My son at 14 wants to be a marine and kill Osamas in the desert

nietzschefan said:
Are you really calling me out for getting off tangent on a fairly obtuse topic? lol

Nothing has changed at the high strategic level from Sun Tzu's time. Absolutely nothing. Some of the book is outdated (but even information about say ...river crossings, simply needs modern unit types inserted), only when it (rarely) gets into detail, can the book be deemed slightly anachronistic.

So - more appropriate to this thread:
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It is not the specifics, but the philosophy.

If you look beyond the specific scenarios and see the metaphor, you will see the Art of War in its entirety is as effective now as ever.
 
Shogun said:
It is not the specifics, but the philosophy.

If you look beyond the specific scenarios and see the metaphor, you will see the Art of War in its entirety is as effective now as ever.
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It does not surprise me that you have read Sun Tzu, The Art Of War.

The Department of the Army in the United States, through its Command and General Staff College, has directed all units to maintain libraries within their respective headquarters for the continuing education of personnel in the art of war. The Art of War is mentioned as an example of works to be maintained at each individual unit, and staff duty officers are obliged to prepare short papers for presentation to other officers on their readings.[19]

The Art of War is listed on the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program (formerly known as the Commandant's Reading List). It is recommended reading for all United States Military Intelligence personnel and is required reading for all CIA officers.
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jmpet said:
My son is all but ready to join the Marines and go to foreign lands and kill Osamas in the name of liberty. I did not instill this desire in him; I believe it's his own opinion. He is all but a Rambo in the Boy Scouts currently and can't wait to go out and kill enemy Arabs in the name of liberty.

I am looking for your thoughts on this matter. I did not plan this to be his future but he is all for it; he has been on an "an American rant" for over a year now- proud to wear the flag etc... (which leads me to believe he may be Marine material).

Thanks.
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Rent the uncut version of "Hamburger Hill" or the original "All's Quiet on the Western Front." And get him to read Wilfred Owen's poetry. He needs to learn about the reality of war not Ramboesq jingoism.
 
send him to work in a red cross aid station, treating those the idiot yank solders blew up
 
Gustav said:
excellent. [H]ow about pipe bombs?
surely there is some utility in that as well?
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Dude- get with the program. Everyone's looked this stuff up- or am I really that off base?

I learned how to make pipe bombs when I was 14. Why? Because they made them in "Terminator" and was amazed you could make bombs from homemade stuff. So I went to the library and learned how.

Never made a pipe bomb- I just want to know how to. And when my son asked me, I told him of course- we can make bombs right now if we wanted to! Doesen't mean we should, though. I think there is some wisdom in that.
 
ScaryMonster said:
Rent the uncut version of "Hamburger Hill" or the original "All's Quiet on the Western Front." And get him to read Wilfred Owen's poetry. He needs to learn about the reality of war not Ramboesqe- jingoism.
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He knows war is hell. He knows soldiers die. He knows his uncle served in 'Nam and saw plenty of the bad stuff. I was just asking- is he made for it at 14 or is has media and government done its job and created a demand for heroes from our youth?
 
He won't be going at 14. He'll be going at 18.
Grow him up into someone who can either handle it or won't want to.
 
There's more than a handful of people who think about joining the military at almost any young age. Fewer that do it, some even are forced into it others born into it. However, hiding the fact that it's there is kind of counter productive. If he wants to join, there's not really a lot you can do to stop it. It's a decision that will be made with little regard to your emotions as a parent.

I think that many who do serve do so with a pure heart and a lot of them become corrupted by combats harsh adrenaline rush some haunted by it but very few who do it with no thought to it. Although every man has his breaking point, some are just too scared to say no.

Anyways, best of luck with him and hopefully he goes officer or picks a good job if he decides to enlist or become commissioned.
 
i would recommend him to watch some documentaries first, namely:

1) Inside job
3) The power of nightmare
4) America: Freedom to Fascism
5) Zeitgeist
6) Fahrenheit 9/11
 
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