Sikh soldier completes basic training with Turban on .

[DaCol.]

This guy is on a short rope, even if he doesn't think so. I doubt he'd not take orders, but first time he doesn't, Chapter 13 for his behind.
Plus you got any domestic military time

Try 30 years ! Plus I didn't say he would not follow orders. Please read and not assume anything not said. The statement was based on non assimilation problems

 

[DaCol.]

But like you said, you quit. I win.

Yep, YOU WIN

 

[S4L]

For those of you who have never served, the Military is NOT a group of individuals. It's a Team who together accomplish the mission without regard to who is or is not with them. But this requires a strick code of uniformity. If one person in the group thinks he is left out or is getting treated differently than the others. That unit is doomed to FAILURE . PLan and Simple

Well put DaCol, that is what I was trying to say. I am in complete agreement with you.

 

[pubwilson]

Most Recruiters are there to ensure quotas are filled. The ones that go to the high schools are just there to pass out info and answer questions. They really don't recruit. True recruiting rarely takes place outside of college campuses and mostly in the engineering and medical schools. So to say all are recruited is incorrecet because most recruits seek out recruiters.

Being special and having a special skill are two different things. I have a friend who was a Drill Instructor. He said he could make anyone into a killing machine in six weeks. He could make a marksman out of someone who had never even held a gun. How long do you think it would take to make someone into a translator for a language they didn't know? How long do you think it would take to make a Field Surgeon out of someone doesn't even know CPR.

Sorry but some soldiers bring a little more to the table than others.

Great point, here. I knew a girl that was flunking out of my AIT (74B now 25B) back in 1997, and she switched to Russian language school, and the school was a year long at the end of which there is no guarantee that she'd be speaking Russian! So knowing a fairly obscure language can be seen a special skill set. I know that even thought I left basic and AIT as a good soldier, I didn't bring nothing to the table, but a warm body which is probably what most high school grads bring.

When I was in Iraq, we would have these Iraqi translaters with us when we had work being done and that was cool, but as I stood there and these people would talk I didn't have a clue what the heck they were saying to each other. I would have felt better if the translator had on ACUs with an American flag or patch. Doesn't mean that I am ultimately safe, but i am saying that what he had on his face and head would not have mattered to me, just the fact that he was on my side.

While in Iraq, I saw many soldiers with beards and the like. I understood that it was due to the harsh conditions, and their faces being torn up by razors, but they were allowed to have beards to a certain extend. Shaving profiles. This guys beard looks about as bad as the worst shaving profile out here. I mean it looks somewhat kept. I am sure he could have a mountain man beard if he tried.

I do believe in uniformity, but I also understand exemptions. I remember in basic training having to carry other's rucksacks and weapons during road marches because they couldn't make it. That's not uniform and downright unfair. I remember being so pissed off at others for that. I can appreciate the fact that he at least put the insignia patch on it.

It is what it is, this guy will not be serving anywhere that his uniform will be an issue. He is not gonna be in a line unit, riding tanks, or jumping out of planes. Somebody said something about him needing a TS. Uhh.. does anyone know what is involved in a getting a TS. If he makes it past that, then he is solid in my books. (Got mine in May for my GS job. It wasn't easy. And I been here all my life.)

I know I been all over the place, but just want to throw mine in. Thanks for reading!