Army guys, or relatives/friends of... Can you explain this to me?

[ibex333]

So I constantly hear about how those in the army ask their relatives or friends to ship them an xbox or take one with them on deployment because supposedly its boring there.

What?! So wait.. Let me get this straight... They have time to play games there? WTF? A soldier should do nothing else but train or fight IMO. That is until they get back home. In a 3rd world army if someone would ask for an Xbox, they'd be laughed at at best. Just saying...

I wonder if Navy Seals play Xbox on deployment too...

Imagine, some Taliban sneak up on Army barracks while the soldiers were playing their Xbox or Playstation. How is that situation going to end?


And another thing. I could never understand why is it that when soldiers get back home, they walk around streets in their full uniform, pants, boots, jacket, beret and all. They go like this to college to register for classes, to the store, everywhere! I mean, I understand, you served... You are proud... You want everyone to see how proud you are. Ok, good for you. Thank you for serving. But why are you wearing your uniform everywhere? You are no longer in the army.

Finally, what is up with all the soldiers who are bums laying in the street in Manhattan in New York City begging for money? I mean.. These people risked their lives for their country.. How is it possible that they are bums? In Russia/Ukraine, I'd understand something like this.. That's just how things often are there sadly... But this is America!

I thought soldiers get huge discounts on food, housing and education.... Whats going on?! I mean... Even if a soldier cannot find a job, they should be able to get welfare at least, no? And if they have PTSD or whatever, they should be able to get SSI. They surely deserve welfare a lot more than thousands of others who are on it...

 

[IronWing]

Is there existing a bag of popcorn big enough to cover this thread?

 

[radtechtips]

Is there existing a bag of popcorn big enough to cover this thread?

These are like $5 at the grocery store.

 

[Number1]

Where to begin??? There is sooo much here.

 

[GasX]

You know, you are not supposed to eat the paint chips off your window sill, right?

 

[Seaneboy]

Umm, trololololol?
They actually have some downtime, and really need it, because most of the things they see are very capable of consuming them psychologically. So, they do have downtime, thankfully.
As for the 'ban sneaking up on Xbox players, dude.. Have you ever heard of a guard/watchman? Apparently not.. And, these things could potentially happen. Dudes aren't out in the mountains, on Forward Operating Bases, sitting there with TVs playing games. They're out there toughing it out, like bigger/tougher/braver men than you, or I, will ever be.
Soldiers, when they get home, might wear their uniforms around for a few reasons.. Yes, some do it for the pride, some do it for the free drinks, etc.. But, that's not why they became a soldier... They probably wear it because they're still involved in the service..
As for soldiers that are 'bums'.. Who knows how many are actually ex-soldiers.. Sounds like mostly a ploy. Although, I do know that a lot of them come home to horrible situations. Our government is really effed up, and doesn't give a crap about our troops post-service. It's messed up.
That is why we have so many not-for-profit groups, and fund raisers.. Because our government has chewed them up, and spit them out. Personally, that is the reason why I would NEVER enlist.. The government doesn't give a crap about anyone who enlists... And I also don't believe in war much.

It's sad, it is very sad...

 

[olds]

Wow, just wow. In my 13 (shit, 14) years here I have seen some dumb motherfucking OPs, but this takes the cake. There is so much just out right stupidity and ignorance that it almost boggles the mind. I say almost because the OP has constantly shown himself to be mentally and intellectually deficient. Dropped on his head repeatedly, would be my guess.

 

[IronWing]

You know, you are not supposed to eat the paint chips off your window sill, right?

 

[phucheneh]

Where to begin??? There is sooo much here.

Pretty much. I stopped reading pretty quickly. Like at this part.

What?! So wait.. Let me get this straight... They have time to play games there? WTF? A soldier should do nothing else but train or fight IMO. That is until they get back home. In a 3rd world army if someone would ask for an Xbox, they'd be laughed at at best. Just saying...

