I have been guilty of using the term "warrior" for our troops properly focused on fighting rather than distractions. But even when you advocate for a "warrior" mindset don't become confused and get literal about this rather than wanting well-trained and -equipped soldiers.
Troops can get led astray in their mindset when leadership has substitutes for victory. So I like the efforts to purge such politicized cabinet meeting flag officers and general officers (FOGOS) in favor of having senior generals and admirals focused on winning on the battlefield.
But don't get confused and think we want or need actual warriors:
I really hate it when I see our military calling its service members "warriors". My understanding is that troops are superior to warriors because troops operate as a coherent fighting machine in contrast to warriors who fight as individuals--no matter how good a fighter each warrior might be. I want troops.
There are consequences when our soldiers--especially our officers--forget they are soldiers. They become confused that they are civilians in uniform free to exercise the rights they protect for civilians. This means that being a soldier is no longer their highest priority.
They are not soldiers. Maybe they are warriors for whatever political tribe they have joined. But they are not soldiers. And a military rots from the FOGOs down.
Mind you, I was a REMF. A reservist REMF. So I'm not pretending that I'm a snake-eater. I was no warrior. I hope I was a good soldier. But my point is still correct.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
NOTE: You may also like to read my posts on Substack, at The Dignified Rant: Evolved. Go ahead and subscribe to it. You know you want to.
NOTE: I made the image with Bing.
