Combat Duty vs Non Combat Duty

[TacoNut]

Originally Posted by SecretSquirrel

My answer is no. Anyone that wore the uniform deserves my respect, not just those lucky/unlucky enough to be in a combat zone.

I couldn't of said it better myself. Just putting on the uniform means you are willing to lay your life on the line for our freedom.

[Keason1*]

No, you chose to volunteer your life and have given up many freedoms to serve your country. Its not your fault you were not in actual "combat"

You have served your country unselfishly and I respect you for that.
I was in the air force for 4 years, I was never deployed...I was stationed in korea for a year...not combat I know, but non-the-less I gave up alot to serve my country.
I do respect the guys who are in combat situations but does that make them a better person or their military service commitment better than anyone elses? no.

[DanGer]

Alright I will drop the diplomatic facade. I respect and feel indebted to anyone and everyone who serves out country. It doesn't matter what role they play, they are worth of my and every other americans respect.

However I think it takes a special person to serve in combat, thus they get more respect from me. They are the ones out there on the front lines. They don't have to worry about their base being occasionally bombarded, they have to worry that any second their life may be over, their wives widows, and their children left without a father.

I think of it in this analogy, the garbage men do the worst work. Of course they couldn't do their jobs without mechanics for the trucks, managers, etc. but only they do the dirty work.

I mean no disrespect to those who served our country not in combat. I am not saying the soldiers in combat are better. In many cases, they are (for lack of better terms) expendable boots on the ground, while the more specialized and higher educated individuals take on support roles.

Every single person in the military makes it possible to keep the world safer, but those in combat always get more respect from me

[Bearskill]

Thats funny. Im a heavy eng mech in the AF. In middle east right now. I feel that the people getting shot at are doing more than I am, even though I work my ass off, but the again I see the people from finance or comm and the services people with their super clean uniforms and perfect looking boots and I can't help but feel contempt for them. Im out side covered in gas and oil and hydrolic shit all day and they get an AC office their whole deployment and we all get paid the same!?! Not right. Pay should be based on how close to harm you are and off of labor intensity. The guys getting shot at should be making what a sports star makes in my opinion. Ya, ya. I know thats not how the world works. Just saying it's messed up.

[Bearskill]

I swear to god I am a thread killer. Every time I comment on some thing the thread dies. Sorry. I don't mean to be a buzz kill.

[HBMurphy]

[cakmakli]

Originally Posted by dhurley

My question is, Does combat duty make ones service to their country better than those who have none?
I was Active Army for 8 years (1987-1995) and in the Colorado Army National Guard for 12 years (1995-2007). I did everything that was ever asked of me, but was never deployed to a combat zone. When people (both civilian & military) ask when I was in Iraq/Afghanistan & I tell them I never deployed there, I always get the same reply, "Oh" and the conversation stops.

Of course not. It's not like Uncle Sam didn't know where you were all of these years. If he needed you he would have called on you. It's not like you were hiding in a closet somewhere.

[dennyct@hotmail.com]

When you join the Military, the Government ownes your ass. They give you whatever job THEY WANT and send you WHERE EVER THEY WANT.

[lockwire24]

Hell no! Just because someone went to combat doesn't mean they are special. For example: Pilots put their lives on the line just by flying. I am a Snipe in the Navy. I put my life on the line every time step foot on the brow, from fires, flooding, toxic gas or man overboard. Just a few weeks ago, a shipmate from another command went over the side. They found his body a day later. So to those that think just because they been in combat, they should be the only one to be respected? F@#K THAT.

[mpgnc64]

Lockwire24 very good point, thats the shit we never hear about. Its always stated as non combat related. I will tell you I am 6 months from retirement and have 2 left here. If they ask me to go outside I will do it, but I aint gonna say I will enjoy it LOL!

[cakmakli]

I'd be curious to see the percentage of how those with military experience voted vs. those with none.

It seems like very few military members voted yes becasue they know the real deal. We might joke around some but when it comes right down to it, regardless of which service or what type of service, we all have a common bond. We are all on the same team and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep this country free.

[Rangerpeterson]

It all depends on your job while you were in. Not all jobs in the military are equal. If you were a mechanic or a truck driver it's not comparible to some other jobs like a airforce fighter pilot, Army Ranger, Delta force, etc. People think that if your in the military your automaticly someone who has "shot at people" and been "shot at". I will always respect anyone who has served thier country, but i do respect some jobs more than others. I will always respect (or consider more of a badass) and special forces guy than a supply sargent regaurdless of who went to combat. This is not a slam on anyone who was not a soldier who kick in doors or whos goal in life was to seek and destroy the enemy. I'm just saying that someone who has done that regaurdless of combat experince is more of a badass to me. Any civilian who judges any member of the service for not going to combat is automaticly a douche anyways.....

[cakmakli]

Equal to what? The Pay is the same unless you collect Special Duty Pay.

It could be argured that even those that wear the Ranger Tab are not equal. You have some that just completed the school and never spent one day in a Ranger Battalion. Are they any less then those that have?

Earlier in my career I've worked those 60 - 70 hours weeks with maybe one day off and that was on standby. I've spent my time away from my family in the field and on deployments. Now I don't have to and I make no apologies to anyone for it. Now I sit in an office in a non deployable MOS and collect SDAP for it.

