*BLACKS* In SOF.

[Jeff Rambo]

Alright, the thread with the issue in it was somewhere here on this forum, but couldn't find it (didn't wanna hunt for it), so I will open this new topic ... and I believe it needs to be a new topic anyways ...

I'm sure I will have very valid and hardcore opinions from Guy, Nightinsertion etc. ... thats what I want. But it's just time for me to give my $.02 to this whole matter.

1- I come from a 6th/5th Generation Military/SOF family of both whites and blacks to generalize.

2- I myself am black.

3- I am NOT in the service right now. Emphasis on "right now."

Now that we cleared all that up, lets begin class shall we?

For starters, the complete problem IS NOT lack of interest, the PROBLEM IS the wrong impression of the craft itself. I myself have friends on both side of the fence and can relate to what they see ...

The fact is, most black teens in todays time tend to exagerate what they hear just to make it sound either "cool" or "extreme," this is where they get the wrong impression of the community at a whole.

In today's time, teens see the Navy as being a bunch of fags ... The Air Force with the whole "Aim High" / "Non-Working" branch, The Marine Corps as "a bunch of idiots who play with each other" (I've been told this by two seperate people, in more graphic terms), and the Army as the dumb force who is full of overweight shitbags. Of course, all of this couldn't be more false ...

To make matters even more horrid, we have recruiters who couldn't navigate a piece of 2ply up their ass if their life depeneded on it, this also adds to the "brainwashing" of our young blacks out there (young people period). But for instance, a friend of mine told me that if I joined the Army, I'd be out on a ship with a bunch of fags and so forth ... (now where he got that idea I have no idea) ... but instead of sitting there and explaining it to him, I took him to the recruiting station on our way to the movies ... now to make things worse the only person there was a shit for brains E-4, so yes, of course he got a even worse impression of the service.

I'm just rambling right now, since something I heard had just bothered me ... if I'm able to find a article I wrote a while back, I'll post it here. It covers all my points in a more cognet way.

But to go back to the facts ... the above mentioned one is one of the BIGGEST.

The next biggest is pay and benefits. It doesn't appeal to most out there in the community of black males. Even though this job isn't one done for pay, it still is a factor. I do however believe that pay and benefits should be increased, but not because we want more, but because it's a disgrace to "charish" our men and women with such horrible pay, even though we have a complete volunteer force, you have to realize a lot of people are signing on that dotted line under false promises, statements etc. Whose fault is that? I won't touch that, because it isn't related to this post.

Another issue is the fact that you have A LOT ... I mean A LOT of young black athletes out there nationwide who are adding to the surge day by day of High School atheletes getting scholarships to college, and some even going straight from High School to the pros. And c'mon, not knowing the main qualities of SOF, what would you pick? A $20M/7yr contract with a professional sports team or a $80K/4yr contract with the military?

Increase Pay, increase benefits ... DO NOT TOUCH THE STANDARDS! IF YOU DO, IT WOULD BE TO RAISE THEM, NOT DECREASE THEM! Get more logical recruiters, spend more money on proper and effective advertising operations (i.e. the Ranger & SF Zodiac commercial and the Navy SEAL infomercial) and get the word out in proper form ... then you will see a surge. Until then, it will remain the same.

But like they say, don't fix it if its not broken.

- Out

------------------
w/ Regards,
Jeff Rambo

------------------
I Want A Four Man Team On A Midnight Run ...

[Jeff Rambo]

Originally posted by GUY JONES:

1. Whoever wrote this study, does not know what the "FUCK" he/she is talking about...NEVER BTDT.


Guy,

Thats correct; never BTDT. That was the whole point, someone from the outside looking in and why peers are inclined NOT TO join.

Remember, you made your decision years ago, when times were different from today.

We'll agree to disagree.

Stay hard and take care.

------------------
w/ Regards,
Jeff Rambo

------------------
I Want A Four Man Team On A Midnight Run ...

[nightinsertion]

Sorry it took so long to reply but I've been away from the comp for awhile.

Jeff,
I myself come from a long line of squids. My pops and several uncles were in the Navy during Vietnam, My grandfather was in the Pacific during WWII. My great uncle was a Green Beret. During their time people had more children, less money, which meant "get your ass out and get it yourself" I know my father said that at 18 he had no choice and since he hadn't earned a scholarship he was going somewhere, so off to Fort Wayne MEPS he went.

