• dan1101@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    I’m surprised it’s hard to jump into the water, it surrounds the ship and gravity exists. Or was the threat performative? Either way I can’t pretend to know what they are going through. But I also know I like my personal freedom too much to sign up for military service.

    • Olhonestjim@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      It isn’t easy to overcome the desire to live, especially when death chosen is going to be terrifying agony. Jumping overboard is a terrible way to go.

  • Chessmasterrex@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    The lack of sleep was the worst part of the long extended deployment period that I was on. Our work center had like three people doing rotating shifts standing watch, keeping equipment running. I’d be up all night and in the morning we couldn’t go to bed until after quarters and the XOs inspection of berthing, which was like 11am. But then it was lunchtime and after that we couldn’t sleep because of GQ drills in the afternoon. Basically when all that was done and over I had to go back on watch. There would be times I’d be awake for several days straight. When the stars aligned perfectly and I could get 8 hours straight, oh man it was the best sleep I ever had.

    • Olhonestjim@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      Yeah, I barely have memories from that time I was so sleep deprived.

      “You’re gonna reenlist, right? You’re a great sailor! Civilian life sucks, you just don’t even know.”

      “I was a civilian for a decade before I signed up. I know what’s it’s like. You don’t. No, I got the GI Bill now. I’m going to Colorado, to hike deep into the mountains without telling anyone where I’m going, and smoke myself into a coma.”

      And I did.

  • flandish@lemmy.world
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    7 hours ago

    they must be bored as shit they aren’t getting to do the warcrimes they were promised when they volunteered for this.

    • HexadecimalSky@lemmy.world
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      2 hours ago

      We can bash the inhuman agenda thre U.S. Federal government is pushing and we can implore soldiers not to follow any unlawful orders they are given while knowing there are many soldiers, especially on these navy vessels that didn’t volunteer for this, dont want to be there, and have no recourse.

      Americans had trouble separating Vietnam veterans and the government, lets not shun tired, traumatized young soldiers whose only fault was joing the military (wich many do to get out of bad life situations) and not wanting to die.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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        2 minutes ago

        we can implore soldiers not to follow any unlawful orders they are given

        :-/

        I’m not giving my own online pleas for civility much of a chance against a screaming sergeant locking you in for three months of boot camp. Nevermind the downright satanic hazing rituals that Navy Seals and Green Berrets put you through.

        The military as an institution exists to burn the humanity out of it’s people. If you join, you’re signing up to do crimes, whether you realize it or not.

      • flandish@lemmy.world
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        27 minutes ago

        bad life situations

        some of which caused by a system designed to keep them in those situations and oh look, today at lunch in high school we get pizza and an army recruiter.

        yes, these are indeed “kidnapped” or “brainwashed” kids doing war crimes, for sure. and they need help getting out.

        but. the guy on his 2nd tour who then becomes a small town cop because he never saw “the shit” and walks the beat pretending everyone in his new england town is secretly a terrorist… he can fuck right off.

      • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
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        36 minutes ago

        Seriously. Anytime anyone even tries to, “thank me for my service,” I stop them cold. I tell them the truth. “I didn’t join to serve. I joined up for the same reason that 90% of us joined up. It was the least shitty option of a few terrible options, and paid for my college.”

  • radiofreebc@lemmy.world
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    18 hours ago

    I worked on an empty, out of service cruise ship during COVID and was stuck onboard for 195 days at sea. There were only 95 other crew members onboard…and only 3 women. I was the only native English speaking crew member. I’m still fucked up from the isolation.

  • wheezy@lemmy.ml
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    18 hours ago

    Good. Not for the soldiers. I’m not trying to be an edgy leftist. But, this war will not end until Americans feel some personal loss or material impact to demand it end. So I’m not saying “good” to soldiers losing their minds. I’m saying it’s good that Americans read about their soldiers losing their minds.

    That war ends either through its ruling class being impacted by a stock market crash; or the working class being impacted by its death and material consequences and demanding change in meaningful ways.

    I wish it wasn’t the case. But there is a reason that they stopped showing flag draped coffins coming home during the Iraq war. They want you to forget about it and accept the gas prices as the new normal and the only impact on your life.

    They know Americans won’t do anything for another “dead Gaza baby”. But they know even the most right wing Trump supporter can only handle so many dead troops.

    Unfortunately, things will have to get much worse for Americans to demand an end to this war in any meaningful numbers. Or it’s ruling class can no longer milk profits from it and pull out leaving the mess they made behind. The later, unfortunately, being what will actually end it.

    • FoxtrotDeltaTango@sh.itjust.works
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      12 hours ago

      Honestly it will take a lot including oil costing more than $200 dollars a barrel

      Maybe if oil costs $2028 dollars a barrel, a depression and recession and mass famine and hyperinflation and mass unemployment

      Also I recommend the eyes left podcast

  • SecretSauces@lemmy.world
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    17 hours ago

    I remember when I served and thought 9-month deployments were too long. That included port visits.

    9 months out without ever seeing land is cruel and unusual punishment. Especially in the heat of the Gulf.

    • mx_smith@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      Yeah I remember Desert Storm when we were out to sea over 100 days they would have a party and break out the beer, 2 cans per sailor. It was a nice gesture since being out to sea without hitting a port for that long really messes with you mentally.

    • fake@sh.itjust.works
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      12 hours ago

      Last port call was Guam, which it left 12th December 2025. So now up to 244+ days at sea, absolutely insane and inhumane. Previous longest was like 206ish. Could be another couple of months yet as Roosevelt hasn’t even sailed to relieve it. Could hit 300+ days at sea yet.

    • Grimy@lemmy.world
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      20 hours ago

      Theres a paywall (or well making an account, idk if you have to pay). Blocking JavaScript with ublock works though.