Just learned today that our whole lockdown comes down to a leader in the higher echelons of the Army that is of the opinion that mobilized reservists should be on lockdown so that they can reacquaint themselves with what it's like being in the Active Army. As a chaplain, and as a guardsman, I beg to differ.
First of all, I've experienced this month (again) what it's truly like to be in the Active Army. It's not much different than the dozens of times I've been on Active Duty - for short or long tours. Well, it has changed somewhat over the years - just not the craziness and nonsensical hyper-regulation.
Second of all, just about everything is run by government civilians, so if poor customer service is what he's talking about, then I am understanding more and more. Or, perhaps he is talking about the degredation of respect in the military. I can't tell you how many times I've passed NCO's and enlisted in parking lots and failed to see a salute. I don't demand this for myself, as I am a chaplain, but I don't recall this being possible from my early years in the military. It seems the standard military courtesies are no longer standard. I guess a lockdown on post has helped me to understand this better.
Third, the World War II barracks we are staying in, made in 1940 to last for five years and condemned when I got into the service 21 years ago, I suppose are the Army's key to helping me feel more military. While Active Duty soldiers staying at their homes prior to mobilization somehow just intuit what these barracks are like, we weekend warriors need to live in these asbestos-ridden fire traps in order to "feel" more military. I am starting to understand, sir.
Fourth, being treated like a private helps me to remember what it was like...to be a private, I guess. I suppose my years in the civilian world, with real responsibilities, rent to pay, my own schedule to keep, a taxed income, all failed to prepare me for latrine duties, a regimented schedule, sleeping in a common area with 30 other guys, untaxed income and no house payments or family to worry about. I suppose I could understand this - if I knew of ANY Active Army personnel who live in these conditions anymore. Active Duty privates living just down the street from us live in better conditions than our commander and CSM!
It seems that since the regulations don't permit a true "lockdown" (that is a punishment for soldiers who have violated policy), the taking of our "privilege" to drive is the best way to effect what is believed to be "good" for us unsophisticated reservists. (Clever.) The de facto lockdown created has, I believe, had exactly the opposite effect on "reservists," and reminds us all exactly why we chose not to be a part of the full-time Army in the first place. It is a privilege to serve our country, but often a burden to deal with the petty regulations and restrictions imposed upon all because of the screw-ups of a few (as I am sure such lunacy derives from some mess-up, somewhere - likely by an Active Army soldier). If life-micromanagement is what we need to understand better, I am getting there.
So far I have heard about our passes being denied and commanders taking back their word (concerning us being allowed to go home at night as a trade-off for a month of training before our mobilization), followed by a top NCO saying our guys should've taken care of their personal affairs before mob (again, neglecting the knowledge that they were out of state for the month prior). I have I have seen very little in the way of an Army trying to meet the needs of soldiers, but rather insistent upon making mobilization so painful that the war-zone will be a welcome change. I believe I am fully understanding exactly what the Active Army is all about - and it ISN'T about us being ONE Army, but about a self-perceived elitism that falls short of muster. The knee-jerk reaction to some reserve/NG units having discipline problems in the past fails to recognize that the Active Army has it's issues, too. Lockdown, whether legit or contrived, is a punishment, and unworthy of the "One Army" approach that is supposed to be today's standard. Old prejudices die hard, I guess.
Bottom line: Our unit is great. We have a great commander who fights for us despite being out-ranked, out-gunned and out-pettied. We have a highly competent staff and very intelligent and capable NCO's who will perform this mission at least as well as their Active Duty counterparts - no thanks to some of the mob-station silliness. We have a great attitude as a unit, which helps everyone deal with this phase of the operation.
Perhaps what we need is for some of our Active Duty counterparts to spend some time in the real world, the civilian world, in order to gain a more wholistic understanding of people - and perhaps also gain an outsider's view of what the "Real Army" looks like. It might not be as pretty as they think.
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