The Discovery Times Channel has an agenda, and it’s about as transparent as glass. They are against the Administration, the President, and even the American People. Some of their programs make me want to throw up, and others make me want to put a boot through the TV, as if that would help. But the worst series they have ever filmed, by far, is this sad story of the sorriest National Guard unit on record. If this is the best Arkansas has to offer, maybe we should just let them secede from the Union and bid them good luck. I have seen throughout my military career a number of NG and RES units, both AF and Army, and this series does a terrible disservice to all of them.
Somebody must have forgotten to tell these guys that, upon their activation, they are active duty and it is their responsibility to be indistinguishable from the Regular troops. Serving as a paramedic for some 10 years at Ft. Stewart, which has a large NG training area, I’ve had a number of occasions to interact with them. Some were about as dumb as these AR guys, but most took their training seriously. One of the worst calls I remember going on, was when a drunk driver - on post, no less - ran over and killed one of those guys who was innocently walking to his barracks. Every month when I go over to Stewart for Rx refills, I have to think about all the sad calls I went on there. But I have observed the tenant unit closely, and have made some judgements about them.
If the DTMS network wants to do a profile of a military unit in Iraq, they should do a program on the 3rd ID, from Fort Stewart. These guys are top notch soldiers, and they’re getting the job done without all the whining, crying, and carrying-on of this Arkansas unit. If all Matt Hertlein, Tommy Erp, and Joe Betts can do is piss and moan about being activated, they are poor examples of US military members. We should all be rising up in anger over this terrible mischaracterization of our military, as it reflects poorly on all of us who have served honorably and proudly in defense of our nation.
I for one, am mad as hell about this, and if I knew who to complain to, I would. I did not want to go to Vietnam, or to Taiwan, or to the Philippines, or Korea, but when I got my orders I went, and I did the best durn job I could, because I had signed on the dotted line and no one forced me. This in the day when there was a draft. I’ll never forget my first enlistment. I took the oath from my Dad’s Squadron Commander, Maj. William Woolsey, at Castle AFB’s Comm/Nav shop - which was the career field that I wound up in for the first 12 years. They put a picture of it in the base newspaper - why, I never knew - just to make a big deal out of it. That left me totally unprepared for my arrival the next day at Lackland AFB! My recollections of Basic sorta leave me chuckling. It was interesting to say the least, but I have to admit that I learned a few things there. BTW, does anyone remember what a 341 is? I’ll leave that one for the comments section……
OK, I got my gripe out in the air. I just hope no one watches the “Off To War” series and gets the idea that it represents ANY other unit in the US military. Those folks are unique, and they are the LEAST representative of our fine military men and women of anything that I know. I will be happy to see that program go off into the sunset, with their tails between their legs as they deserve.
Good post, Joe. I’ve seen about a half-dozen eps from that series, and that’s plenty. It seems obvious to me that the producers picked and chose the footage to suit their agenda. I simply can’t believe that any unit is that whiney and inept.
As shown by this comment over at Asymmetrical Information, the stuff was real. But that doesn’t mean it was presented in a balanced manner.
Comment by Kevin Connors — 20060115 @ 1552
Ah, the 341. It was properly worn, I recall, in the breast pocket of the fatigue shirt, folded at the end so as to be just under the pocket flap. This facilitated easy access by a superior in the event that a hapless airman should violate the myriad rules and regulations. I got through basic unscathed, but Keesler was to be my Waterloo. It’s too painful to remember the wide variety of offenses - suffice to say that the daily march to and from school, in the rain, watching the South Vietnamese trainees being transported by bus, led to a lot of griping that was not fully appreciated by the TIs along the route. Our very own Sgt. (E4) Wilbur Fenstermacher (5′6″, 120 lbs. soaking wet, with a Hitler mustache) brought the removal of the 341 to a high art form. (I did, in fairness, correspond with him, and under normal circumstances he was a very nice guy).
As to the message of your post, I was in basic when Richard Nixon ended the draft. I have never seen so many grown men cry, and morale for the remainder of basic and into tech school was on level you attribute to the Discovery piece.
By the way, were you a 328X1?
Comment by Larry Rupert — 20060115 @ 1732
I went through Basic without ever being noticed by anyone.. I pasted my original issue basic training 341s in my diary, when I left for tech school… No one ever noticed me, or asked for them. But this was in the days of the women still being sort of the “ladies’ auxiliary”.
Comment by Sgt. Mom — 20060115 @ 2046
“Gimmie one!”
How I hated that phrase, even when it wasn’t directed at me.
Getting a 341 pulled was bad. Getting one pulled by a TI outside of your squadron was worse than death. About the only thing worse than that was a visit to the snake pit during chow.
Comment by Yeff — 20060116 @ 0103
I grew perturbed while watching a Showtime horror show about Veterans dead rising up as Zombies to vote the President out of office and canceled Showtime for HBO (not much improvement happen) I was shocked at what shows this carries, The miltary channel I cannot get as well as many childrens and science shows.
I found HBO to be just as pro- and Anti as any other station.
“ya just have to take the good with the bad”
Comment by Barry 0351 — 20060116 @ 1434
If all Matt Hertlein, Tommy Erp, and Joe Betts can do is piss and moan about being activated, they are poor examples of US military members.
I have watched only one episode. It is possible the editing process was slanted and the remarks edited out of context.
Put it this way - when we were told we might be sent to Desert Shield on 48 hours notice (”We’re not saying you WILL go but .. you might want to be READY. Just in case.”)* there was no small amount of grumbling, kvetching and so on. This happens - if the troops don’t bitch you have a morale problem. On the other hand a number of us were ready to go and would have gone, no arguments.
I imagine if someone had filmed our bs sessions in the rec room and edited they could have similar results.
Comment by brian — 20060116 @ 1725
One of my buddies was a platoon leader in the 1/153d Infantry, 39th Brigade and I can guarantee that most of the unit was not as piss-poor as these jokers! I also think that you can edit things to include that which fits the documentary maker’s worledview. Likely, the filmakers thought by showing their bitcvhing and moaning it cast them as victims. In any eventr, my buddy’s platoon performed very well. Part of what made them excellent is that many, like him, were police officers in the civilian world and they understood walking a beat, so to speak. Too bad that these whiners has cast a shadow on he and his men. They did a great job in Iraq and then went down to NOLA during Katrina and put an end to the crap down there as well.
Comment by The Opinionator — 20060116 @ 2023
For the last 2 commenters:
I am sure there were guys who were dedicated and who did their best. You just couldn’t tell it from what the editors put into the show. Sgt. Rohrschieb is one of those who should be commended, along with Sgt. Short, Sgt. Jackson, and 1/Lt Mason. Everyone should go to the link that Kevin put in his comment and read Shannon Rohrschieb’s comment on her husband’s service. It gives the whole thing more balance, which is all I was asking in the first place!
And thanks much to all those who wished to comment. Good debate is just what I wanted to see!
No matter who the screw-ups are, regardless of some units that don’t yet have it all together, we still have the greatest military the world has ever seen. AMEN!
Comment by Joe Comer — 20060117 @ 0348