The Cellar - How a soldier is made

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How a soldier is made

Quote:

This is how an American soldier is made.
For 27 months, Ian Fisher, his parents and friends, and the U.S. Army allowed Denver Post reporters and a photographer to watch and chronicle his recruitment, induction, training, deployment, and, finally, his return from combat. A selection of photos from Ian’s journey are posted below.
The story was written by Kevin Simpson with Michael Riley and Bruce Finley. It was reported by Riley in Colorado and at Fort Benning, Ga., Finley at Fort Carson and in Iraq, and photographer Craig F. Walker throughout.

I was surprised how closely the photographer was able to follow this kid through his training, and deployment in Iraq.

Check it out.

That was cool. Great link.

They look so young in this picture.

They seem to get younger every year.

That struck me too. Of course compared to myself, they are younger every year.:D

Man, four girlfriends and two engagements in just under two years.

I'm real confident he and this last one are gonna stay married. :rolleyes: I mean, they got a dog together, it must be love!

That's what I was thinking Clod - new picture, new girlfriend...

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce (Post 597834)

That struck me too. Of course compared to myself, they are younger every year.:D

Next year The Doctor will be younger than me (Matt Smith, 26)
Now that feels like I'm really getting old!

Sorry, I am taking the OT seriously.
But then I've always thought of the world of soldiers as a world apart from mine.
For a while I dated a guy who had an older and younger brother. The older wanted to be in the RAF but developed (or was discovered to have) epilepsy. Went off the rails, lived in a squat in Brixton (at the time a very troubled part of London) and *gasp* smoked drugs. He fascinated me!

My BF only ever wanted to join the RAF, but couldn't because of his eyesight. When we split up he was looking into joining the Police (I have no idea what their sight requirements are)

The younger started as a squaddie and was promoted up, and came onto me every time either he or I were drunk. Or both of course. And told me really nasty squaddie stories (shit sandwich anyone?)

I fully respect the Armed Forces. I like the Cellar for showing me the American approach to them, and therefore colouring my approach to ours (ie the Christmas packages I sent last year.) So I like this IoTD. I just have to work on soldiers a bit - perhaps it's a cultural gap.

ETA - anyone who has Big Sarge details, PLEASE pm me - I lost the ones he provided me and feel like a heel not contacting him.

Thank you. This was very special to see.

I enjoyed that. Great coverage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble (Post 597835)

Man, four girlfriends and two engagements in just under two years.

I'm real confident he and this last one are gonna stay married. :rolleyes: I mean, they got a dog together, it must be love!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinx (Post 597876)

That's what I was thinking Clod - new picture, new girlfriend...

chortle

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pico and ME (Post 597828)

They look so young in this picture.

I must agree.

I was quite shocked to see this picture, as these boys barely look out of their early teens... They look like children, dressed up to play war... What is wrong with this world, where boys are sent out to fight, to die?

War has lost all sense of honour, of "decency," if such a word could be used.

We're meant to protect our children from the affairs of grown-ups, not send them out to do the dirty work, whilst we sit in offices, dictating their lives, their deaths...

This "war on terror" is a terror upon war... Shame on "them."

I doubt people were much older when sent to war in the past. Those kids have to be around 18 and that was the age many went to war in Vietnam and WWII. I'm also fairly positive 18 year olds have been fighting in most US wars throughout our history.

We just don't have actual picture records that some 18 year olds look like they are 14.

Edit - Plus, I think that photo was taken to get the "look how young they look" reaction. Those aren't the norm.

Back in college I visited Fort Dix and ran into this really young private. I told him where I was going to school and he told me his recruiter told him he could finish high school in the Army. I think he was 17.