Hello All,
I liked a majority of posts so far on this topic. Desert Fox, I understand your discontent for line units. Some units have better soldiers than others. The questions I have for you are: Why do you feel the need to beg your unit for more PT, better training, etc.? Does rank make you a leader or is it a quality you have inside?
I am not SF-qual and am hoping to go to Selection in FY05, but that does not mean I do not know a thing or two about warriorhood. As a warrior, a man is responsible for his own training - physical, mental, tactical, spiritual, what have you. You do PT on your own? Great! You tie knots when you have a free moment? Cool! You read books? Groovy! But is that really "Special?"
To me, being SF means realizing my potential as a warrior. A warrior is the utmost public servant. His life is for the good of the people (and team). Many of my elders showed me that its not what a man does in combat that makes him a warrior - its what he does out of combat. SF's mission is teacher/ambassador/leader first and combatant second, right? A warrior is always the first to pick up a shovel in the morning and the last to put it down at night. He is the first to offer his hand in friendship and the last to pick up the lance and go to war.
One man can do so much to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a line company. The question is: Are you that man?
I love line companies, but being on an ODA means I can be a force multiplier in the grand scheme of things. By being truly awesome at my job (hopefully 18D), and giving everything I got to my team, I can potentially save the lives of thousands of my line buddies. It means I can hopefully create peace instead of make war.
Kung Fu translates to "Hard work over an extended period of time." Being a warrior is Kung Fu. There is no end to the hard work - ever. But, for me, that's ok. The alternative is someone else has to do it - my best friend? my mom? my gramma?
Warriors face the enemy not out of hate, but because they love their people, their way of life, and their land. When a warrior falls in battle, the people are next. That is why I do PT, not to pass some silly test or some Hoowah course. PT means the survival of my team, my family, my tribe, my Earth.
Crazy Horse's last words were "Tell the people they can rely on me no longer." Even in death, his last thoughts were about the wellfare of others and not himself.
That's why I want to go SF.... that and all the hot chicks!
