Subj : Re: Um...no comment?
To   : Asylem Kat
From : Frank Reid
Date : Sun Sep 18 2005 08:38 am

  Re: Re: Um...no comment?
  By: Asylem Kat to Frank Reid on Sun Sep 18 2005 03:52:00

 > What about the pacifists or the people that are anti-guns? Would it be fair 
 > force them to join the military and make them do things they don't believe i
 > Or what about those that were over weight and couldn't go through the traini
 > Should you force them to lose weight and get in shape? (I for one have not s
 > a single obese military person) And suppose they have O.D.D. (oppositional
 > defiant disorder) and would end up mouthing off or actually fighting their
 > superiors?

I should have been more compassionate and helpful.  Mental Health dot com shows
O.D.D. as:

  -- a pattern of negativistic, hostile and defiant behavior lasting at least 6
months, during which four (or more) of the following symptoms are present:

    - loss of temper
    - arguing with adults
    - actively defies rules
    - deliberately annoys people
    - blames others for own mistakes
    - easily annoyed
    - angry or resentful
    - spiteful or vindictive

I believe I had the same disorder when I was young (before it could be
diagnosed clinically).  Although I don't recall my drill instructor being a
trained mental health professional, he was able to help me to suppress the
symptoms through a series of positive and negative behavioral reinforcements. 
I was probably never completely cured, but he definitely helped me manage the
disease.  In fact, I ultimately employed many of his treatment techniques with
my own children when it appeared they might be developing the same disorder. 
They seem to have recovered equally well.

I am also predisposed to becoming overweight.  The military has developed many
time-tested diet and exercise regimens that really seem to achieve consistent
results moreso than commercial programs, like Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers,
etc.  I lost 20 pounds in just the first week of boot camp alone, and I
maintained myself in good shape until age finally caught up in my
late-thirties.  In fact, if they'd have let her, my wife would send me back to
boot camp today to regain that physique and stamina (or maybe it's just to get
me out of the house for awhile!)

> I love myself, I love my family and I love my country but I hate my 
> government and I refuse to fight for something I do not believe in.

You'd be amazed at how quickly you become politically agnostic in the military.
In fact, your political and social views won't matter a whit, as you'll find
yourself taking orders from people regardless of their political leanings.  I
can't ever remember wondering whether the Commander-in-Chief was (D) or (R)
while I was in!

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