What I did vs. what I wanted to do.

[Erisianmonkey]

My karma is clear. I walked away from the temptation and the confrontation. What I plan on doing tomorrow is going to talk to the Army recruiter on campus tomorrow after I get done with class. Chances are good he knows all the JROTC instructors in the area. I don't plan on reporting the comment, I'll let the young man's karma take care of him. But I do think that the multitude of uniform violations displayed by this young man might be a sign of a deeper problem. His collar rank insignia was upside down for cryin' out loud. I find it hard to believe that he turned them upside down just to go out with his friends.

One of the reasons this is so important to me is that my high school did not have a JROTC. I joined CAP as a cadet and had to travel over 50 miles one way for squad meetings, work my tail off to balance that with other extracurricular activities and a job, and buy my own uniforms because I was too big for what they were able to get in. In all that I took the time to make damn sure any time I was in my uniform that I was properly in uniform. My shoes were the proper type, always shined, my tie was neat, my hair was correct, and I took pride in my appearance and the fact that I was wearing my country's uniform.

I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the majority of my family and ancestry and join the service. (Air Force, preferably, as that is what my father and most of my uncles had done.) I couldn't because of my health. If I had been able to join, I would still be in now, as that is the career I had wanted since watching my dad's C-141 taking off when I was about three years old. I have a great deal of respect for the armed forces, and hate to see them insulted by anyone. But by someone thumbing his nose at a chance I never had?
I'm really hoping that my discussion with the recruiting office on campus tomorrow will result in a uniform crackdown.

[ccga3359]

All the power to you Brother.