Posted by JD Seller on January 25, 2013 at 19:17:22 from (208.126.196.144):
Today was the first time both of my older two grand children have been home together with me in over ten years. They both have been serving on active duty in the Army. Different countries and continents
My Grand Daughter has been in the Army now for ten years. She is a master sergeant. I am proud as Heck of her. She did not like school very much and just got fair to average grades. She just did not like the high school experience. She did not even think of going to college. So she joined the Army right out of high school. She really loves Army life. She has done very well for herself. She is currently stationed in Germany. She is home for an extended leave. She has been home for two weeks now. This is the longest that she has been home since she joined the Army.
My grand son is home for just ten more days. His unit just rotated out of Afghanistan three weeks ago. He was over there for over a year this time. He went right back after he passed all his physicals after being wounded. He is a West Point grad and currently has the rank of Captain. If he extends his enlistment he will get promoted to Major. He has been on active duty almost six years now. He has been in Afghanistan for over three years of that time.
So they came over several night ago and just ate supper with me an traded old Army stories. A lot of the things have not changed that much. While they where here that night they heard me talking to my sons about needing to run some of the cattle through the chute to update shots and implants. So both of them volunteered to help me do that today.
At a little after 9:00 am we got everything set up to start working the cattle. We had to work several different groups including all the stock cows. The fall calving cows needed their calves done as well. So we had a full day of work. The Sun was out and we where protected from the wind where we where working so it was not to bad weather wise. So when we got done at 4:30 we had ran 295 head through the chute for the day. Pretty good day for two young people and an old man. LOL It was great working with them today. It really brought back some memories. The two of them just about lived here when they where younger. It will be one of those days we will cherish in our memories.
The great part was just working and talking with them all day. I love to hear how they are thinking and looking at the things that are happening around them.
They stayed for supper. After it was over they both wanted to talk to me privately. (this is the sad/bad part) It seems that they have both been communicating back and forth the last six months. Neither of them like what they see happening to the armed forces of this great country. My grand son just flat out told me he is tired of writing to families of service men that die because of STUPID rules of engagement that are written by politicians in DC that have ZERO military knowledge. My grand daughter works with the families of wounded soldiers in Germany. She says she just can't take doing that any more. There are too many ruined lives/families. She says there is no clear goal anymore. So they both think that the men/women are dieing for no good reason. So they both wanted to tell me face to face that neither of them is extending their enlistments. These are two people that have dedicated the last 9-10 years of their lives to the US Army. She is the type of enlisted person that goes for the life time of service. Her type makes the Army WORK. It is the sergeants that make things happen smoothly. My grand son is the kind of man that we need leading the men who fight for us. He has been wounded. (nine AK 47 bullet holes in his body) He has been where he feared for his life and over come the odds to complete his mission. He knows what he is asking the men under him to risk. He has the smarts and training to be a good leader.
I am humbled by the fact that they both respected me enough to want to tell me first and in person how they felt. They both where worried about what I would think about their decision. They both hate to be leaving their chosen careers but they both do not think that they will be able to stand to see the great institution caused damage by the DC crowd. They both say it is already happening.
I am really upset by this. I HATE the fact that these two young people are having their dreams smashed by fools. Do you really think my Grand son went through West Point, Air borne training and then Ranger training to just quit as soon as his required time was up???? He could have had a medical discharge when he was wounded but he busted his butt to get back to where he could stay in.
MY Grand Daughter is scared to death about what kind of job she can find in the civilian job market. She has a very respected position in the Army. She does not know if her skills will enable her to find a good job. Remember how everyone thinks you need a college degree to KNOW anything these days.
My grand son has a better civilian future. He already has six figure job offers. It seems that the civilian job market places a high value on his training and leadership skills. (he did graduate in the top 10% of his class at West Point. That is a hard thing to do)
I am at a loss on how to help them deal with this major change in their careers. I am so mad at people that I will not name here. I DO not want this post Poofed!!!
These are the people we need to protect us. What kind of people are going to be left when more of this goes on. My Grand Son says most of the close friends he made at West Point feel as he does. Few of them are extending their enlistments after the required time is up.
Mainly ranting at the world that I can't change. I am rapidly becoming more cynical about this country's future.
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