http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3840267/

hi,

i just came upon this article and i read the whole thing but could not fully understand it especially the word "cowardice"

any way can any one please put this article in simple terms



thanks.

 

someone decided that he wasn't up to their "standards". I'm Air Force, so Army standards are different. Behavior in a combat zone is usually different also. Rightly so. The fact that they've reduced the severity of the charge twice implies that someone was probably overzealous to begin with.

San

 

so in other words the army group bailed out?

 

You have a duty to many folks (yourself, your teammates, your unit, the Army, the American people) and the entity of the constitution to just do your job. His job is unique in that he's not specifically a combat arms type of guy, but he is in a special operations unit which would put him more in the line of danger than a 'normal' interpreter.

Terps are mostly not crucial, but in this case, a Special Forces A-team (who is supposed to have a passing knowledge of the language and dialect, so long as they are working in their normally assigned location) Edit: crap! A SF A-team might need the abilities of an interpreter to quell what might could be a life-or-death situation.

The fact that the guy flat out refused to do 'his job' demonstrates to his team and his boss/bosses that he is unreliable and in this case, malingering, or what we call in the Army, gold-bricking.

By design, a soldier might be called upon to try or hurt or kill someone in a very violent, inhumane way; or be hurt or killed in much the same manner. He could be called upon to look at the bodies of the living or dead that have been grossly disfigured.

He's a soldier. It's something EVERY soldier should expect.

His defense is weak. Personally, I've seen pictures of a man setting himself on fire. Should I be excused from my duties and responsibilities to everyone mentioned above because of the emotional scarring I've felt that preclude me from doing my job.

You know, on the outset you're post seems pretty inocuous, but I know better. Why do you have to be aiming your bitterness for being back here safe while thousands of young Americans are risking their lives for a purpose that even they don't understand...they're just doing it out of a sense of duty to something much greater than themselves. I just got this week's Army Times and went through the 6 pages of 12x12 grid of 1"x1" pictures of those who knew what duty, honor, country is.

Go enlist or get your commission. I've got a spot for you in my company for when we go to Afghanistan in March.

 

thanks guys for the detail explanation i just turned 20 years old and reading these american amy articles of what they have to go trough is truly scary stuff indeed.

 

Hey Pat at least i might be close to you. There asking for volunteers for Iraqi, but if they don't get enough they are going to start taking what they need.

 

I wouldn't mind that a bit. Y'all have a far different purpose over there, I think, than we will.

 

If you don't mind me asking what are you going to do in Afghanistan??

 

Personally, I'll probably be guarding an internet capable computer, making a lot of coffee, and buying chapstick in bulk.

 

HAHA ok

 

STI-R, I sent you a PM.

 

Gpatmac,

goodluck in Afghanistan I myself will be leaving for Iraq in a few short weeks. Take care of yourself.

Jess

 

Jess,

I think you're going to be in much more of a crap-storm than I will.

I hope you can get to a computer and keep everyone updated as to how you're doing.

You'll be fine, though. Which unit are you in?

 

sent u a PM back pat.

wish u guys the best of luck when u guys leave.

 

Gpatmac,

I am currently assigned to 2-11 FA in the commo shop as the network administrator for the bn. i think you are right about me being in a **** storm over there i'll just have to keep my eyes and ears open. i shouldnt have a problem finding internet access over there since i will be the one deciding who gets it and who doesnt.

Jess