ArmyRanger.com

wellfed · Post by **wellfed** » April 20th, 2006, 7:45 pm

You forgot about AR 600-9

:D

The Holmchicken · Post by **The Holmchicken** » April 21st, 2006, 6:28 am

Your 60% soldier was the 18th Avaiation Brigades soldier of the year. And for the recoed, the Sergeant Morales Club is for fags!

91W · Post by **91W** » April 21st, 2006, 1:51 pm

Awesome post Ranger Silverback. No if only I could get 60% out of my guys in the Civilian world

.

Horned Toad · Post by **Horned Toad** » April 21st, 2006, 4:12 pm

You mean I could have had sideburns in the reguar army, WTF was I thinking

Everett Ruess · Post by **Everett Ruess** » November 20th, 2006, 1:45 pm

...and bump - as I'm readying my platoon for deployment and mentoring my NCOs.

hobbit · Post by **hobbit** » November 20th, 2006, 4:04 pm

You know what shocked the hell out of me at the 2000 Ft. Campbell Ranger reunion? The entire 101st Airborne Division did a march past for all us old farts, and every one of those 18,000 personnel looked like an Olympic athlete....even the 30 and 40 year-old NCOs. What a huge contrast from the civilian population on the other side of the gate.

That wasn't always the case in the military. I remember very well when I entered the army in 1968, that a great number of career NCOs were alcoholics and derelicts who looked like "Sarge" from the Beetle Bailey comic strip: they were abusive lardasses who shared the common personal characteristic of being 80 lbs. overweight. They'd collapse and die if they ever had to do a mile run. It was these "lifers" who gave the military the stigma it suffered, and who turned off many worthy people from making the army their career.

Fortunately most were rifted out in the late 70's when the army decided to clean up its act and demand of every person in the ranks, regardless of grade or MOS, that they be FIT to go into combat areas and into combat roles. What a huge difference we see in the military today in the quality and integrity of the NCO ranks. It is they who form the backbone of any military organization, and it is the modern army NCO more than anyone else who has reintroduced the concept of professionalism to our combat ranks.

Silverback's concerns no doubt have validity, but we should remember too that the US military is a far more professional and worthy entity today than it has been at many times in the past. In short, hold your heads up, don't sell the army short; you're doing a damn site better job than you think you are.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » November 21st, 2006, 1:50 am

If you only knew how many lardass shitbags populate the IZ, it would change your opinion.

The sad thing is that if you compare the average Marine to an average Soldier, the physical difference is noticable. The USMC is in way better shape than the other branches.

The Army is all about sending people to the NCO board because they are eligible. I thought it was pathetic when I was in the Stryker Brigade, but after realizing the real politik of promotions, it all made sense. You simply cannot expect (sadly enough) that there will be an in-shape Army across the board.

The Holmchicken · Post by **The Holmchicken** » November 21st, 2006, 6:01 am

Matador275 wrote:If you only knew how many lardass shitbags populate the IZ, it would change your opinion.

The sad thing is that if you compare the average Marine to an average Soldier, the physical difference is noticable. The USMC is in way better shape than the other branches.

The Army is all about sending people to the NCO board because they are eligible. I thought it was pathetic when I was in the Stryker Brigade, but after realizing the real politik of promotions, it all made sense. You simply cannot expect (sadly enough) that there will be an in-shape Army across the board.

Sad, yet very true.

42L5V · Post by **42L5V** » November 21st, 2006, 7:28 am

Matador275 wrote:If you only knew how many lardass shitbags populate the IZ, it would change your opinion.

The sad thing is that if you compare the average Marine to an average Soldier, the physical difference is noticable. The USMC is in way better shape than the other branches.

The Army is all about sending people to the NCO board because they are eligible. I thought it was pathetic when I was in the Stryker Brigade, but after realizing the real politik of promotions, it all made sense. You simply cannot expect (sadly enough) that there will be an in-shape Army across the board.

I agree. You never see a fat Marine. (you might see a portly CWO, but that's because he was at Guadalcanal...)

Flesh Thorn · Post by **Flesh Thorn** » November 21st, 2006, 7:47 am

Some are you are in for a big surprise when you enter the civilian 9 to 5 world. Like 91W stated, 60% would be a miracle. I can still remember my problem with dealing with people when I got out of the Army after just three years. I gave the VA rep guy at my college an ass chewing in front of the Dean of Students, because he wasn't doing his fucking job. Turns out that he was a Marine Reserve Platoon Leader. :D I remember that the fucker resigned his comission during Operation Just Cause, because he thought he was deploying.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » November 21st, 2006, 11:26 am

As usual, the Great Ape has made a superb teaching point. One should not ever accept mediocre performance from anyone (especially themselves).

Lost_Jock · Post by **Lost_Jock** » November 23rd, 2006, 12:01 am

Silverback wrote:For the record I did not write the piece I presented. The author is unknown

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure it comes from CSM J.D. Pendry.

His book 'The Three Meter Zone' is well worth reading.

Everett Ruess · Post by **Everett Ruess** » November 23rd, 2006, 12:51 pm

I can imagine what Hobbit is saying is true (though I can't personally make the comparison from the 70s).

I also agree with those that said many, many soldiers are sadly out of shape (or rather that their shape is more round than it should be!).

So, allow me to make a Silverback-esque point - it's our job as leaders (for those of us still in) to do something about it within our sphere of influence. My platoon (who I just met this past weekend at drill) already knows that I'm serious about EXCEEDING standards - heaven forbid they don't MEET standards! My squad leaders also know that it is their job to train, mentor and develop their soldiers. I know there are exceptions to this rule, but generally, we as first line leaders can (with appropriate supporting documentation) not recommend for promotion. If my soldiers don't warrant promotion, it'll be documented and they won't be recommended!

I dug this post back up because It's more eloquent than I am, so I'm using it as a teaching point for my squad leaders.

BruteForce · Post by **BruteForce** » November 23rd, 2006, 1:30 pm

Flesh Thorn wrote:Some are you are in for a big surprise when you enter the civilian 9 to 5 world. Like 91W stated, 60% would be a miracle.

No crap there.. I've adopted a mentality of terminating employment for all those that believe that mediocrity (60%) should be acceptable. In the last year alone, I've fired 3 assholes because they thought they could just surf under the radar and get-by!

I just wish my peers would adopt the same mentality.

Silverback · Post by **Silverback** » February 20th, 2008, 4:57 pm

Bump for New folks