I will concede that, without having been through both, a Parris Island like experience, and a life changing religious experience, these things may not seem connected.

But I see more parallels than I can even get into (for reasons of space) between living for God, and what the Marine Corps taught me about selfless duty, and other things.

And I don't think anyone is less of a person for never having served in the military. Indeed, I prefer that we never see a draft ever again. But where I've had problems with you in the past, is not for your lack of military service, but your critical view of the training involved. If you don't want to go through it, fine. But you are wrong to assume that it is all a bunch of sadistic nonsense.

And since you mentioned Acts 2:38, you have much more credibility than I would otherwise assume.

One of my emails is cartoons@cox.net. (I used to be a freelance editorial cartoonist.)

I guess I have to say that when I was in basic I had the chance to help one of the (few) friends I made get saved on the free day away and encouraged him to get baptised when he got to his regualar unit.

Are you going to church this sunday? dont be affraid to ask jesus as your savior.

This is to Xena the warrior goddess, Pearson, and whomever that other girl was; read the book American Spartans.

It's about the Marine Corps, and if any of you join my Marine Corps, I will find you and . . . just kidding. But please dont' join the Marines.

However, even if you don't want to buy the book, read just the first 25 pages or so in the book store. The civilian writer gives some very poignant reflections on boot camp, and the difference that training makes in general.

Hmmm, why doesn't the military just turn over the whole platoon to him, let him train all of them his way, and then send all of them off to Afganistan. Wonder how many (if any)of the boyz he trained would make it back?

Why does the term "God help us" come to mind?

just a passing thought, this guy thinks and says he knows all.....

I dont know it all, but I know that hype and propoganda are not lagitimate arguments. And they are starting to train people just the way you hate at ft leonard wood missouri, so you could almost do a little research project and see how they fair when they get to active duty, and I think you will find that when everyone is on the same side you will have a more effective unit, where as now if I had some hardliner sgt, I might just hunker down and see if the iraqi can squeeze off a few lucky rounds and kill my sgt at least that way I will have a little peace in my life when the immediate fight is over and not have to worry about having a second fight with members on my side

rrpearso..

and after your sgt. is offed by the insurgents and you're left to hunkering behind a burtnt out humvee.. the next RPG round would be aimed directly at you and there'd be no one left to tell you how to save your ass, rally the others to protect you [ and you them ] and the person with any experience, knowledge and understanding of the capabilities of the 'men ' in your squad/platoon/compamny would be lost..You'd be like a chicken with no head and just as dumb..

stick to the evangelizing aircraft patrols, boyo.. sooooo glad you're not at the pointy end of anything....

Dont worry the Sgt is smart enough to off you before he gets offed by the "bad guy". Look at vietnam its the enlisted that carryied most officers in the field. Just because you gained a degree and all doesn't make you god. But that is how officers see themselves is better than the enlisted. But remember the Sgts have been around longer then butter bars so listen to them and you could come out alive!

Hey XXX:
As an officer [retired ] I never considered myself God.. that status I left to the RSM.. but, I did have a ' fanchise' to lead from the front/by example.. and never expected anyone[ especially enlisted ] tp ' carry ' me..There is a heirarchy for a reason and it ain't because of who has a degree and who dosen't .. [ had a PhD candidate in one company who wasn't interested in anything to do with command or promotion and was content to stay at the low end..takes al ltypes.. ]]still, if a certain poster on this board had been in my chain of command I'm pretty sure I would have found a way to have him on permanent KP just to keep him out of harm's way [ and probably issued him a blunt knife just to make sure ]...

Well see Rocketeer you are one of the officers that I'm not talking about. In the 6 yrs that I have been in I have met all types of officers, some good and of course some bad. I wasn't saying that all officers are bad. Also KP is a good detail for the ones that we are talking about.

maybe thats why the guard is not pushing to keep me in? It would still be an interesting research project.

hmmm, who would you rather go into combat with......a tough as nails Sgt, or joe cubscout?

Gunny, I hate to correct a man with your experience, but that would be "Joe Could'nt take it as a cubscout."