President Trump, Commander in Chief. Thoughts?

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Milly said:
My "trick question" comment referred to the issue of: who is in charge of my daughter's Navy application and thus, who is in charge of making important decisions and communicating those decisions. I'm just the mom. I was making reference to a different thread on THAT issue, which surprisingly, generated more drama than this thread.

I get that this subject is barely balancing on that fine line between what is permitted and what is not permitted on this forum. I appreciate that is has gone this far. This is TRULY a unique situation in US history and I appreciate that the moderators have let this continue because if folks who have concerns cannot connect with others in the same position, there is a good likelihood that many will just walk away. This forum serves a purpose - information and support - and if you choose to NOT support folks who are struggling right now with this particular issue, you may be losing young people whose service to this nation would be very valuable.

Please note that this has been, to this point at least, a conversation, meaning that others are engaged as well. I felt when I started this thread and i continue to feel that it is useful for us to share our questions, concerns, and thoughts with each other. If my daughter really makes the difficult choice to look to other options for her future, am I really no longer welcome here and if so, how quickly do I become persona non grata?
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Milly,

You and I have had our differences based upon the "drama" from my previous thread. So don't dismiss what I have to say right away.

In my time in the Army, I've served with Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Liberals, Conservatives, Christians, Muslim, Jews, Buddists, Atheists, and people from around the world. Diversity is good for the military. Diversity of ideas and opinions will help the military thrive and grow.

Don't you think the military needs people like your daughter? What if there is an unlawful order? We need brave and courageous people to challenge unlawful orders. We can't have group-think. We need discerning and thoughtful individuals.

When I was a young lieutenant, my first Battalion Commander had 10 rules of leadership. Rule no 7 was "Always question authority, but question it respectfully."
 
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AROTC-dad said:
The purpose of this site is not to discuss politics. Political discussions should be limited in context and scope, and our nation's elected officials respected at all times.
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AROTC Dad,

You are definitely one of the more thoughtful posters, but I just passed a mouth full of diet coke through my nose.
 
cb7893 said:
AROTC Dad,

You are definitely one of the more thoughtful posters, but I just passed a mouth full of diet coke through my nose.
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Lol! Wipe that monitor screen down, CB! (Tongue was firmly in cheek).
 
Padre 101, Would you please cite the other 9 rules?
 
Wishful said:
Padre 101, Would you please cite the other 9 rules?
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1. Lead from the front. Say, “Follow me!” and then lead the way.

2. Develop your team. If you know your people, are fair in setting realistic goals and expectations, and lead by example, you will develop teamwork.

3. Avoid Having Your Ego so Close to your Position that When Your Position Falls, Your Ego Goes With It!

4. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers!

5. True satisfaction comes from getting the job done. The key to a successful leader is to earn respect, not because of rank or position, but because you are a leader of character.

6. Don’t Let Adverse Facts Stand in the Way of a Good Decision.

7. Always question authority, but question it respectfully.

8. A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood.

9. Get mad then get over it!

10. Stay in top physical shape because physical stamina is the root of mental toughness.

-I have kept these rules and others rules handy for my DSs to use and follow.
 
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Really disappointed to see this thread... If you spend a career in the Military, you will go through many presidential elections and changes of command at every level. Some you will like, some you won't....your job is to soldier on and do your job , or get out if you truly can't support your leadership.

For the OP ...if your daughter is seriously considering turning down an Appointment to USNA because of election results, perhaps USNA Is not the place for here. USNA does not have a "safe place" for students to hide when their feelings have been hurt. There was an election, one side won and one side lost. I understand the pain, having gone through it the last 8 years.
 
Milly said:
I do appreciate all of these responses. I'm grateful that many of you say your children are pleased with the outcome of the election because it means that Navy and our nation will benefit from your children's service. Please keep in mind, however, that Trump has displayed over and over willful ignorance about what actually is IN our constitution. There is little guarantee that he will be constrained by accepted norms. My child will not commit to a commander in chief who swears HIS military will torture, for example.

I DO understand that the nature of political campaigns is to say lots of stuff, only some of which will ever see the light of day. But doing his own thing, without regard for the law, advice of experts, actual evidence or data, social expectations, or unintended consequences has been Trump's behavior for his entire adult life. Why does anyone expect that he will change now? It's not enough to think....well, he will give the military more money! This is the guy who said that Senator John McCain was not a war hero because HE likes heroes who do NOT get captured. Anyone who is willing to serve under a man like that - I don't understand it yet I remain grateful.
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Perhaps, military is not for your daughter. For me, you first serve for the service member next to you, than your unit, add more layer than possibly for the President. When CPL Dunham jumped on a grenade, he did it his fellow Marines, not for President Bush. I never supported or agreed with Preisdent Bush's decision to invade Iraq, but when I got called up while my wife was pregnant I had no hesitation. I didn't do it for Bush, I did it because I raised my right hand to serve the country. Don't judge military's memebers for what they do, answer they will answer to higher authority than you. LTC Allen West didn't follow the rules, but I might have done the same thing myself. He did what he did for his soldiers, not for Bush.

Politics aside, a few or many will agree that Clinton is no better than Trump when it comes to the military. I suppose if Clinton won the election, you would have no problem with your daughter serving. That's a double standard. In case you are wondering I didn't vote for Trump.
 
Milly said:
This is TRULY a unique situation in US history
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Sledge said:
No, it's really not.
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If THIS is what Milly is referring to, I would say it's unique:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/aug/10/donald-trump-obama-founder-isis-hillary-clinton-co/

I claim no military experience other than secondhand through a brother and a DS. I don't presume to know what Candidate Trump was thinking when he said this or any of his many other comments specific to Iraq, Syria, ISIS and Russia. We know what they were. I presume that he really doesn't believe he knows more about ISIS than the Generals. I do presume that President Trump will be different than Candidate Trump after he receives his first President's Daily Brief.

What I do know is these words along with his many others regarding the US commanders in the field today are trumpeted across the airwaves and internet by the Russians (General Flynn's former employers), Iranians, Syrians and Hezbollah from Beirut to Tehran and from Ankara to Baghdad, including Mosul and Irbil.

I can tell Milly that I know a soldier, a staunch Bernie supporter, who will (by choice) very soon be among those "losers" and Iraqi and Kurdish soldiers and civilians who have been barraged by Russian and Iranian propaganda. This person's only comment regarding the election was, "what a time to be deployed in the Middle East." This person is very proud of his/her service, disdainful of the Army's institutional side, laser focused on the job, and concerned only with being a trusted and reliable member of the team. The officer's oath is a very powerful thing.

Now Milly's DD needs to do some serious sole searching. If she can't imagine serving a Commander-in-chief Trump, imagine getting screamed at in the middle of the night by a Trump loving upper classman when she should be studying for a calculus exam. There are no safe spaces at the SA's.

If Sledge can tell the world that he wouldn't stand or applaud for a President HR Clinton, the it is entirely reasonable that Milly or her DD would ask "WTF" when hearing Candidate Trump's campaign statements.
 
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Sledge said:
I doubt they'll roll back to the combat exclusion of women (sigh), but if we can get truly equal standards instead of quotas, ahem, "goals," and rid ourselves of Brenda Sue Fulton, that's a win for the Army side of things.
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Sledge,

Go to www.greatagain.gov and you can apply for a job on the USMA Board of Visitors! You would be a great replacement for Brenda Sue Fulton..."You're Hired"....:)
 
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