THE DEMOGRAPHIES OF WAR

THE DEMOGRAPHIES OF WAR

(FRAZER CHRONICLE)

(All the News That Nobody Else Will Print)

Did you ever wonder about the makeup of the United States military, I mean those young men and women who risk their lives on a daily basis in foreign lands that, until they signed up, probably thought little about? “Thanks for your service” doesn’t really count for much anymore, the “mushroom clouds over Washington D.C.” rings pretty hollow…..and “protecting our freedom” is really a misnomer…..isn’t it?

 

Our young military personnel have really been sold a bill of goods, haven’t they, I know many people who abhor war, and want to avoid it like a plague. Still the federal government, the military, the Pentagon and some media outlets continue to sell the patriotic meaning of armed conflict, and the romance involved. As wars continue, Afghanistan, Iraq…..again, Syria, and in general the Middle East, the average age of our military personnel continues to drop.

 

It’s the way of any military armed conflict, the longer a war lasts, the older soldiers retire, and younger people need to pick up the slack. It is true that, in retrospect older, veteran soldiers die, pretty much because their luck runs out.

 

According to Defense Manpower Research, dated 11-23-13, the strength of the United States military is 1,196,897 active soldiers. There are 452,064 Army, 275,296 Naval personnel, 258,095 Air Force, 178,213 Marines, and 33,228 Coast Guardsmen.

 

The age demographics of the Army is 66.3% 30 and under, 64.6% Naval members under 30, a whopping 82.9% of Marine personnel 30 and under, the Air Force is made up of 60% 30 and under, and the Coast Guard has a 60.2% under the age of 31.

 

Ignorance can’t be used as an excuse for why young people join the U.S. military, 92.5 percent of soldiers have completed their high school education, while 89.3% of officers have completed a Bachelor of Science degree or above. 52.3% of all soldiers are married while on the officer’s side; seven out of every ten are married.

 

SEE THE WORLD FROM THE BACK OF A DEUCE AND A HALF

That used to be the military joke when I was in the service; it meant that all of the glossy crap that the military people told you at the induction center was…..well, just that, crap. A deuce and a half was/is a five ton Army vehicle that hauled troops and equipment all over creation…..and actually is a lousy way to see the world.

 

I can give you some top reasons why a young person does possibly the dumbest thing in the history of his/her life…..so far. I think number one would be stability, a course of action for some young people that gives them purpose. Of course there’s the pay, $1,531.50 per month, $18,378.00 a year to start, which is not so much, right…..actually you’d be wrong. You don’t pay for medical treatment, food, utilities, or housing, and like I said, you get all of the rides you’d ever care about in a deuce and a half truck.

 

Of course as you go up in rank, the pay scale goes up accordingly, and if you make the military a career, and ascend through the ranks in a normal fashion to let’s say an E8 sergeant, you’re talking about a nice piece of change, like $4,896,30 a month, or $58,755.60 for a veteran with 20 years of service. When you figure in all the “perks” of the position, you’re easily making $100,000 per year.

 

There are a myriad of reasons as to why people join the U.S. military, financial stability listed above, to test one’s courage, a good citizen, to fight Al Qaeda and terrorists, a career move, family tradition, pride. Like I said, “there’s a myriad of reasons.”

 

HOWEVER…..MAKE NO MISTAKE

With little exception, in the world of the 21^st century, the United States military is not fighting for my freedom and safety. If that’s the argument for today’s armed conflicts…..well, as far as I’m concerned, put down your weapons and catch the next flight, or boat back to the homeland.

 

It never ceases to amaze me that people really talk about the United States military presence in foreign lands, or justifies past armed military confrontation with the simple phrase of “well if we hadn’t have fought those wars, we’d have lost freedom.” And the worst part of this equation is the fact absolutely nobody objects to this mentality. Are you really telling me that the U.S. invasions of Korea, Viet Nam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other Middle Eastern nations was necessary for the freedom that we enjoy today here in the United States?

 

What we do as a nation, on a day like Veterans Day is to eulogize those who have lost their lives trying to…..well I’m not really sure. Since I don’t buy into the bull---- that the Bush administration fed everybody about Iraq and Sadem Hussein and his ties to Ben laden. Of course after several years of fighting in Afghanistan, like a majority of citizens, I wondered what the point was.

 

And now we’ve came to the brink of another conflict in the Middle East, this time with Syria…..”oh boy I can hardly wait.” You fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, wives, friends, and just casual acquaintance’s had better be ready for some more mournful memorial services…..cause when you have war, mournful memorials are what you get.

BEFORE I GO

I can tell you this without any trepidation; the powers that are operating the country make money derived from these armed conflicts. Armed conflicts generally create jobs, if not in the military, than connected business that services, or equips the military effort.

 

However, for the average U.S. citizen with a son or daughter in the military, the war is a real situation, one that is filled with danger. To lose a son or daughter, a brother a sister, or a mate, in a strange way, isn’t as bad as a damaged person returning from a war zone. These physically or emotionally impaired people will require a lifetime of care…..that probably is the worst that a war delivers. Let’s all make love…..not war.

HAVE A NICE DAY!