I wonder if Navy Seals play Xbox on deployment too...

Um, they're humans; not robots. They don't squat down in trenches while being shot at and play video games. They are in one of the more secure areas when doing such, either because they 'work' there, or (for those in direct combat jobs like infantry or tankers and scouts...the minority...might wanna research this part) because they are awaiting orders or sometimes just being given downtime in the 'rear echelon' area.

I would be willing to bet Navy Seals play video games. Or watch movies. Read. Write. Paint. Play music. Whatever the fuck gives them some piece of mind in between combat situations.

Also, your most basic 'grunts' like Army infantryman would best the elite of a true 'third world' army. Asking them to live like fucking animals and spend a year or more overseas doing nothing but being in direct combat would kind of fuck that up.

[edit: not to imply anyone they're fighting is an 'animal.' More just simply that the OP has no idea what subjecting someone to constant fighting with no downtime is like. Hint: If we had Xbox during WWII, there would have been times where Allied soldiers who were not on the front line...played fuckin' Xbox...]

 

[LTC8K6]

Most of the military is non-combat. Even the small portion that isn't, needs and gets free time.

 

[Printer Bandit]

 

[clamum]

* Checks OP's join date *

Not a noob. Trolling anyway? Dumber than a box of shit?

 

[Paratus]

 

[jagec]

Long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.

 

[chimaxi83]

I always enjoy dumb fucking foreigners questioning what US soldiers can or can't do. I've heard bullshit like this in real life, and there wasn't a big enough facepalm then, either.

Soldiers will almost always have normal periods of downtime, no matter where they are. Almost always. Just the same way 9-5ers do. Enlighten yourself dumbass.

 

[Harabec]

My brother is currently in a special S&R unit and they, like the heli\jet pilots in the base, have all the cool toys you would ever want for fun during downtime.

They're humans, not robots.

 

[nageov3t]

all soldiers of all time have had downtime... the ancient roman armies probably would have been playing dice of some sort instead of XBox.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I knew that ibex wasn't that intelligent... Oh look, he is from Ukraine!

 

[BoomerD]

So much stupidity in the OP...not nearly enough time nor popcorn to deal with it all.

 

[SparkyJJO]

A soldier should do nothing else but train or fight IMO. That is until they get back home.

OK, you go do that non-stop and see how your mental well-being is.

 

[disappoint]

The real question here is why aren't they playing Colecovision? Colecovision sounds like a fun console. XBox sounds like a sex toy your mom hides in her purse and possibly hit you in the head with just before going into labor when she had you.

Why is his finger on the bang bang lever? You never put your finger on the bang bang lever unless you want to destroy what the spew spew nozzle is pointing at.

 

[Red Squirrel]

My guess is these would be between training activities when not physically at the actual battle scene. I don't really know how the army works but I would imagine people need to work in shifts, as well, and probably get breaks, days, if weeks, at a time to recoop, wait for injuries to heal etc...

Doing something fun like gaming probably helps the mind a lot too, during a very stressful time. Solders have seen shit we could not imagine ever seeing in our life time.

 

[nageov3t]

My guess is these would be between training activities when not physically at the actual battle scene. I don't really know how the army works but I would imagine people need to work in shifts, as well, and probably get breaks, days, if weeks, at a time to recoop, wait for injuries to heal etc...

Doing something fun like gaming probably helps the mind a lot too, during a very stressful time. Solders have seen shit we could not imagine ever seeing in our life time.

psychologically, asking anyone to work 100% of the time is both unrealistic long-term and dangerous. without some release valve, people will be wound up and ready to snap at the drop of a hat.

 

[Greenman]

I'm going to guess the OP will be astounded when he figures out what the USO does.

 

[mikegg]

I've never been a soldier but watching WWII documentaries, 99.9% of the team, soldiers are bored and 1% they are fighting. Long periods of boredom followed by short intense periods of fighting.