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Motown Scrapper
Clan Ice Hellions
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 24-Jul-2003 00:00
Posts: 2074
Location: United States
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 Posted: 24-Apr-2005 18:49 Post subject: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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Hello Everyone: I thought this was something that should be passed along.
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The Average Age of a Military Man Is 19 Years Old
The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howitzer. He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.
He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering
and death then he should have in his short lifetime.
He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.
Just as his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather did, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.
He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now we even have woman over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot.. A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.......
Prayer wheel for our military... please don't break it. Please send this on after a short prayer. When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops and for those sailors on ships, and airmen in the air. There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful....... Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
Prayer : "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need Amen."
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Sleeping Dragon
Draconis Combine
Tai-i
Joined: 06-Apr-2005 00:00
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Location: Czech Republic
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| Posted: 25-Apr-2005 01:25 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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Average age for USA or for whole world?
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Vampire
Free Worlds League
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Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 917
Location: Spain
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| Posted: 25-Apr-2005 03:50 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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Nice, but like all these things being passed around, it's taken from somewhere else, the original was about a young US Marine in WWII 
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Slythis
Federated Suns
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Joined: 09-Aug-2002 00:00
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| Posted: 25-Apr-2005 13:24 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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Quote:
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On 2005-04-25 03:50, Vampire wrote:
Nice, but like all these things being passed around, it's taken from somewhere else, the original was about a young US Marine in WWII
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Still gets the point across though. The average fighting man is MY age.
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
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Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 25-Apr-2005 13:28 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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The average fighting man is over a decade YOUNGER than I am. These things make me think about what I was doing at 19.
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SaberDance
Federated Suns
Colonel
Joined: 07-May-2004 00:00
Posts: 837
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| Posted: 25-Apr-2005 19:25 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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Yeah, it gets the point across, though it probably ought to be updated.
E.G. The last stat I read said average age was up to 20 and the number of married soldiers is also well up (though normally not children until they've gained a few ranks).
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Alexander
Heavy Horse Merc Brigade
Commanding Officer
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 828
Location: Canada
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| Posted: 25-Apr-2005 20:17 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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In the Canadian Army, the norm is divorced men... because we're never at home... 
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Rarich
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 991
Location: United States
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| Posted: 12-May-2005 18:56 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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Some of the detials have changed, The 19 year old age is from the Vietnam Era. I know the average age has climbed some. Most of the concepts are accurate tho'.
It took me a good year once I was out of the service to get used to the "normal" way people are. The materialism, the inability to tell the difference between need and want, the simple selfishness, and inattention to their immediate surroundings.
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Gunslinger Patch
Royal Black Watch Regiment
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Joined: 04-Mar-2002 00:00
Posts: 1611
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| Posted: 13-May-2005 01:15 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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In WWII it was supposed to be 26, and then 19 in Vietnam. Or maybe I'm just remembering that 19 song about the Vietnam war that was on the radio back in the 80s.
I wouldn't think the average is 19, not when enlistments can be longer the 4 years. My best friend enlisted in the Navy for 6 and got out at 5 because they lied to him when they dropped him out of nuke school and made him a boiler tech (long story). But there's plenty others in all the branches I'd say that signed on for more then 4.
And when you add in those who stay in, well, that would bring the average higher then 19 I would think.
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
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| Posted: 14-May-2005 00:54 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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Averages depend on how many places you pick examples from. Many Third World guerillas and militias enlist children, voluntarily or not.
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WhizzbangThePowerSquig
Royal Black Watch Regiment
Master Sergeant
Joined: 21-Mar-2005 00:00
Posts: 345
Location: Canada
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| Posted: 14-May-2005 21:23 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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Nightmare gets kudos for thinking outside the box.
That statistic is most likely NOT refering strictly to the militaries of NORAD or NATO countries, but would include the third-world child armies.
I admit that I thought that it was relating to the US, but I guess that just shows the everyone keeps the army with the most publicity foremost in their minds.
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bladewind
Free Rasalhague Republic
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Joined: 02-Oct-2004 00:00
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Location: Singapore
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| Posted: 16-May-2005 01:31 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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the standard recruit drafted to the army in my country is roughly 18 years old - 21 years old.
16 and a half if he is not pursuing tietary level education.
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Rarich
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 991
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-May-2005 07:58 Post subject: RE: The Average Age of a Military Man is 19 |
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Does your Army yeach trades? If it does, it sounds like a mandatory trade school in some respects. The government gets people for defense, trains its population and might actually get some real good professional soldiers into the bargain. Considering the age range of active gang members in the USA, the most aggressive young men are given a direction. A lot of trouble is avoided?
Not that I really agree with that, but it is a concept.
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Life is a sexually transmitted terminal disease.
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