Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducimus
Yes i know. What i'm referring to, is they lowered them EVEN FURTHER in the last 5 to 8 years, if you believe that's even possible.
|
Yeah, I know that's possible, hence my argument for a need to change the system.
Quote:
|
I scored an 98 in Mechanical.
|
Outstanding
However, that does not qualify you for a combat role. I think I scored an 88 or something in mechanical.
Quote:
It comes down to this man. We either hire McDonald's to represent our nation, or we reinstate the draft. The people with the mental caliber we'd want to represent us, are either:
a.) Too few in number in terms of who's willing to volunteer.
b.) Joined the Air Force. 
c.) have no interest in serving in the military.
|
You're making my point for me. The problem is that the people who are incentivized by (c) are not being incentivized by the military. Something needs to change. The recruiting pool is not being drawn from the proper source. You may disagree with my proposition that "mercenaries" should be used but we are agreed upon the fact that something is wrong, yes? If you have a better solution I'd be willing to consider it, but given the consistent inefficiency of the US military-industrial complex I am curious as to what miracle cure you might suggest outside privatization.
Quote:
|
For some reason, i find myself furrowing my brow a little at the idea of hiring mercenaries to represent our nation overseas.
|
Naturally. I thought the same way myself at one point. The very term "mercenaries" invokes distrust and suspicion. What happens if they suddenly switch allegiance? However, this is not the case with modern "mercenaries". Today, they are private military corporations. Everything they do is noted not only by the market, but by the governments they serve. Changing sides is bad for business.
What is not bad for business is hiring combat veterans or experienced civilian techs and immediately discarding those who don't live up to expectations. PMCs are judged by results rather than intent. Where the government can unintentionally kill thousands of civilians to no effect, companies like Blackwater are forced to reorganize and even restructure because of a few civilian casualties.