Tathariel said:
No one told me that random strangers would walk up to me and invite me to the Sky club in the airports wheres theres free drinks and everything else you can think of. I guess its one perk of being a soldier. Anyone have anything else like this happen?
I've had people on numerous occasions offer to buy me drinks or pay for my meals without my knowledge while I was out in uniform. It's one of the perks of the job that I enjoy. Going to the Olive Garden with my wife one evening after I got off work late, (rather than change out of uniform, we just left from the Armory) the manager comped our meal for us, because of the fact that I am in the armed forces.
For those of you who don't already know, I'm in the National Guard and am currently in Iraq doing convoy security for the next year.
Yeah, I've greatly enjoyed the fact that some people will go out of their way to help out a soldier. Though sometimes I've had people come up to me and make rude or crass comments about how they don't agree with whatever is happening in the world and the fact that our military is deployed to different areas (Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom). I simply smile and say, "Though I may not agree with your political viewpoints or opinions, I will defend, to the death, your right to have them." and walk away.
I also agree that any member of any branch of the military should be held to a higher standard. In many cases, we are, as we are not only subject to civilian law, but to military law as well, and that brings into things where if we, as members of the military, get into trouble on the civilian side, pay the price there, then get to suffer the repercussions of the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) side of it. I know a soldier that got a DUI and lost his license, had to pay 2500.00 in fines and just barely got out of serving 30 days in jail, due to it being his first infraction, ever. However, he also ended up getting an Article 15, lost half his pay for a month, had 14 days of extra duty and restriction to barracks, and was reduced in rank by 1 for the same infraction because of the UCMJ. His commander had a zero tolerance policy on drinking and driving. He knew the risks, took them and suffered the consequences for his actions.
Personally, I feel that all people should be held accountable for their actions, regardless of their position or title. Diplomatic Immunity/Blue Wall my ass, if you get a parking ticket or commit murder, you suffer the same consequences as anyone else that does it in this country, or any other country, for that matter. Here in Iraq, we are subject to all standard U.S. laws, Iraqi laws and the UCMJ, on top of that, we are not allowed any alcohol (as per Iraqi law) or pornography (again, as per Iraqi law.)
Send me your porn!!!!