to accept soldiers who were only good half the time. So it comes and goes.
Since I came in as an LT in 1977 I can remember soldiers being characterized as "good in the field but bad in garrison". For a while being good in the field bought you some leniency on garrison problems. But then the philosophy changed to the idea that there were enough soldiers that were good both in the field and garrison, so we didnt have to accept soldiers who were only good half the time. So it comes and goes.
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SFC (Join to see)
So true also I noticed in RVN where I was (DaNang)as a REMF, that we had to polish boots and stand formations (LOL). Crazy in a combat zone. But just a cross base infantry guys never polished boots stood formations.
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LTC (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) - it may have been where I heard it. It sounds like something he would have said. I searched for it, and only found a rather elaborate quote expressing the same idea much more colorfully by a french writer of military books.
Jean Lartéguy
“I'd like to have two armies: one for display with lovely guns, tanks, little soldiers, staffs, distinguished and doddering Generals, and dear little regimental officers who would be deeply concerned over their General's bowel movements or their Colonel's piles, an army that would be shown for a modest fee on every fairground in the country. The other would be the real one, composed entirely of young enthusiasts in camouflage uniforms, who would not be put on display, but from whom impossible efforts would be demanded and to whom all sorts of tricks would be taught. That's the army in which I should like to fight.”
― Jean Lartéguy
Read more quotes from Jean Lartéguy
Jean Lartéguy
“I'd like to have two armies: one for display with lovely guns, tanks, little soldiers, staffs, distinguished and doddering Generals, and dear little regimental officers who would be deeply concerned over their General's bowel movements or their Colonel's piles, an army that would be shown for a modest fee on every fairground in the country. The other would be the real one, composed entirely of young enthusiasts in camouflage uniforms, who would not be put on display, but from whom impossible efforts would be demanded and to whom all sorts of tricks would be taught. That's the army in which I should like to fight.”
― Jean Lartéguy
Read more quotes from Jean Lartéguy
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