I consider myself equal to any Master Sergeant in the Army. We all choose our own career paths for our own reasons. In my career I’ve accomplished everything I set out to do. I’ve busted my ass for the last 26 years and I’ll be damn if I allow any man to look down on me for whatever I’ve done or didn’t do in my career

[dhurley]

I was hoping by asking this question here on TW, I could get a broad spectrum of replies. Thanks for everyone's responses. Not too long ago, some people were drafted & weren't given much of a choice (except maybe run to Canada). But since then it's been an all volunteer force. No one made us join. But the reasons we did are just about as diverse as we are. To me everybody who has worn the uniform gets a from me.

[Rangerpeterson]

Originally Posted by cakmakli

Equal to what? The Pay is the same unless you collect Special Duty Pay.

It could be argured that even those that wear the Ranger Tab are not equal. You have some that just completed the school and never spent one day in a Ranger Battalion. Are they any less then those that have?

Earlier in my career I've worked those 60 - 70 hours weeks with maybe one day off and that was on standby. I've spent my time away from my family in the field and on deployments. Now I don't have to and I make no apologies to anyone for it. Now I sit in an office in a non deployable MOS and collect SDAP for it.

I consider myself equal to any Master Sergeant in the Army. We all choose our own career paths for our own reasons. In my career I’ve accomplished everything I set out to do. I’ve busted my ass for the last 26 years and I’ll be damn if I allow any man to look down on me for whatever I’ve done or didn’t do in my career

I do think anyone who has served in Ranger Battalion is more badass than someone who just has thier Ranger Tab.(But I am biased here) Please dont get me wrong I will always feel that anyone who has served regaurdless of what they have done in the service is a good, honest, respectable person to me. Thank you for everyone who has ever served! I do feel some Mos's are more badass than others though. To me a Ranger with a tab is like someone who has a doctorate in psychology. A Ranger with a Ranger Tab in the 75th Ranger Regiment is like a doctor in an emergency room. Both are doctors, but I would trust one more than the other to cut into my chest with and save my life. AGAIN NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE! Thank every soldier for serving.

[roxspin72]

The Military in a whole has a better atmosphere since 911... Yes the repetitive deployments and high uptempo have taken it's toll, but most would say that the morale and camaraderie of Soldiers has increased due to the accomplishments of their Unit's while down range... Yes there are those unfortunate exceptions, but I'm sure the majority would side with and continue on with their military career...

[cakmakli]

Originally Posted by Rangerpeterson

I do think anyone who has served in Ranger Battalion is more badass than someone who just has thier Ranger Tab.(But I am biased here) Please dont get me wrong I will always feel that anyone who has served regaurdless of what they have done in the service is a good, honest, respectable person to me. Thank you for everyone who has ever served! I do feel some Mos's are more badass than others though. To me a Ranger with a tab is like someone who has a doctorate in psychology. A Ranger with a Ranger Tab in the 75th Ranger Regiment is like a doctor in an emergency room. Both are doctors, but I would trust one more than the other to cut into my chest with and save my life. AGAIN NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE! Thank every soldier for serving.

We're good to go brother. I respect your opinion.

My LTC was grating on my nerves when I had my moment

[mpgnc64]

All jobs are important and Im in a support position, I just support a little closer than some. I have to laugh my ass off at the guy at finance or personel who has his blood type written on everything he owns, and I mean everything LMAO!!!

[OU812]

Originally Posted by cakmakli

I'd be curious to see the percentage of how those with military experience voted vs. those with none.

It seems like very few military members voted yes becasue they know the real deal. We might joke around some but when it comes right down to it, regardless of which service or what type of service, we all have a common bond. We are all on the same team and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep this country free.

The switch can be thrown to make the poll public. Combat or not makes no difference to me. The respect is given equally from me. Those who ask the question only to hear the reply "no" then walk away simply are ignorant of the sacrifices that one makes when he or she takes the oath and wears the uniform. The fact is you may not have been in combat. But the point remains.. you CAN be deployed to the theatre..

Is it right to say the guy loading the planes with vital supplies stateside plays a lesser role than the platoon leader in the green zone?

Does the hull technician on the oiler floating in the IO get less respect than the gunner's mate onboard a Ticonderoga sailing the gulf? If so than shame on the person making that call.

I always support ALL involved..

[09AFTacoma]

I've been to Balad Iraq and Ive been to the UAE.. So i have seen both side of the spectrem, and I say NO.. it doesnt matter where you go.

One Place I was gettin mortar'd everyday, when i was in Balad we were attacked over 300 times in the 190 days i was there and then the other place I got the chance to tour the country and use a day off to go to a mall and see some amazing places (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)

And then I got friends that have deployed or as they like to call it go TDY to places like Turkey and Manas where they dont get the extra pay (tax free, haz duty, IDP*) or any of that jazz but guess what if it wasnt for them loading 30 to 40 planes a shift sending cargo into Iraq or Afghanastain, then all our troops of all our branches wouldnt have everyday neccesities...

which brings us to those troops that have jobs that dont require them to go overseas but i tell you what, If the troop in Finanace or Personal can do there job from home but it still means I get my paycheck, and im able to take a test online for college credit or there is someone to help my wife when the landlord tries to tell her I have to be present to sign the lease.. then I respect everyone that is in the service.. **

** with the exception of the people that are in a deployable job that do things like cry wolf or find a way to get out of being deployed that causes another troop to be forced to return to the desert and take them away from there family bc someone isnt man or women enough to do there time and support there country