re: These sort of idiots are infiltrating our military.

She is just resting to build up strength to prove she belongs on the front lines. Our military has become F-TROOP

What is the 1700 flag? The flag when they lower it at 5:00?

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I respect the military more than any other profession. Thanks to all that have served.

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Why? I know how the military is. I understand there are some tough jobs that most people couldn't deal with. There are also a lot of jobs in the military that are essentially minimum wage workers with subsidized wages and benefits. Same skill level. A little more responsibility, but pretty much being served by the job they have that no one else would pay for.

I do though. I been there. I've been there in it's hours of toil. I've been there when there's no one to thank you. I spent days where you spent 20-50 minutes sleeping if you were lucky.

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I still completely disagree that "career military" men never have to grow up, or that scratching your balls, dipping copenhagen, or telling dick jokes reflects a lack of maturity. I also don't think that the incompatibility issues with women in the military has ANYTHING AT ALL to do with the maturity level of military men. Even though that is the go to excuse for the failed experiment of mixed gender services.

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I got two demerits for quibbling such as this.

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I got two demerits for quibbling such as this.

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Well, I am glad we agree on this much.
What is a demerit? Did you go to a service academy or something?

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What is a demerit? Did you go to a service academy or something?

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ROTC field training. I went to Eglin. You'd get a demerit if there was a dead cockroach under your bed. My contention was that particular cockroach had just expired when the Major entered the room for inspection. I got a demerit for a dead cockroach and another for quibbling.

Majors doing room inspections

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I somewhat agree with you. The vast majority of the military isn't composed of professional jobs. Those dudes (and women ) you see walking around in uniform are far more likely to spend their day in meaningless formations or using every possible technique to avoid performing actual labor. Even in the event that they are forced to execute some act of productive labor, it is likely menial, non-technical, labor like cutting grass or mopping a bathroom. It is shocking how many "american heroes" are vehicle mechanics who haven't the slightest clue of how to maintain a vehicle, or personnel or finance soldiers who essentially push paper to civilian contractors. The amount of soldiers that could be considered "professional" is remarkably small IMO.

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The crew chief of the jet that had my name on it at Spangdahlem had his shite together. (packed tightly in a cubic inch box with a handle on it.) You didn't need an intercom with him from engine start to taxi. It was his Phantom as much as it was mine.

I got the privilege of taking him on an incentive ride. Long story short.. I let him fly his jet for most of the sortie. The best part was our assigned area had a solid undercast 2k' above the floor. Towards the end, I split-essed down in a corner right to the top of the overcast and told Chief xxx "Aiight chief. You got 20 miles to drive this mama and dodge the clouds." (If you've never flown a plane, the most fun you'll ever have is flying about 20' above the ground. In this case, the chief was flying 20' above the undercast.) It was a blast.

I'd say there might be 47% of the active military who duck when the flag is retired, but that's OK. The other 53% take care of bidness. After all, 53% productivity in a govt operation is pretty damn good for a govt operation.