11/22/2006
Rainy Days & Recruiters
American Soldier says,
I was driving to work last week and the clouds were brewing up something. I opened my window and took in a deep breath of the smell of rain. It really doesn’t smell any different no matter where you go. It has that unique scent to it. For me it brings back certain memories now. That will come later.
I was coming up to an Army Recruiter office. So I pulled in the parking lot and sat there for a minute looking out my window at the clouds. I must have looked like an idiot but I really didn’t care. All that went through my mind was what to say. Why am I even there?
So I walked in and some young Staff Sergeant greets me. I size him up, CIB (Combat Infantry Badge) – check, 3RD ID Combat Patch – check. I sit down and he asks the basic recruiter questions. Have I ever served – check. Age, residence, etc, etc, etc. So he looks at his sheet and looks at me and asked me what do I want to do? I told him that I am merely interested in getting some facts. I am not making any concrete decisions at the moment. He asked me if I did go in where I would go. I told him Ft. Lewis, WA. I have this thing about that place. I served there when I was on active duty. Now its home of the Stryker Brigade. I think that unit is hot shit. I’d very much like to go to war with them too. I don’t know why, but I just do.
So we share a few stories about Iraq and laugh like two soldiers would about the exploits of life as ‘Joe’. His boss comes walking in and for some reason I always look for two things on a uniform. A CIB and a combat patch. His boss was wearing neither. I don’t know if I am a dick for thinking like that but I just have a different type of respect for soldiers who have a CIB and those who don’t. I guess I’m a dick, but I wear one and earned it shedding my blood next to fellow brothers who did the same. Not some of these guys that get shot at once and claim to be GI Joe with their shiny Combat Action Badge. Yes it is the mocked version of the coveted CIB. That’s another story I guess.
Anyway, back on track. I was in civilian clothes so his boss just looked at me like another applicant. He even went as far as talking about me like I wasn’t there. “Ensure we get all info on this applicant.” He says.
As he was going in his office he said “Does this applicant know what he wants to do?” I was thinking to myself, yeh I want to drop kick your stupid face into your wooden door and hog tie you. Then ask him why does the non combat, non CIB wearing prick talk like people aren’t there. Have some fucking respect, not just for me but for any person sitting in that chair.
I quickly shrugged it off; playing that scenario in my head I smirked and turned back to the other recruiter. I leaned in and whispered that his boss was a prick. He smiled and turned back to his paperwork.
At that point I got all my questions answered and was done. I got the recruiters card and said I’d be in touch.
I walked out of the office and it started to rain. I stood there for a moment and look at the sky. I closed my eyes and remembered for a moment when I was in Iraq. We had just got done a mission and I was nasty from a long mission. My face dirty from mud whatever else from that shit hole. My uniform stained with blood from some shit bag that died trying to be Mr. Jihad from the night before. I remembered the rain pouring down and sort of cleansing me. Maybe more as a mindset than literally. I could taste the salt from my sweat seeping into my mouth from my hair. The dirt and grime dripping onto the ground. I just let the rain pour on me and I embraced that moment. I opened my eyes and there I was, safe at home. Not in uniform, not tired from any mission. I was still the same man just on the other side of the planet now. However every time it rains, that vivid memory brings me back.
The recruiter’s card still sits in my wallet. Maybe I will use it when the rain comes again.
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34 Responses to “Rainy Days & Recruiters”
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Beautiful
I
Wow
That guy was a creep.
Well, considering only Infantry can get the CIB, what does that mean to all the non-infantry soldiers who aren’t eligible? My husband does have the CAB (he’s a lowly Engineer, thus not worthy of the CIB). He’s also eligible to wear 3 combat patches, although you can’t tell that from his uniform.
So why his is CAB less worthy? He’s been shot at, had IEDs explode under him, etc, etc, etc. But he doesn’t have those rifles on his collar to make him eligible for the CIB. Don’t knock it. He’s out there doing his job and his missions. He’s just the wrong MOS.
It takes all kinds, but I can understand where you’re coming from, AS. By the way, if you ever make it to the Ft. Lewis area, I’d be honored to buy you a beer (in or out of uniform - you earned it a long time ago).
Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving with your family!
Sighs,
You are right, he did earn his CAB. However, the CIB has a long standing tradition that only Infantryman would wear to distinguish themselves from other branches. It was the same retard PR leadership that decided to make everyone wear the Black Beret and take that from the Rangers, the same PR leadership who decided to allow people to get a CAB to show they’ve been in combat.
The CAB is any non-combat soldier’s wet dream. They can finally show they were shot at or what have you. I think your husband would just be as proud of his experience without the CAB. It’s the asshats who put in blanket statements or something else, who really have not earned it that give it a bad name.
