The Home of the Brave?

I WAS ONCE ASKED, with fear and trembling, whether North Korea could destroy us with their missiles.  I suppressed my amazement that the person asking could be so scared of an incompetent enemy half a world away.  North Korea did indeed have a new missile that could fly a long way.  Of course, North Korea couldn’t guarantee it would hit any particular target in Japan, much less North America.  But my coworker did not know all this.  Suppose they got lucky and it flew directly at Seattle?  Would it kill us all, she asked.

I wondered that she had so little knowledge of or faith in our U.S. air defenses.  Could she really doubt that the U.S. Air Force and Navy would take out any stray missile on the way in?  But she was scared.  Furthermore, she was a civilian, unacquainted with military matters.  I reprimanded myself mentally for being arrogant, and kindly gave her reasons why she should stop worrying, go back to her classroom with confidence, and take comfort in the security provided by the world’s most effective military.  She was still a little bit concerned, but I think my assurances helped.

Upon reflection, I gained some of understanding of her fear.  Frankly, the news stories about the new North Korean missile were written to alarm and intimidate.  The stories were intended to inspire fear, because fear sells newspapers.  Because she was a caring person concerned for the safety of children, and because she had no frame of reference for military matters, her reaction was reasonable.  I am glad that I was able to put her mind at ease, at least a little bit.

If the question had come from a military person, my reaction might have been different.  If a soldier or sailor had presented the same question in a matter-of-fact way, I would have simply answered it because not everyone in the military works with air defense or intelligence.  However, if the question had come from a soldier or sailor exhibiting the deep fear I saw in my civilian coworker, my reaction would have been different.  I would have questioned whether that individual belonged in the U.S. military.

Persons in our military must never allow fear to determine their actions and attitudes.  I do not say that our soldiers and sailors should not be afraid, because we are all human, and sometimes we all feel fear.  The difference is, a military person must deal with fear in a mature way, selflessly, in such a way that judgment and job performance are not impaired.  The military person should manage feelings with facts, counter apprehension with obligation, and put mission above self-interest.  A good solder or sailor will never be more concerned with personal safety than with the mission. 

Of the Navy Core Values, the central one is COURAGE.  We are supposed to be courageous.  Not fearful.  We are soldiers and sailors, American fighting men and women, not children hiding from a bully, not cowards failing to defend their charge, not timid.  We are expected to be courageous.  If we are not courageous, we should not have put ourselves in a position to be hurt by joining the U.S. military.

Fear is nothing to be ashamed of.  I have felt great fear.  I have feared incoming missiles, sniper fire, suicide bombers, and terrorists.  Not to mention crazy drivers and really tall bridges. 

The honorable soldier or sailor will not let fear incapacitate him or her.  The American military member will continue to fulfill obligations in spite of the fear he or she may be feeling.  That’s what courage is – not the absence of fear, but pressing forward in spite of fear.

In a hostile or dangerous situation, the good soldier or sailor will do what needs to be done.  He will step forward with fortitude to defeat those who threaten him, his brothers in arms and shipmates, his family and homeland.  She will stare down the ones who try to intimidate her with strength and righteous indignation.  Intimidation only works when the target gives in to fear. 

We, the Defenders of the United States of America, Do Not Cower.  At least, that’s how it used to be. 

That’s how it was back when farmers and shopkeepers fought professional soldiers to gain independence for their American nation.  That’s how it was in the Civil War, when valiant patriots of both sides gave their lives in a cause greater than self.  That’s how it was in the World Wars when our country rescued Europe and East Asia from determined aggressors.  That’s how it has been in Afghanistan, as we seek to help people who sometimes have less hope and respect for themselves than we have for them.

That’s not how it might be in years to come.  The American military is being trained to cower.

Read these excerpts from a mandatory military training program, which is intended to keep military personnel safe from dangerous people.  These excerpts have been mildly paraphrased to enhance clarity, and my comments are italicized.  You might call it 'Mandatory Timidity Training.'

1. “When you travel, wear civilian clothing with no military symbols.  Blend in.  Do not put military insignias or titles on your luggage. This may reduce the likelihood of being a target because of your association with the U.S. military.  Be anonymous.” [Pride in your military affiliation is dangerous.]
2. “When flying, choose the seat least accessible to a hijacker, a window seat in the midsection of the aircraft. A hijacker in the aisle would have difficulty reaching a passenger in a window seat. [“When he decides to hurt me, you mean?  That frightens me.”]  Also, a hijacker is likely to stand at the front or rear of the aircraft, so seats in the middle of the compartment will be least exposed.”  [Apparently, the idea is to hide behind civilian bystanders.]
3. “You are in a public area when someone begins to make a scene with a security guard in a loud, threatening way. You should wait while security personnel handle the disruption since you must remain anonymous. If the situation persists or worsens, you might consider leaving the area to return when things have settled down.”  [Tactic: Run away.  Okay, I agree with giving the security personnel a chance to handle their own problems.  But leaving the area because someone is upset?  How can we possibly expect people who run away from such minor conflicts to stand up to an armed enemy?] 
4. “You will travel to another city where there have been disturbances.  Tips on staying safe:  Always inspect your vehicle for tampering before you get in.  Try not to draw attention to yourself.  Make sure a responsible person [“You mean like an adult?”] knows where you are.  Always travel with a buddy.  Always have a local map, emergency phone numbers, and proper identification.  [None of these is a bad idea, per se.  But doesn’t the tone bother you?  I mean... ‘travel with a buddy’?  Sounds like advice from a mommy to an elementary age child going on a field trip – not advice to a professional warrior and defender of American freedom.]

