European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 23, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse A Quot. A v a a a a. A amps eff Bathon staff sgt. Brian Roberson sgt. Douglas Fernandez and staff sgt. Linda Berry All stationed in Kaiserslautern Germany and members of the sgt. Morales club an army honorary leadership tall the real Man stands in the military the stars and stripes pulled out a real Man yardstick to see How our service peo pie measure up. We found the military people we talked to lightly amused at the concept but sincere in their answers. Most were confident individual thinkers. They had left Home sworn their allegiance survived the trials of initial training and expressed Pride in being among the worlds most highly trained warriors. Most called their work a Job some juggled family commitments with military ones. Some were women. All were enlisted. They ranged from infantry to lab technicians to clerks. Most said their accomplishments and personal satisfaction outweighed what they might have been had they taken civilian jobs in their hometowns. One said that the army rank Structure could be inhibiting As Well As character building. A the army is rank structured. You can be 30 years old and a private but it treats you like a child a said one female expert Marksman. Although he did no to feel particularly grateful to the organization one army specialist conceded that if it had not been for the army a a in a. Probably be behind a Quot. A most agreed that the military had presented them with challenges and when they met them and came out on the other Side they were stronger. The Struc tured environment pulled them along. Active duty gave them doors that they themselves reached Over and opened. Basic training or first duty assignments were most mentioned As a rites of initiation. They were also the playing Fields where one person was a knocked Down to ground Zero a discovered his self Worth and became part of a team. Some pointed out that the a dog kick dog attitude that exists in the civilian corporate world May show More of the untamed Warrior spirit than that of the military professionals a disciplined Many like sgt. Julie Lumpkins said they were doing better than if they had taken civilian jobs Back Home. She works As an executive administrative assistant for a lieutenant colonel at v corps special troop 3n in Frankfurt Germany. A compared to my friends in be moved at least 10 times All around the world. I go Home and some of the same people Are in the same neighbourhood looking at the same jobs. And i would be bored to death a she said. Twenty year old spec. Brandon Harper in the same unit agreed saying a i did no to travel much when i was a child. Then just to pick up one Day and go 4,000 Miles across the water away from my family that was a growing up Harper from Goldsboro n.c., said a the army kind of gives you this rope to either hang yourself or not. They give you Money they give you the Opportunity to pay on credit. You be got to pay Bills. You done to always have that responsibility at 20 years old. You be got responsibilities. You be got to come to work. If you done to you re going to suffer severe track vehicle Mechanic pfc. Gordon Michaud said that he got off to a Rocky Start. He had a love hate relationship with his Drill sergeant. A to amazed that that e-7 who i will never see again helped me through a hard time and taught me to Deal with he still hears the crusty a co swords a a you re in the army now. You re supposed to be grown said Michaud a the made me drive for something that i did no to feel i could do. By the time that i finished Basic training i realized that it Wasny tas hard As i thought it since the persian Gulf War the realities of duty and Mission Are always on their minds the soldiers said. Spec. Angie White with the corps Headquarters company said take any Soldier a sitting Here planning on partying this weekend but tomorrow night he could be on a plane to Somalia. It can happen and it slaps you around and makes you military people take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Somewhere Short of that end it Means following their sergeant commander and commander in chief. Michaud 20, who hails from Iron Mountain mich., says he takes allegiance to the military a Mission seriously. He volunteered to join the . Peacekeeping Effort in War Frozen Bosnia. Although that request was not granted he said that volunteering made him feel better about himself. A i done to plan to make the military a career but someday i can Tell my grandchildren a i was a sgt. 1st class John Auzenne 37, from Leonville la., said the cos Are the mentors of the military and they make you a find out what a inside the 21st theater army area come Soldier says that Basic is not the Only hurdle in the military that can give you a member of the services honorary leadership a amps Effie Bathon Welcome to the gender unspecific army. Club the sgt. Morales club Auzenne recalls standing before a Board of a half dozen command sergeants major a it collectively More than 100 years of military experience. It was a test of mind and Mettle. Passing the Board required a unanimous vote. A Soldier is willing to die for his country said Michaud. A a that a our Job to be Brave. You signed up to die for your country. If you were Brave enough to sign the paperwork you re Brave enough to go and do what you Are told if you Are a Coward to a begin with done to come in. I done to want to Quot go into Battle with a Coward that a going to leave me stranded. There a no room for it in the Michaud said he saw a program on the real Man movement on 60 might take More of a Man to talk about his feelings a he said. But he added a i thought for some Guys to go out and run around in the Woods beating their chests was idiot 1c.�?�. A a. A a a f a a Are the women in the military real men too according to Michaud a a Soldier is a Soldier. You Are both trained to do a Job and that s the Way it a Effie Bathe the unreal Man various v corps soldiers were asked a who is less than a real Man Quot their answers a a liar. A real Man is honest and forthright. He has nothing to hide. If he believes in something he Speaks his mind. A someone who would rape someone or molest a child. A real Man respects other people and their sexuality. A a male who thinks that women do not count. A real Man accords re pet to the thoughts and opinions of women As Well As men. A someone who lets others bother his family. A real Man does not allow others to step within his boundaries a causing harm to his interests or his person. A real Man defends and protects them. A a a a boy who runs from creating a baby. It takes a Man to be a father. A real Man accepts responsibility for his actions and their consequences. January 23, 1994 sunday Page 5
