Should those who in our armed forces deserve entitlements?

[El Jefe]

Let me preface this by saying that I am one of the Patriotic members here on CP. Those of you who know me know how many threads I have posted honoring those who served/serve our country. But I was dissappointed today in our local Speedway gas station. There was 2 Marines driving a big Military SUV vehicle and they were walking into to Speedway in full attire. I was next to them and I thanked them for serving our country to which neither replied to me, I thought they didn't hear me. So I said it again, and the one guy said "Yeah we heard you the first time". At this point I left it alone. At this time another little convoy pulled up (I would assume from the same group), they were in full garb as well. They congregate around the slushy machine and they all get one (there was maybe 10 of them).

They come up to pay for the slushies and they ask where Chris is? Chris is the manager down there, I know because I buy a big gulp almost every day, and I know the people who work there. The cashier says "Im sorry Chris isn't in today" she then tells them their total and they start going nuts. The main guy says CHRIS NEVER MAKES US PAY!!! I AM NOT PAYING!! The cashier says that she's sorry, but she cannot give the slushies away or it will come out of her pay. The Marine then says "Do you know who the F we are? We are F-ing Marines, and we protect your God damn Country Bit**". At this time the other Marines in the group started chattering and saying how ridiculous this was that they wouldn't give them drinks. The cashier says "serve If I give it to you I would have to give it to everyone else, I am not the manager and I cannot give them to you, you can either pay for them or leave them here". The Marine then says F YOU!! The cashier then says if they don't leave they will call the cops. They leave, and they refuse to pay for their slushies. Everyone in the store has the David at the Dentist "Is this real life" look on their face.

I am all for being generous to those who protect us and I try to pick up the tab for them at fast food places, or pay for their big gulps, but I was shocked to see that behavior. The sad thing was there was at least 10 of them, and not one of them would say this is ridiculous.

My question, when those who volunteer to serve our Country demand things or expect entitlements, do you think they should be able to do that? Or should they not be able to do that?

[Bump]

Originally Posted by tredadda

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Originally Posted by Dave

Seriously?

I guess the Air Force is a bit more lax on their rules.

I live right next to Wright-Patt AFB.

I see Airmen in fatigues around here quite a bit.

It's been 17 years since I was active duty but yeah, just looked it up: http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sit...7%20ALMARS.htm

[demonhero]

Originally Posted by frazod

It's also not like everybody who puts on a uniform is Captain America. All kinds of people in the service, just like anywhere else. Some are pricks. Some are really big pricks. I spent my last three years at the Great Lakes Legal Service Office involved in court-martialing lots of them, and believe me, I saw the hind end of the recruiting spectrum.

If you take some guy who was a loudmouth bullying douche before and turn him into a Marine, sometimes you just end up with a loudmouth bullying douche with a serious attitude problem and combat skills.

LOL, find me some Marines that aren't loudmouth bullies. Kinda goes along with our branch. The ones that get court-martialed are just ****tards.

[BWillie]

I've been looking at some statistics as far as what is more dangerous, being a police officer or being active in the military. Obviously those in the Marines and on the front lines have a much higher fatality rate probably, but it was interesting to see that overall fatality rates actually seemed to show police officers had a higher fatality rate. Even more astounding was that being an African American male age 20-34 in Philadelphia was higher than both. That was just a quick glance at some most likely imperfect statistics from some periodicals but just found that interesting.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

I've been looking at some statistics as far as what is more dangerous, being a police officer or being active in the military. Obviously those in the Marines and on the front lines have a much higher fatality rate probably, but it was interesting to see that overall fatality rates actually seemed to show police officers had a higher fatality rate. Even more astounding was that being an African American male age 20-34 in Philadelphia was higher than both. That was just a quick glance at some most likely imperfect statistics from some periodicals but just found that interesting.

Interesting stuff. You're right in that it may have to do with the fact that only a small proportion of Marines (or any military branch) are actually front line, shooting troops. Though actually, I would think the same is true of police, so you'd think it would cancel out to some extent.

Related to the Philadelphia thing, I remember reading once that the average lifespan of a man in the Bronx was lower than that of many third-world countries. Life is scary sometimes.