I can speak for the younger generation and their views(Woohoo I turn 21 next month!!!) As I belive Guy said, the youth of today are too fucking spoiled. They want everything spoonfed to them. I've got a friend now who barely works(a job his dad got for him) and has on a $800 pair of glasses, a chain thats about $2500, 800 dollar jacket, 300 dollar phone, it just keeps going and going. Now you tell me, would a kid whose living a life like that want to be reduced to 363.80 every two weeks as an E-1 in the Navy!! Workin in the scullery, standing watch. NOPE. Alot of younger people dont know the value of earning something themselves.

As far as Blacks in the military...<cracking knuckles> From what I have read and seen that type of service has never really been supported or propagandized in black culture. To many blacks the military was/is the "white mans world". Becoming a baller(for the un hip people baller means: extremely rich, extravagant lifestyle) by rapping or professional sports is way more supported than something as humble yet honorable as serving your country. A lot feel that this country has done nothing to help them, and everything they have(ie; freedom, knowledge, safety) has been acquired by their doing. It is this thinking that has the Black population in the military at its numbers. Not to mention special operations. SpecOps is seen as almost psychotic to a lot of inner city teenagers. I had one black friend in high school who told me that I was going off to do the white mans dirty work if I made it to the SEALs. Him and I have not spoken since graduation.

As Guy stated, SpecOps is for the rare breed of individual. I think more of that breed can be found in the Black society but not until a change occurs. Maybe appealing to more black male youths in commercials would help to some degree(no that doesn't mean add rap music to the commercial of a helo cast, for all you smart asses http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/tongue.gif) I know a lot of black people who have no clue what a Navy SEAL, Force Recon,PJ is. But in all you have to be flexible, its in some people and not in others. If I was a scared, rigid guy who always look at others for my lack of success in life, than no way in hell would I have been on a pool deck at 5 o'clock in the morning hugged up with a boat crew full of shivering white boys! Some of those white guys, by the way are still my good friends to this day.

When you're so cold you jackhammer and I know you're sufferin with me I dont care what the fuck color you are!!! Show me some lovin.

Forgive my ranting!!(As nightinsertion slips across the border into Canada for more debauchery and lude behavior)

[Gunpoint]

The Ranger Captain that died in Florida was Milton Palmer, Class of 1990, The Citadel. He was my regimental sergeant major when I was a knob (freshmen). First black guy to hold the job. By all accounts, a superb soldier.

Many a Citadel graduate shed tears when word of his death was announced. He transcended race, which, at The Citadel, was sometimes difficult.

[TonyM]

Hey Nightinsertion-
Hurry up, all the debauchery up here is strictly government controlled and last call is at 8pm. Lewd (enjoyable) behaviour is, of course, prohibited.

As for the race issue, it works the other way around up here. On my basic course there were 3 Africans and one Trinidadian, a couple were recent arrivals to Canada. The DS were scared shitless of them, they could do pretty well anything they wanted. When one was actually RTU'd (dropped) he had the Company Commander charged with racism. The Trinidadian finished in the top 10. An ex-Toronto policeman, excellent troop.

[nightinsertion]

8 is last call,Shit!!! I'm on my way back, just wakin up from the last hangover. On my way to Chatham tomorrow. You guys police up there have too much fun!! http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/biggrin.gif:

The African who dropped, was he a shit bag or was something else goin on? Because I hate when somebody screams racism as an excuse for their shortcomings(see shitbaggin and pussywipe). Thats as bad as a chick yellin rape after she wakes up after the bar and finds the guy next to her doesn't look as hot once the pink ladies have worn off!!

[This message has been edited by nightinsertion (edited 10-11-2000).]

[Redneck Baron]

Folks,
You got some good points. I always figured if you treat men like warriors, they'll act like same. Treat em like shitbags, you get shitbags. Don't think it applies to SOF, but for everybody else there's something to think about.

[Redneck Baron]

Damn, I forgot. Where can I sign on for the debauchery? Black, white, whatever. Breathing is good.

[TonyM]

Nightinsertion-
Yes, the guy that was dropped was the most shit-baggest excuse for human ever. Constantly dropping out of the runs (not even hard stuff like 7-8km, fairly slow pace) , going to the MIR (medics) with all kinds of stupid complaints. Showed up drunk after weekend leave and even bragged about how the DS won't charge him (right to the Sgt's face). Failed the basic rifle quals, etc. No suprise to anybody but him he was RTU'd. Came around after going on OC's orders to get the bad news about being shit-canned, and wanted everyone to sign a statement saying he was a victim of racial prejudice. The really sad part about the whole affair was this: I had a chat a few months later with the course Warrant Officer, he shook his head when I brought up the name and told me "The guy is coming back next year for another go. It turned out the only reason we could RTU him was the fact he couldn't qualify with the rifle. All the other shit he pulled didn't count for anything as the army desperatly wants the minorities and women to pass."
I get a headache thinking about it.