Okay, so there are a few million who served the United States in the military. And I'm willing to bet that at least a fourth of the aforementioned that served in the US Navy. For those of you who have served the Navy, I offer a disclaimer before I set about freeing the myths and fantasy about being a sailor: I'm not your average squid, so don't bleed your hearts and say, "the Navy made who I am today", because I don't care. Be proud of yourself, and what you do and where you come from. That is a beautiful thing. But this is my opinion.

For those of you who 'support our troops', you are thought of and thanked by many a sailor and soldier, zoomie and tree monkey, swabbie and jarhead. But do you have any idea what life is like in the Navy, and what you are supporting? Do you know that you should be thanking those from a previous era instead? We have it easy in many aspects these days, so our fathers and grandfathers say over and over, but do you know what would make it easier for your beloved armed forces? How about I make it simple and stick to the Navy side of it. Here's a list:

Did you know that when I want a hammer, I save the Navy a hundred dollars if I buy my own from a garage sale?
Did you know that if I screw up a procedure when troubleshooting electronics, and my ineptitude and laziness shorts a circuit board, it costs anywhere from $12,000 to $80,000, and all I have to say is, "It was defective, chief." And I think I have a few thousand circuit boards to keep track of and maintain.
Did you know that a platform that I work with was 'experimental' and cost millions upon millions of dollars, and was entirely defective, but by the time somebody came to help fix it, the next generation came out already, and we had to work night and day simply to get a response out of that piece of crap? And it cannot do what it was supposed to do...I know, I have seen it with my own eyes. Wasted your tax dollars, that's for sure.
Did you know that they tell sailors that they're going on a 6-month cruise, and then bring them back after 11 months, and then the sailors find their spouses gone, their children too, and there is nothing they can do but tell their wives that 'next time won't be as long, honey'.
Did you know that I have friends living in Navy housing that is carcinogenic, painted with lead chipped paint, and insulated with asbestos, and dates to WWII?
Did you know I have friends that apply for food stamps, and they have put in a few years into their service?
Did you know that the Navy has a HUGE alcohol problem, and funds the city I live in with hundreds of DUI fines and causes many deaths?
Did you know the effects a Navy warship's sonar and radar have on wildlife, much less human life?

I can go on and on about the arcane logic of the UCMJ, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (military 'law'), or how Lockheed-Martin makes a killing in parts and contracts, or how the turnover of sailors could be slowed with simple amenities in life. I could also spend my time writing about the good things the Navy has to offer, but I figure they do that well enough for themselves when they promote how 'environmentally friendly' they are, or how they are 'family helpers', or how they 'turn you into a ball of discipline and honor'. But I think its time that somebody really recognizes that what you support is crooked and could be fixed.

As with the teachers of our children, your military sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, they are underpaid and overworked, and underappreciated by those they work for (so what else is new, right?). Your hard-earned tax dollars, they go to things like research, deployments, logistics, development, contractors, war. They don't go to the people that are the cogs in the mighty money-sucking machine. And, as we put more of a strain on that budget, the bases close, the hiring slows, and the jobs are given to contractors, but the spending increases! Where does it go? Do you care? Do you mind that I spend over a hundred dollars ordering a stupid hammer that I could easily take home and 'misplace' and let somebody else order another one? Do you mind that I operate sonar, powerful enough to boil water, and used to kill enemy divers in the water (much less royally screw up marine life). Do you mind that after I've worked for three days with no sleep I zap a $50,000 simple logic board and order another one? Does it bother you that the simple logic board should cost a couple hundred dollars, or does it bother you that I would have to work on energized equipment when on three days of sleeplessness? Does it bother you that when people make mistakes on the behalf of the Navy, their superiors can slap them with charges from the UCMJ with a catch-all that ensures that they'll lose? And their career is finished, because in the Navy, you are guilty until proven innocent.

Does it sound like I'm angry? No. I'm a realist. It's time for you to be one as well. So, the next time you decide to say, 'I support our troops', write a letter to a senator or state representative, read a scholarly article on the dangers of our equipment, donate time and/or money to morale and welfare, send a package, educate yourself. And let the tech companies that suck your tax dollars dry know how much that pisses you off, because that money can help our children, ailing elderly, educators, and arts.

I signed on and did my duty with pride. I'm now finishing my service in a couple of weeks, and I have a right to criticize because I have been there. Mostly I write this to alleviate my stress, while at the same time be productive and informative and let the general public know that your military leaders are wasting your work days, and straying away from your beloved troops. I myself donate my $110/mo. of hazardous duty pay as a testament to the ridiculousness of the Navy. I can't be bought off for putting myself into harm's way, especially as cheap as that. I do it for the same reason everybody else does: to make a difference. Just like you.

My thoughts are still with those at war, and those at sea, and those that have passed before us with the intention of making a difference in this world. Thanks for your time.