[CrazyPhuD]

Originally Posted by Phobia

It's been 17 years since I was active duty but yeah, just looked it up: http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sit...7%20ALMARS.htm

Maybe they were suffering from a Slurpee emergency? That could explain the attitude too!

[demonhero]

Please don't report these Marines.... I don't want to sit for a 4 hour lecture about how Marines aren't supposed to wear utilities outside the base. Google pulls up that Ohio has an infantry reserve regiment, but what the **** are they doing in late June.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by LVNHACK

Dogs & Sailors keep off the grass...?

Exactly.

I'm not old enough to have been there when those ****ing scumbags actually had those signs in their yards, but I served with people who remembered them.

And the people who lived there certainly conveyed that attitude, with or without signs. God I hated that ****ing hellhole.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by demonhero

LOL, find me some Marines that aren't loudmouth bullies. Kinda goes along with our branch. The ones that get court-martialed are just ****tards.

Heh. I remember when I was in A School, there were Marines at that base as well (NTTC in Meridian - speaking of hellholes). I overheard a Marine say he was from Chillicothe, which is about 40 miles from my hometown. I said "Hey, I'm from Kirksville." I could tell that he wanted to say something to me, but he was with a couple of other jarheads who were both giving me dirty looks, and he just turned away. It was kind of sad.

Of course, Chillicothe sucks anyway. And I mentioned that to him as he was walking away.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by El Jefe

Color me confused, I really must admit to not knowing anything about that. I spent a lot of cash sending out packages from our church if that's any consolation. Sorry about that man.

Been going on for 3 years.

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=217140

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by stevieray

....you join to serve, not to be served.

IMO...any soldier worth their weight isn't looking for accolades or pats on the back...your duty speaks for itself, it doesn't look nor need any vanities for validation.

/Thread

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Interesting stuff. You're right in that it may have to do with the fact that only a small proportion of Marines (or any military branch) are actually front line, shooting troops. Though actually, I would think the same is true of police, so you'd think it would cancel out to some extent.

Related to the Philadelphia thing, I remember reading once that the average lifespan of a man in the Bronx was lower than that of many third-world countries. Life is scary sometimes.

The military's logistical tail is far, far more massive than any police force's. Figure it's at least 5:1, and probably more like 10:1 ratio of support troops for the front line units. Now some support units may be closer to the front line than others, though technically in a support role.

There aren't 5 or 10 cops back at the station for each cop sitting at Dunkin' Donuts, errr...I mean avidly patrolling the streets...

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Dragonocho

2 Vans in full dress attire sounds like a funeral detail. Contact the local Marine base and relate the date and location and they can probably track these D-bags down. I'm positive no Marine leader will accept that. Honorable service but the behavior you describe is intolerable.

Definitely this, it shouldnt be too hard for the local command to figure out who these guys are, they deserve a serious mark on their records for that.

Saying they're way too full of themselves would be an understatment.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I appreciate the military very much, but I get really tired of the "military worship" that we have in our society these days. It's ridiculous. It's a volunteer force. It's not like they were drafted.

I suspect this is an unpopular view, but it's overboard and it's insincere. In most cases it's just marketing and has nothing to do with patriotism or veterans. It's companies trying to make themselves look good. Just look at these: http://www.bradsdeals.com/blog/2010/...ary-discounts/. And not a single one of them offers any discounts to market researchers, even though we're vital in ensuring that the best products and services are provided to the marketplace, which promotes and preserves our nation's capitalist economic system and produces additional consumer demand that generates tax dollars that buys all of those drones and howitzers.

I agree some poor schmo that got drafted in the army and has to give up his career and family I have a lot more sympathy for them than someone who volunteered to do it. I don't have any more sympathy for them that I do for a volunteer fireman.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Old Dog

+1 and this is from someone who did nearly 23 years on active duty before I retired.
I did half a dozen deployments and you know what that makes me? Someone who did his damn JOB. Just because I got up and went to work in another country doesn't make me some kind of fricking hero like some of these kids think they are.


Sorry for my bit of a rant, but this is something that bugs the hell out of me.

Bravo old dog exactly my sentiments although I didn't serve I've never understood the worship of it.

Rep