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WEAPONS ON POST

I am writing in regard to the article “Some want review of Army’s policy on private weapons” [Nov. 30]. I see no issue with allowing soldiers to practice the same function on post as they can off.

One argument for not carrying is that we cannot trust our soldiers, and that our soldiers will get out of hand. I wonder, how do you trust those same soldiers downrange with at a minimum a 9mm pistol and yet on post cannot trust them with a BB gun?

Also, the author wrote that it would be too difficult to train soldiers to be responsible enough to carry those weapons. Why not let the states decide? I personally carry a concealed carry permit and off post I carry my concealed weapon — why can’t I on post? My state’s legislature decided that a state resident can have that permission, and the state attorney general decided that after the classes I took and process I went through I am qualified to carry my weapon.

WARTIME UNIFORMS

I applaud Robert F. Dorr who wrote in the Dec. 7 Army Times [“It’s time to restore service dress”] regarding the need for soldiers as well as service members of all branches to return back to the traditions of dress that express pride in the uniform.

Too often when perusing Army Times regarding honorees at events dealing with the public, I see senior noncommissioned officers and officers sporting the Army Combat Uniforms in venues where the Class A uniform, or the ASU, would be far more appropriate. The universal answer I get when I inquire of my colleagues’ opinions: “We’re a nation at war, and we wear the combat uniform.”

We are not going to execute low crawls across the stage at that civilian recognition ceremony. We are not going to fix bayonets and attack up hill before a wounded warrior is honored at a civilian sporting event.

There is a cue that we can take from our Marine and Naval brethren. They do not wear their utility uniform, off base or post, period, except to stop to get gas or pickup their kids from daycare, etc.

Everywhere I read regarding the hype of the new Army Service Uniform is that it “is supposed to instill pride with the historical sentiment of the blue uniform. If nobody wants to wear the Class As now, why do the administrators in our Pentagon think anything will change with the ASU?

I read your article and it really upset me. Do you realize that the fatigues that we wear to work everyday while deployed and at home represent the freedom that we fight for while gone from our families?

I am proud of the Army Combat Uniform that I wear every day and I don’t care who I am downloading off of a plane in Dover [Air Force Base, Del.]. The same uniform they were wearing when they died is the one I put on my back and I feel like I honor their memory.

As a retired soldier, it is an embarrassment to see the Army represented by soldiers at sporting events and other public forums in fatigues. Look at how the Marines will be dressed at these functions, service dress uniforms, spit-and-polish, professional. The Army troops look like they just finished up with motor stables.

I could not agree more with Mr. Dorr. Living in central Virginia brings one face-to-face with service personnel on a daily basis who wear the duty (combat) uniform to off-post lunch, shopping, doctors visits and, would you believe, church? And let’s face it, most of them just look frumpy. Recently, while dining in a local restaurant I observed soldiers in full “battle rattle.” My lunch partner inquired if they were soldiers or deer hunters.

The points made by Robert F. Dorr with regard to service dress could not have been more valid. We are doing our servicemen and women a dishonor when a utility uniform is chosen over a dress uniform as the all-occasion-acceptable attire. Mr. Dorr hit a bull’s-eye in recognizing the absence of dignity when flag-draped coffins are handled by soldiers wearing a field utility uniform designed for field work, training preparation and/or combat.

From 2001 to 2003, I had the honor of wearing the Class B uniform when administering the Oath of Enlistment to men and women in our five services. I would have been disappointed to have administered this oath in anything other than the service dress uniform.

I agree that service members should dress up more. Ceremonies except those in the field should be dress-up occasions. Memorial services should be the same.

I was disturbed to see pictures of soldiers in ACUs rendering honors during the 65th anniversary of D-Day in France. That was not the case of the 40th and 50th anniversaries that I attended. The soldiers then wore dress greens with shined boots and shoes and medals. They looked almost as good as the Marines, who seem to be able to rise to the occasion and always look sharp.

DISCRIMINATING AGAINST DADS

I find the question regarding the female soldier refusing to deploy because the lack of a family care plan not only discriminating but outright ridiculous. The Army regulation on family care plans is black and white and if the Army even considers any favoritism because the soldier is a female than the whole regulation needs to be rewritten.

In March 2003, my ex-wife left me, leaving me without a child care plan and set to deploy to Iraq. The question to me was “Find your ex, give the kids back and go to war ... or get out.” There was no question of me being a single father with three children. Why is there consideration for this specialist?

Why is the Army allowing female soldiers to remain in the Army by getting pregnant out of wedlock? We have single female soldiers getting pregnant and I believe because they know they not only won’t have to deploy, but they get more uniforms, tennis shoes and months of convalescent leave time. Don’t get me wrong, to female soldiers who are married and trying to build a family within the military, God bless and best of luck. But the single females getting pregnant should be separated for destruction of government property, and breach of contract being unable to fulfill their obligation to the Army. I recently re-classed and while in Advanced Individual Training three soldiers got pregnant and laughed stating they won’t have to go to war now. As long as the Army condones this, others will have to take up the slack of these so-called soldiers.

So the question is, what should the Army do now? Stick to the regulations and policies that are in place for every soldier in the Army and make her deploy, or if she is in her first enlistment, give her a general discharge and a handshake and make her take responsibility for her actions.

Anything else would be a disgrace.