If you were a military leader could you send troops into harm's way knowing that ur gonna see the outcome of ur decision on the battlefield?

[DrPepper12]

Updates

1 y

I give all a lot of credit especially those with military experience or come from military families. For all of you who said that that's their voluntary job as well as the fact that they are personnel assets to be used for the purpose of the mission I agree with all of that I'm just not sure that I could be that military leader. TY

[normalice]

For all the training, a soldier is the tool not the work. Its important to keep your tools cleaned and maintained but that doesn't mean dispoability is always avoidable. A leader's job is to find the minimum risk for maximum benefit. The only zero risk task there is in war is to just let the greedy fascists have everything. And that only ever purchases a temporary peace.

Standing up to any bully will always be risky. The best you can do is trust that your soldiers take their oaths seriously and make sure they trust you to understand that while their lives are not the top priority they are 2nd only to the mission. The best soldiers generally understand it can interfere with the mission for them to know too much about the risks and purpose - marines even have a saying "first to go, last to know" to capture this sentiment. The leader's job is to ensure that if lives are to be spent then they better be damn sure they are spent to win. To most people, "you might die and you might win" is not the same thing as saying "you will die and you will win." But to a good soldier these are the same thing. And if they survive their whole career then they should feel lucky.

Of course that's all in theory. These days there isn't really a "battlefield" anymore. There is as much risk of an enemy attack while working in a schoolhouse as their is operating a tank. More, even, as our enemies are well aware the safest way to hurt us is to attack well away from where our weapons are. So, soldiers today have a higher rate of survival than our commercial truck drivers. It's only ever elite forces that take any significant risk. As for if I could command such a force? It depends on the mission. If I'm convinced it is the best way to win a battle that needs to be won, sure. But if the mission is just to secure more oil reserves, nah.

[Dargil]

Every combat Commander did. I am descended from one. I would do that but try to minimize casualties. Be sure they are trained, equipped well fed and rested.

[DrPepper12]

I couldnt handle the pressure. Id be total analysis paralysis here

[Agape93]

Yeah. They signed up for this, so I'm gonna use em how I need em.

[Tomisworthless]

Your mental health may not be the best for risking others lives

[Agape93]

Didn't ask for your opinion, Tom. Fuck off

[Agape93]

How witty. Now fuck off

[Anonymous]

Isn't that their job?

[Opinion Owner]

I come from a military family. Generations back. I wanted to join the coast guard to fly or fly in helicopters. I was willing to join and accept responsibility handed to me. That's what you do when you want to serve your country.

[AviatorTom]

I'm really not cut out to be a military leader. But if I was one, qualified for the job, I would do that. That's what military leaders are trained to do.

[exitseven]

I guess I would have to since that is part of the job.

[NathanDavis]

if it helps the "better" cause... I'll die with them, at the front...

[Pterodon]

As a vet yes but it would be hard and I’d carry it with me the rest of my life

[Juxtapose]

Yes, they signed up for it.

[robocop666]

thats the job