Many nations in the Pacific and elsewhere appreciate that some gray ships show up off their coasts, do their business, then leave. No need for a base full of dependapotami and ugly Anericans taking up prime real estate, creating noise pollution, and attracting sex traffickers. ;)

Considering you claimed to have invented Distributed Operations I would think you’re familiar with OMFTS and STOM which counters everything you say about carriers and your belief in Chair Force superiority. The truth is there is a reason for all the elements of combat power we can project around the world.

And the Chair Force always builds the nicest biggest bases (golf courses first).

I was a lifer Marine so know what you mean and what others are not comprehending. I think as far as infantry is concerned we should speak purely from a combat effectiveness standpoint. Can they physically carry the loads, hike the miles, perform squad assaults as well? If so then fine. The rest is purely disciplinary…

After watching Zero Motivation I wouldn’t put much faith in the Caracal Bn.

You’ve watched this too many times.

Gen Bloomer was also very deeply engaged in competing interests involved with the reuse of El Toro. It was a beautiful base and the scandals involved with the BRAC and all the different proposals and money invested since can make a book of its own. I grew up in Irvine and Tustin El Toro was my first duty station.

The lettuce in the salad gets a little dicey though. But after a month you rate the near beer and steel beach? ;)

I think that was only Robert Shaw in the movie but it’s still a good story considering the efforts the US put to getting their front line troops morale builders like cake or ice cream.

They reverse engineered HMMWVs a while ago. Guess they don’t want to copy the JLTV

I’m going to have to dig out my old paperback but there is a passage talking specifically about the federation finding any kind of job like testing cold weather clothing as an alternative to military work. At least that’s the way I read it. It’s funny I guess despite the lack of “action” scenes maybe I have to admit…

I still call it liquid paper. The young kids didn’t know what I meant. Just supporting Michael Nesmith’s mom!

Robert Graves! Yes. I have to admit that both Goodbye and PJ Caputo’s Rumor of War were very influential to me.

I think Vonnegut’s thoughts on the military were more complex. From some interviews he did and his kinship with James Jones, Joseph Heller, etc I get the impression he was still proud of his service as a soldier. When you look at all of his works they are almost all tied back to his experiences in WW2. I recall an…

Hmm. Could be but that takes some assumptions about what he was envisioning in his Federation. Since its apparent that many choose not to serve as Rico’s parents urge him to do then there must be a whole other “civvie” sector of society that is outside of the war machine. Perhaps the civvies are merely the Schindler…

I would concur except I think it’s noted that while on active duty the Terran troops can not vote. The French called this le grande muette meaning the army was a mute force in not having any vote in politics.

Also people don’t notice the Mobile Infantry are a meritocracy free of racism and sexism. Rico is after all a Filipino! How many books written back then would’ve thought of that?

Bravo Zulu! The knee jerk gawker reaction to Starship Troopers seems to miss it all.

Switzerland requires military service of their citizens. Are they fascists? I was a career military man so maybe I have a different reading of the camaraderie aspects that Heinlein highlights.