The Broken Soldier

Sarah sent me the link below earlier today:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351994,00.html

The title of the article pretty much gives away the ending, and there’s not a lot more to discuss.  However, the explanation offered, while certainly part of the problem, isn’t the whole of it.  Another part, to be sure, is something I’ve warned the military and federal/state governments of since this site’s inception.  While there are people willing to serve during a time of seeming unending war, even in a time in which the government clearly has difficulty keeping its promises to its service members, eventually the quality of those choosing enlistment will suffer.  Aside from those sufficiently patriotic to serve under almost any condition (the kind of person I used to be), a very small minority I’d wager, most agreeing to risk their lives to meet their legal obligations to serve their government’s interests expect their government to meet its legal obligations too.

One need not possess a fatidic gift or a sociological Farmer’s Almanac to predict a bumper crop of felons replenishing strained lines should the government not learn from and correct its erred ways.  The government is reaping what it has sown.

(Addendumb: To avoid confusion, though I think my meaning is clear, I am in no way denigrating the sacrifice or commitment of those presently serving.  I am technically still serving.  My point is this: Military benefits relative to risk aren’t great to begin with.  When those benefits don’t flow as freely as they should, the government will find it difficult to attract high quality recruits.)