Sorry but I don’t look at the CAB as anything special. They wanted to replicate the only thing that distinguished the Infantryman, besides our blue cord. It is a new flashy thing worn by non Infantry soldiers. Yes other soldiers see combat besides Infantryman these days but, the Army is built around tradition and the Army decided to give the ‘we are all fucking the same mentality’ with the Army of One campaign. It failed and with it sprouted a lot of ridiculous ribbons and the CAB. So now with tradition we will just keep it. Now we got Army Strong. I guarantee something dynamic will come about soon enough. They will probably make everyone wear Jump Boots and take away from the Airborne Soldier.
Anyway, your husband has my respect for serving. It’s the ones who give their new medal a bad name.
AS, you and other warriors are one reason why I am so very thankful on this Thanksgiving day.
Wow! That is really commendable AS that you would think about reenlisting. You are truly a warrior and we need more soldiers like you!!
AS,
I have enjoyed reading your blog for a long time now and based on your writings I was under the impression that you were a Soldier’s Soldier. Hearing you complain about and downgrade the CAB puts you in another light to me. I have seen and I’m sure you have seen many brave and honorable Soldiers sacrifice their bodies for this war, I never bothered to ask them what their MOS was, I was just privliged to have them fighting beside me. If they place their bodies in harm’s way and put their lives on the line they deserve the recognition of a CAB regardless if they are a cook, clerk or a beloved infantryman. The CIB was not taken from the grunts like the black beret was taken from the Rangers, it is still theirs alone, the CAB is a great way to honor all the rest. I think we get a little too caught up in our own part of the Army sometimes and forget we are just part of the big picture. By the way, I have had a CIB for many years.
Like I said in my post. Call me a dick for thinking that way. As far as being a soldier’s soldier. I don’t think I need to explain myself there. My views on the CAB are that of my own experience and I specifically said ’some’ soldiers.
If people want to bitch about my views they can do an about face and move out. This is my site and my views that can be a bit controversial. I will not sugar coat my feelings. If someone is so caught up on the mentioning of the CAB and not the meat of the post I wrote then they need to read it again.
“Not some of these guys that get shot at once and claim to be GI Joe with their shiny Combat Action Badge.”
I will reiterate. I said ’some’ of these guys. I had the unfortunate experience seeing many soldiers linking up with my company to go outside the wire just to get shot at so they can ‘earn’ their CAB. It put a bad taste in my mouth.
Did I have fight along side non-Infantry soldiers? Yes, also Marines and Sailors. I don’t put myself above them in anyway. I have my CIB that I earned. It is mine alone. I will say that I do tend to flock towards others with CIBs. There is an instant connection.
So don’t bitch at me because I don’t like something. I don’t need to agree with you. These are my thoughts, not all are pretty.
Just wanted to say thanks for your service. Your description of the rain made me remember this most recent time my husband came home from the Sandbox. We went to lunch with one of his buddies at Ft Stewart who had also returned the night before. It was raining, and my children and I dashed to the restaurant. We looked back to see my husband and his friend standing in the rain chatting as if it was a sunny day. They were loving it! My husband has served proudly for 19 years and is still on active duty. He has earned several different combat patches, but still wears the 24th ID he earned in Desert Storm. There were some in Iraq who did the “been there, done that, got the CAB” thing, but a book can’t be judged by it’s cover. A CIB doesn’t necessarily make one walk on water either. It is a distinguished honor, and you have my respect.
AS,
Good site!
Just wanted to say that I am one “non-combat” support soldier that is glad he did not “earn” the CAB. I came close several times. I believe it is more of a being in the wrong place at the wrong time award.
I do agree about the black beret. I always feel uncomfortable wearing it. Just call me old school.
Should any one be interested in what the ‘’Radical
Muslims'’ have in store for the world , tune in on Saturday 11-25-06 , for Fox News Channel at EST time 9 pm or midnight and watch the documentary ‘’Obsession'’ ………Interesting and scary ! This is what A S and all our service people are fighting …….. to keep us safe from these deranged killers in the name of their religion. I have seen previous broadcast, and will watch again. You can also check FNC for further information. All those who have been against this war 
should be sentenced to watch the full length decomentary. God Bless A S.
AS,
Dude you have or self control than I have I would have told Mr Station Commander just what “The Applicant” thinks and where he can put his paper work.
As for the CAB, yeah… Whatever makes you feel better about your self. Why not issue everyone Ranger tabs and jump wings too. The same people that like the CAB also thought the beret was a neat idea too.
I’ll keep my CIB.