5. "When eating at a restaurant, you ask for a table away from the street, because streetside tables are more exposed to danger.  [Hide.]  An attractive stranger moves to the table next to you and asks where you are from and what you do.  Your best course of action is to politely end the conversation and consider using room service next time.”  [Seriously?  On what planet?] 
6. “Later, in the lobby, you think you recognize the same individual. [Think? I’m pretty sure I would recognize the pretty lady who was hitting on me.]  Knowing that the lights in the lobby show on which floors the elevator stops [“Oh, no!  What if the pretty lady follows me?”], you should go to a secure, public area of the hotel such as the gift shop for a few minutes. [“Please make the pretty lady go away… please, please, please…”]  If the individual is still there, you should go to the front desk and report the stranger. You should ask for a member of the hotel staff to escort you, and go to your room by an indirect route. [“Mr. Hotel Manager, that scary pretty lady is hitting on me.  Please stop her.  And can the big strong bellhop please walk me to my room?  And since I’m afraid she might follow us do you think we could use the cargo elevator to ditch her?”]

Try to visualize John Wayne saying that.  Wariness is reasonable, but any soldier or sailor who is this afraid of a friendly attractive stranger is pathetic and doesn’t deserve to have a mature romantic relationship, ever. 

Seriously, there is no way that anyone this scared of his or her own shadow would ever be able to complete accession training (boot camp), much less be an active participant in real military operations.  Many of these suggestions might be good advice for an adolescent girl, but it is embarrassing that they are directed to members of the United States military.

This new counter-courageousness may have originated with well-intentioned civilians who do not understand the military ethos.

It is certain that the creators of this training do not understand that thinking in a purely defensive way is a dangerous and debilitating habit for members of a military in which offensive operations are often necessary.  They may not understand that boldness can be an advantage.  They may not understand that to give in to fear is to lose.  They may not understand the imperative to put mission above safety and personal concerns.  They certainly do not understand either courage or honor. 

The new counter-courageousness might be the unintended result of a generation of risk-averse policies engendered by our litigious society.  It might be political correctness misapplied and running amok.  Whatever created it, it must be rejected.

As American fighting men and women, we seek maximum security for our nation, our allies, our people, our families, our fellow-soldiers and sailors.  Ideally we also seek security for ourselves – but personal safety comes after the mission, and after the safety of others. 

When reasonable precautions are likely to keep us safe, those precautions should be taken.  As military members, a natural instinct for self-preservation is sometimes our greatest asset.  At other times, though, we must consciously override that instinct in favor of protecting others or deterring a threat.  Honor and courage demand that when it is necessary to put ourselves in harm’s way to defend others or accomplish our mission, we step forward boldly.  When it is our obligation to protect others or to deter an aggressor, we must act fearlessly, without hesitation, from strength rather than timidity. 

We must be strong and unflinching because we know from history that he who hesitates is lost, that a people who are afraid are easily conquered, that those who value security more than freedom are likely to lose both.

We, the fighting men and women of the American military, will take reasonable precautions to keep ourselves safe, but we will never tremble before an enemy.  We will choose courage over cowardice, even though we may suffer personal harm, because that is the nature of our mission and that is the nature of who we are.  If we do otherwise, we become less than we should be - in the estimation of the world, of our emboldened enemies, of our families, and most catastrophically, in our own estimation of ourselves.  Becoming less, we will be incapable of defending our nation adequately when the battle begins.  Being “safer,” we will become less secure.

We continue to aspire to the Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.  We will live worthy of the patriots who bravely gave all for us and our liberty.  We will choose, like our honorable and courageous forefathers, to Live Free or Die.

Note to the incoming defenders of America:

Do not let those who do not understand honor, courage, or commitment tempt you to reject honor, courage, or commitment in order to gain a little temporary security.  Take reasonable precautions, but never live in fear.  The ones who would train you to be afraid do not understand honor or courage or commitment, nor do they understand who you are or why you want to take on the responsibility of protecting your nation and your people. 

You are Honorable.  You are Courageous.  Live committed to your ideals.  Believe in that something which is more important than yourself.  The timid and fearful ones may not understand you, but they need you to be strong for them.  We, your brothers and sisters in arms, will understand, support, and honor you.  Just as you will do for us if and when the need arises.

You are honorable.  You are proud.  You are worthy to be a defender of America. 

Thank you for your service.  Remember your heritage.

Gryphem