[Peace-discuss] Re: [Wefta] military recruitment on WEFT (!)

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

and this is not accurate.   Military education in the form of technical 
training has provided excellent education for individuals who would not have 
received it otherwise.  Although with airman, sailors, marines, and soldiers are 
engaged in active combat  the public focus is on combat, technical training for 
combat support and combat support jobs is more prevalent.  Very few actual 
warriors are assigned to combat military occupational specialities.  While all 
warroirs must be proficient in combat tactics or survival skills, the majority 
are in technical support areas for which military education is very good and 
does provide individuals with marketable skills.  That has been the proven 
history of military service and military education. Even quick review of the 
technical education curriculum for various occupational specialities across the 
military services shows the benefits of the education programs that are in place. 
As to the GI bill; our nation's 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's  economic 
gains were in part due to the use of the GI bill by individuals who were out, 
discharged, and still in the military to complete post secondary education 
programs.  My own academic education though my Ph.D. was paid for and completed in 
large part on my scholarships awarded my own military service in two wars. In 
Illinois you earn free college education through tuition waivers at all state 
schools in addition to the GI bill benefits.  That is why individuals enlist and 
continue to enlist. It is from an academic and educational analysis a very 
good benefit. However, when they have to go to war or are called up for other 
military duty they are suprised.  Now, the moral and ethical considerations are 
very important given our national and Department of Defense leader's recent 
and proposed combat initiatives. We can discuss that and should. Also, the 
environmental and especially health (psychological and pyysiological) consequences 
of war as evidenced by horrible initial and ongoing health effects of Agent 
Orange and Agent Blue exposures from Vietnam era, the complex exposures from 
Gulf War I (with approximately 30% of Gulf War I participants and increasing 
daily now on partial or full Department of Veterans Affairs disability) and the 
same effects on all coalition, and Iraqi military personnel but most important 
noncombatants from Gulf War I and now the looming asverse health effects of 
Gulf war II verifies the futility of war. If we want to stem the source cannon 
fodder, people, for conducting  war then we must teach about what the 
consequences of war are not try to  get individuals not to enlist because we tell them 
education and training is of no benefit because it actually is an excellent 
benefit with excellent outcomes and especially for minorities who may have never 
received the technical education unless the enlisted in the military.

and in repeat---

A Commitment to Peace
Major Doug Rokke, Ph.D.

September 18, 2002

    As I sit here tonight unable to sleep, my mind is considering the 
ramifications of potential and ongoing military actions and economic sanctions. As a 
disabled warrior with combat experience in two wars, Vietnam and Desert Storm, 
I can only hope and pray that the outcomes of these actions do not leave 
another trail of adverse health and environmental problems.  I have concluded that 
we must unite in a concerted effort to prevent additional suffering.  
Throughout the history of the world those who make a commitment to peace have endured 
isolation and retaliation when they challenged the individuals and 
governments seeking economic and political advantages.  A vision of peace where all 
nations can live together for the common good is an ideal dream but may be 
unrealistic.  War is the ultimate weapon a nation or leaders can use to control the 
allocation and use of food, water, terrain, shelter, and mineral resources.  
War occurs when nations or individuals fail to reach a satisfactory compromise 
on sharing of these limited resources.  Today we are reaching another 
crossroads in history where we must decide which road we follow. We can select peace or 
go to war.  One means life the other means death!  The prevalent modus 
operandi at this time of those seeking power and control is to threaten economic 
sanctions or military attacks in order to achieve their goals and objectives.  
This is unacceptable. We must act to with a unified and strong voice prevent 
nations and leaders from imposing their demands on others. At the same time we 
must make sure that those nations and leaders who pose a viable threat to peace 
are checkmated. But that does not mean that we result to military force.  
There are many options but only wise persons are willing to discuss and mutually 
select the option most beneficial to all.   Today information control is used 
to prevent discussion and debate.  If a person does not have adequate and 
validated information they will be unable to contribute to the resolution of 
serious problems.  We must ensure the complete dissemination of information even if 
that information reveals illegal or disturbing actions by our own or any other 
nation.  These ways to achieve peace will require a commitment of time, 
financial resources, knowledge, attitudes, life, liberty, and willingness to endure 
isolation and retaliation by any person who wishes to contribute towards the 
resolution of local, state, national or international problems.  The choice is 
ours.  We can select a life as a mushroom or we can select to act.  I select 
action for if peace is to be achieved then I must "let peace begin with me".