Author Topic: This certainly puts the war into perspective  (Read 357 times)

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Offline Questor

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This certainly puts the war into perspective
« on: May 07, 2009, 04:44:47 AM »
More Marines died in off-duty motorcycle accidents in 2008 than died in Afghanistan and Iraq.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-05-06-soldierriders_N.htm
Safety first

Offline magooch

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Re: This certainly puts the war into perspective
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2009, 04:40:50 AM »
Okay, that does it; motorcycles and ATVs are too dangerous and will have to be outlawed.   
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Offline slim rem 7

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Re: This certainly puts the war into perspective
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2009, 05:30:02 AM »
 good answer .. might not just be funny ..might be the future.. :) :) :)
 im going to put these smiles here as i know im coming off as pretty[ too serious] ,,this morning..slim

Offline Heather

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Re: This certainly puts the war into perspective
« Reply #3 on: May 08, 2009, 06:52:57 AM »
Okay, that does it; motorcycles and ATVs are too dangerous and will have to be outlawed.   

Some already have!  Remember the 100cc's!

Heather
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: This certainly puts the war into perspective
« Reply #4 on: May 08, 2009, 07:15:19 AM »
more Americans die on the road than in war also . Whats the ansewer ? make more war and drive less ?
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Offline teamnelson

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Re: This certainly puts the war into perspective
« Reply #5 on: May 08, 2009, 07:54:08 AM »
To own and operate a motorcycle in the Marine Corps now, you have to request permission through your chain of command, and if granted, attend training, and actively participate in a unit sponsored riding club typically led by an officer or SNCO. And you have to be wearing mandated safety gear even if that exceeds local/state requirements.

What they don't mention is that we suspect many of those fatalities might have been suicide, which is on the rise. And the consistent issue in all suicide attempts, ideation and completion, is relational problems (marriage, divorce, broken family). Congress blocked required pre-marital counseling, and determined its unlawful for the command to intervene in relational matters. So we police around the issues and hope for the best.

Only a fraction deployed to OIF and OEF are exposed to direct or indirect contact with the enemy. Many spend 15 mos. manning a forklift while their marriage of less than a year falls apart, dreaming of that motorcycle they're going to buy with their combat pay.
held fast

Offline Sourdough

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Re: This certainly puts the war into perspective
« Reply #6 on: May 08, 2009, 08:31:18 AM »
I got a motorcycle when I got to my first base.  From that time on I had to jump through hoops every time someone got killed or had a bad accident.  At Lake Meade Base they restricted motorcycles from base for 30 days.  We had to park them at the gate and walk to work from there.  Every time I changed bases I had to go through that bases local motorcycle course, and meet all the requirements to ride my bike there.  Full face helmets, reflective yellow/orange vest, boots, gloves, sometimes leather jackets and pants.  At one base in Arizona we had to wear elbow and knee pads.  They made the requirements so tough many people would just give up and not bother to ride. 

In 1981 the Base Commander tried to hold me responsible when I sold a motorcycle to an airman that went out and got himself killed.  So this is nothing new.  Just old business being rehashed like it is something new.  Because some young men can't handle life situations the commanders want to rule every aspect of their lives. 

Here at Ft Wainwright, if a solder has a concealed carry permit he can not exercise that right.  The post Commander has forbidden his solders to carry concealed period.  One senior NCO gets upset when his wife reminds him she is the one expected to defend the family when off post, she has the gun.  And because of a few accidents involving off duty solders and handguns. The post is requiring any solder that buys a handgun, go to training on that specific gun.  Again lots of wives are buying handguns at the post Sports Store.
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