You'd complain too, if you were a soldier

Brigitte Pellerin, Ottawa Citizen, 18 Jul 06

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Excuse me for scratching week-old sores. But there's one

thing in the hullabaloo surrounding the death of Cpl. Anthony Boneca

in Afghanistan that didn't get the attention it deserves. It's the

usefulness of bitching in a military context.

I have no desire to rehash the most unpleasant aspects of this

story. Each death is a tragedy and each service member's willingness

to fight abroad ought to be admired and appreciated -- not just once

a year but every day of the week. I will simply note that the glee

with which certain people who work in my business jumped on a few

comments suggesting that Cpl. Boneca's mood was at times a little

less than sunny doesn't reflect well on them.

Much has been made of the possibility that Cpl. Boneca wasn't happy

with the day-to-day grind in Afghanistan. That he was getting tired

and was looking forward to coming home is entirely understandable.

Think you're suffering from the latest heat wave? Pfft. Imagine

having to wear heavy equipment -- including a helmet whose weight

magically increases as the day advances -- and carry all sorts of

stuff like a rifle, ammunition, food and water on long patrols in a

horrifyingly sticky environment (average high in Kandahar this time

of year: about 40 degrees) where you know the enemy is itching to

take a shot at you. I got plenty hot and sore just accompanying

reservists on an exercise at Petawawa for three days last summer,

without carrying a rifle and definitely without anyone maybe

shooting me or blowing me up.

Even under the best circumstances, combat zones are pretty

stressful, dangerous and uncomfortable. Add in other complaints like

missing your family, being very sick of military rations, missing

your bed, regular hot showers and other private facilities, longing

to knock back a few cold beers on a peaceful no-one-shooting-at-you

Canadian patio, and discovering the base's Tim Hortons has run out

of doughnuts, and things get a little gruesome. Then on top of that

add inadequate equipment, officers and crusty NCOs who are

themselves suffering the same deprivations, unclear political

direction and support, and endless planning that ends up derailed by

the predictable interference of unpredictable developments, and yes,

one might just possibly feel like letting off some steam.

I've been on a couple of exercises with army reservists. Such

things are deliberately made aggravating to prepare soldiers for the

unpredictability, cruel lack of sleep and other unpleasant aspects

of real operations. It frequently rains, too, unless it's too cold.

And even expecting a lot of griping and salty language, I was still

impressed by the frequency and versatility with which these guys

used a certain four-letter word. I'm told it's like that in other

branches. As a former naval officer wrote on the Daimnation! blog

(damianpenny.com), "The motto in the Navy was 'when the sailors stop

complaining, THEN we have to be worried.' "

Retired major-general Lewis Mac Kenzie made a similar point last

week. "It would increase the tragedy of Cpl. Boneca's sacrifice," he

wrote, "if he's portrayed as a disgruntled and disloyal soldier. He

was not. He volunteered to serve in Afghanistan. He saw what was

happening around him when he got there and

didn't like some of what he saw. That certainly didn't make him

unique. When soldiers stop questioning and commenting to those close

to them, we are in trouble."

Indeed. The military is not for the faint of heart. These guys

spend their lives training for and working in life-and-death

situations way too scary for most of us, so it's only natural that

they should gripe and bitch and swear a lot. Plus the complaining is

healthy; not only does it help soldiers get through the toughest

bits, it also means they can criticize the way things are done

without fear of undue retribution. Remember the guy who harangued

U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld about the lack of

sufficient armour when he was visiting Iraq way back when? Think

Iranian or Syrian soldiers talk to their superiors that way? Or dare

to complain about them out loud?

We don't have to delight in the swearing and complaining in the

Armed Forces. But we ought to respect it, because it's an integral

part of every free nation's military. We should especially refrain

from questioning and second-guessing the guys and gals who are brave

enough to put their lives on the line for us even if we occasionally

hear them cuss or moan.

We should thank them instead, and honour their memories.