Red2Alpha
THANKS for this post, A.S. — great job, as always. Thanks for sharing your thoughts & feelings with us — we appreciate it.
Happy thanksgiving, a day late. Sorry to be so late commenting on this entry… been busy as _______ around here adn my computer is majorly acting up and I can only be on it for short periods of time.
argh.
Anyway, hang in there - we appreciate your family and are proud of you.
AS:
I feel the same way about the Shenseki beret decision; it’d have made a lot more sense to put everyone not already in a colored beret into a tan beret to begin with, rather than take the Rangers’ black beret from them in the first place. Tan makes much more sense given the DCU and even the ACU. That’s assuming you just HAD to have everyone in a beret at all.
I’m pleased that the new Army Service Uniform marginalizes the black beret.
As for the CAB vs. CIB, I’m one of those non-Infantry MOS soldiers who found themselves on the receiving end once or thrice during OIF1. At that time there was no CAB. Nobody was going outside the wire “badge hunting.” Since I retired before the CAB was established it’s not exactly been a priority for me. Still, if I was still in uniform or called back I would pursue it, as it marks those who were north of the berm versus those who spent their time earning Hostile Fire Pay south of the berm in Kuwait. Nothing against those soldiers personally mind you.
A lot of old soldiers can make a lot of snap judgements about another soldier based on the badges they wear, clearly you’re one of them. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing, that’s part of what the whole badge and award scheme is about. Perhaps you might consider the CAB as useful information, filling in the grey area (about a soldier you just met as to the nature and quality of their combat zone service) between a combat patch and a CIB.
It never goes away…being a soldier that is. Nice to hear the real you again.
Thank you Julie.
Dear AS, Thank you for your service and for taking the time to blog. My son is infantry and currently in Iraq. You did a much better job of explaining the blue cord. He called us when he got his CIB. As a Mother I have rather mixed feelings. It really helps us here at home when we can read what life is really like over there. He sends short hurried emails and never gives enough information. I like your attitude. I don’t think PC(political correct) should be involved in war. There are places for warm fuzzies and the battlefield is not it. God Bless.
A.S, please could you tell me what you think makes a hero for my school report. thanx!
I was discussing your feelings on the CAB with my husband. He asked what you thought of the fact that before regulations changed (when the CAB was created), any Infantry soldier who stepped foot in a combat zone was given the CIB. They didn’t have to see combat. They didn’t have to be in any kind of battle. They just had to be in a combat zone. Doesn’t seem like it was a real studly award at that point!
And . . . with this whole restructuring of the Army, it’s so hard to distinguish between the MOSes and their jobs. The infantry battalions in these brigade combat teams all have an engineer company as part of the battalion. I asked, and these engineer companies are out doing the same exact missions as the infantry soldiers. They have some extra jobs, but overall, they act as infantry soldiers on the missions. But again, in your eyes, they don’t count because they aren’t eligible for a CIB.
After being married to the military for over 20 years, I get so tired of all the “holier-than-thou” attitudes in some of the MOSes. Infantry and Military Intelligence are the worst. The Army needs everyone. Without all of the MOSes, the Infantry soldiers wouldn’t get very far.
Oh, you’re one of those “the greatest thing I ever did in life was the military” type vets. Are you gonna spend the rest of your life wearing your military service on your forehead? been there, done that, moved on. Throw your combat infantry badge in the river cause it ain’t any good without a uniform. Happiness is a bad memory buddy, get over it and get to the next level.
I admit right now that I am no soldier. Nor have i ever had a weapon with live rounds pointed at me (excpet for one little incident with an idiot who was part of my unit). Finally i must say that I am not even American, I am British. Though… i do have a big ambition to join my countries armed forces (either the Army as infantry or Navy as a Marine). I am currently a Marine cadet-so i ahve held and fired real assualt weapons etc etc blah blah blah (i know, not much but the reason i mention all this crap is because i just wanted to say is that I have more knowledge than your average civy, and usually more than family members of serving soldiers-they don’t like to tell much).
I have to agree with you totally. All units (whether they be infantry or armour, loggies etc) have always had competition, and I can readily see that between the US Army Infantry and other branches. It happens in all countries armed forces, apart from the really small nantional intergrated ones. I do not understnad why people critize him, yes they all do the “same” job, but there is always competition, it’s a tradition and all armies from whatever country are based on foundations and tranditions laid down sometimes more than 500 years ago. Plus, as he said, people seem to bad name this term, as if bragging they took some fire, some shrapnel and had to return fire-perphaps even holding a FB. However, infantry do that shite day-in, day-out.
