MCG, I would say the hardest thing to get over is the Ops tempo. I really do like being an Engineer. The job is great. You get your hands dirty and really feel a sense of accomplishment (in the field atleast). There is a certain mentality it takes to be a soldier - especially from my perspective, an NCM - and the pride of knowing not everyone can do what we do is something few will truly realize. RSM Hartford once told me "If its easy, anyone could do it."
That being said, it is getting to the point where guys are being asked - quite literally - to choose the trade over their families. When guys are away from home for almost a year and then asked to go into the field again it eventually becomes too much. In my opinion I think this is where a lot of the bitterness comes from. How is a soldier to make that call? When he has his hand forced to the point he has to say "No, I cannot go to the field because my wife and kids come first." I know several guys who have been put in this prediciment and the stress has to be quite overwhelming. This is only compounded when you factor in the inevitable marriage difficulties extended absence and whatever other variables life seems to throw at you (pregnancies, illnesses, depression, PTSD, etc.) When you get the "your turning your back on your buddies" speech it only adds to it.
Now here is the tricky part and the part I am just coming to see recently. Officers and senior NCOs need to put numbers of troops in the field to support ex's, deployments, etc. and courses on top of that because our retention is low. I understand this. When they explain this to you it takes the personal aspect of being a combat soldier out of the equation and makes the soldier feel more like a number than a valued asset to the unit and army as a whole.
How do we get around or overcome this? Well more soldiers obviously but that is out of our control and I don't think we can just knit up some new ones. This is an important question that I am posing to our senior leadership out there or indeed to any of our more junior guys of any trade as to what can we do to fix the state we are in. Does anyone have an short term or long term plans for this? Is this the way its always been or is this a newer developement?
As for certain people in the regiment I don't see eye to eye with of course. There are a few I don't like and some I just don't agree with. That isn't the issue with me though, you get bosses and coworkers everywhere you go that you like/ don't like.
Whew, there is something for ya to chew on guys. I am certainly looking forward to your suggestions or input. Chimo
