[SoldierNurse]

precedent n: something said or done that may serve to justify further words or acts of the same or similar kind

I truly hope, for the sake of strength in our US Armed Forces the proper precedent is set from the outcome of 2LT Watada's trial... based solely on his missing moving/refusing a lawful order to deploy with his Unit.

I don't know all the facts, nor do I know 2LT Watada. I do know young men & women are training right now at the same military installation from which that lieutenant is assigned. The same military installation where my son completed Warrior Forge last summer, as well as where I'm presently assigned to patch up the critically ill.

I don't know exactly the premise on which 2LT Watada claims justifies his right to choose Afganistan, but refused deployment with his Unit to Iraq. I do know as a Company Grade Officer one does not have the right to refuse deployment. I hope that 2LT Watada is not abusing his moral dispensation bestowed upon all those that take the officer's oath. The significant difference between the officer's oath & enlisted oath is the omission of the promise to obey in the officer's oath.

However, officers [under the UCMJ] are legally bound to obey as are enlisted. Officers are entrusted with the enormous responsibility of knowing when not to obey... for the betterment of his Soldier's, rather than for personal gain. Officers are expected to make sound judgments, which in some cases [rarely] requires not obeying orders that are not in the best interest of the Army at that moment. IMHO, his refusal to deploy to Iraq was NOT based on the betterment of the Army, but for his personal safety and fear. Yet, again I don't know this person. I do know officers cannot inflexibly follow rules for their own sake, especially using the banner of this war is wrong.

I cannot choose the CSH to which I wish to deploy with OCONUS. For that matter, I cannot refuse to give treatment to a detainee. This would be chaos if the military started to cater [supply what is wanted] to Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, etc. in fear of losing cooperation. Due to the special moral expectation and authority, officer's personal & professional conduct must remain above disgrace.

IMHO, it is disgrace for an officer [especially Company Grade] to abuse their moral authority and must never forget they are still legally & morally held accountable for their actions. Second Lieutenant Watada's commanding officer had no alternative but to bring up charges based on the UCMJ.

In this time of GWOT, I say no thank you 2LT Watada and pray the wrong precedent is not set when this is all said & done.

[badphish]

i agree. as a former NCO i find this kind of behavior in an officer deplorable. as far as i know its a volunteer army. he was not drafted. he should have known what he was getting into. i remember when we all were sat down in the kaserne theater in germany and told we were on alert for Desert Storm how many cried out and complained they had just signed up for the college money. many of my own medics were not happy at all about going to war but we went. we did have a coook that missed movement and she was courtmartialed and sent home after we all returned from iraq.


i was on an unaccompanied tour in germany due to my father in law being terminally ill and was not at all sympathetic wth thoise that were complaining they would be wthout their spouses.

i do not support this war at all. i feel we lied to by an administration that wanted to get saddam long b4 911 and made an exscuse for war when americas emotions were high.

but if i was still in and was called up i would go. because that is my job.

i just wish we could throw rumsfewld and cheney, and scooter and george w into sum soft shell hummvees and have them patrol down town baghdad for a tour or two.

peace out,

brett

[SoldierNurse]

I found out yesterday I'm going to Iraq for 12 months. I'll be with the 31st CSH, but I will meet up with them in theater after they are in Iraq. I leave Fort Lewis, WA, March 22nd for either Fort Bliss, TX, or Fort Benning, GA, for in-processing, then to Iraq. I'll find out more info soon.

After 12 months in Iraq, I'll eventually come back to Fort Lewis. My wife will stay at Fort Lewis and continue working as an Army Civilian [GS Nurse] at Madigan Army Medical Center.

Bottom-line... proud to be an Army Nurse home & abroad.

[cassioo]

one of my favorite docs (anesthesia) is deployed right now till the end of April I'll have to find out where he is and which unit he's with and let you know.

I really hope things are over soon but am afraid they won't be and really think things in the middle east will continue as they have for years in the long run