AS, i must admit that i find saying “God bless you” cheesy (British never do anything like-most are not religous, i am not) and i do not believe in luck as such, just more the statistics. But what i will say is that keep it up, and for all that even consider putting a base of fire on you, give ‘em hell!
Regards.
I dislike the beret thing but when life is more about self-esteem concerns than about reality, what would you expect? My son resents that decision. He also hates the add “Army of one.” He says that is the last thing we need to believe about ourselves. I believe in the self-esteem concerns with children but at some point we all fail, etc., and we have to be able to deal with it. The beret thing in the military is not about failure. It is about training and commitment beyond the norm so only those attaining certain credentials in the field, both literally and figuratively, should wear especially earned colors. We do not need the old Clinton Army back, where officers were made to serve at State dinners and soldiers went to sensitivity training instead the firing range.
War is about death and slaughter. The innocent always die in much greater numbers than combatants. This alone destroys any glory in war. War is mankinds greatest inhumanity. Thats why a combat vet can never wash the guilty stink away from the soul.
Hbrious, there may be some guilt but our wars have always liberated slaughtered and enslaved people and our victories have resulted in their cheers. i have no guilt to wash away. what is your background?
The “good” war. Well this ain’t it. Haditha.
Right moon, my background? Their “cheers”, which TV special was that? Americans are legends in their own minds.
I take it you are one of the elitist intelligencia for whom WW2 never happened, nor the Halocaust, nor the slaughter of 10s of 1000s of Russians, and on and on and on….we are not legends. we are only free people who hope to see all people free. we expect to be tolerated as well as required to tolerate. we are the most giving nation in the world. I suppose you do not believe the oil for food scam and the slaughter of thousands upon thousands by Hussein. You cannot stand to scrutinity. You can only despise and belittle. I hope you are not being led away in chains before you finally wake up to reality.
Nah… I think Moon you give Hubrious more credit than he deserves. He is a flamer and it is useless trying to have an intelligent discussion with such an individual. It is best to just leave him alone and not feed the flames of his ego.
Hitler described such individuals in Mein Kampf. After all, that is what he was looking for when he set up the third Reich.
You are absolutely correct. I think the worst thing about the net is it has given some guys balls they would never have in person. maybe if they were protected by some crowd of people but never alone. Happy New Year to all of you who have been respectful to AS.
AS– Somehow I keep getting distracted by those who have nothing to add to anybody’s life. Steve is exactly right. I reread the experience with the recruiter. The next generation of recruiters should be vets. We are generating people with experience now, as sad as that is, who can tell the truth about military life. All cards should be on the table. Oddly enough, people can quit now as though it were some kind of civilian job and they can cry to mom if training is too hard. As much as I hated Basic and AIT they were major reasons my life was saved. Every DI in basic was an Airborne Ranger and they ran my baby ass off and scared the dog shit out of me. I have never again been in the kind of shape I was then or as filled with confidence in myself and the guys with whom I served.
I talk too much about me but I find so many memories stirred in your writing that I cannot help myself. One of my lifer uncles was allegely the most decorated non-com ever from the state of Virginia when he died. He was a recruiter after his stint at Arlington as Sgt. of the Guard there. He was an old Wolfhound and, like Marines, that was his life long love and pride. He had a Silver from Pork Chop Hill in Korea and that paved the road he traveled. It was a road littered with shrapnel but when he talked to a recruit he could talk with authority. Training for all jobs in the military is wonderful and useful. Mine would have made me a great bank guard but I just did not use it correctly. My money has never stayed in a bank long enough to need guarding.
AS you would have enjoyed talking to my uncle. I went to see him when I was in Nam at Cu Chi when I took a three day in-country R&R. We got hit a little while I was there. I went to a bunker with him but refused to share it for long. He had been drinking beer and eating hard boiled eggs and I told him I would lay behind sandbags outside. It was not as dangerous. I might get killed outside. I would damned sure die if I stayed in there with him. He was a grunt for life. When he grunted in that bunker the tracers outside were the better choice.
I will quit yakking now but I had to tell you this story finally. How are you doing?
The cib is important. I can remember vividly when it was considered only the dumbasses joined the infantry. I always hated how we got treated like we were idiots and lowlifes. Now that the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is going on, everyone there who takes some fire is an instant expert in and does everything just like an infantryman. Fuck you all. You want to be in the infantry go to FT. BENNING AND GO THROUGH INFANTRY SCHOOL. UNTIL THEN QUITE FUCKING WHINNING AND WEAR YOUR GODDAMN LITTLE cab.
Thankyou and have a nice combat tour,
the infantry guy.
I come back to this article all the time! I mean, i’ve read other beautiul pieces all my life but for some reason i feel so familiar or attached to this piece!!