No sex? Permission to speak freely, Sir. (West Point memoir by Laura Cannon)

Washington Post ^ | 11-23-12 | Laura Cannon

[dynachrome]

What would I do if I were in charge? I’d abolish General Order No. 1. Keep the rules that protect soldiers from sexual harassment. But allow deployed officers and troops to have sex while at war. West Point should come to its senses as well.

West Pointers and other military service members endure tremendous sacrifices. We appreciate the adoration and respect we receive. In that same spirit, I ask the public to accept and forgive our weaknesses. It’s okay to be disappointed, but please don’t be misled. Beneath the heavy combat gear and impressive uniform, we’re human, just like you.

warvirgin@gmail.com

[oldenuff2no]

Two things here.
First
I know that some men do, voluntarily, refrain from active participation in fraternizing with any women while on active military duty.

I’m retired military and I have never seen a single person in the military swear off sex for the time of their enlistment, not on ever.

Second.

The lifestyle of the military combat troops, when not in on duty or in combat, is one of “party hard today for tomorrow may never come.” It has been that way for a very long time and they are still the best in the world.

People really should not make posts when they are void of real and true information. This notion that they are all sitting around a tent or bunker waiting to put their boots back on is laughable. They are human, young and in their prime. What they do is the same as any other young humans.

[Lancey Howard]

Laura "War Virgin" Cannon is a stand up comedian.

[IslamE]

So true, child sacrifice is rampant, I’m afraid all those babies that were aborted were actually sacrificed by the elites to usher in something truly horrible, and I’m afraid it’s here, ascended from the depths of hell, an unspeakable evil that preys on immorality and those who hate God! The Spaniards were the comeuppance for the Aztec’s human sacrifice, I’m afraid ours will be much worse!

[Persevero]

“People really should not make posts when they are void of real and true information. This notion that they are all sitting around a tent or bunker waiting to put their boots back on is laughable. They are human, young and in their prime. What they do is the same as any other young humans.”

I am not under the delusion that no one in the military has sex.

Many of them are married, anyway, right?

I recall that the government issues condoms to the men, do they not?

But I do think adultery is punished, and that soldiers doing each other is really, really bad for combat readiness.

No reason to assume I don’t know what I’m talking about.

[oldenuff2no]

No they do not issue condoms to the men. The men buy them at the PX.
Yes many of the men are married and their wives are not all that faithful much of the time. They too are young and in great shape and in their prime and doing what young ladies also do. The highest divorce rate that I know of is in military marriages. The first time I ever saw a swingers party that I actually knew what it was was in a base housing area. By far it was not the last one I saw while there. Sex happens all the time on military instillation's. And sex happens all the time when the men and Ladies are deployed.

[oldenuff2no]

No they do not issue condoms to the men. The men buy them at the PX.
Yes many of the men are married and their wives are not all that faithful much of the time. They too are young and in great shape and in their prime and doing what young ladies also do. The highest divorce rate that I know of is in military marriages. The first time I ever saw a swingers party that I actually knew what it was was in a base housing area. By far it was not the last one I saw while there. Sex happens all the time on military instillation's. And sex happens all the time when the men and Ladies are deployed.

[Persevero]

“No they do not issue condoms to the men.”

I seem to remember them being issued to soldiers overseas in WW2, according to a documentary I saw. Perhaps it was in error.

[onedoug]

“We will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do.”

Honor Code, eh?

[Just another Joe]

I’m retired military and I have never seen a single person in the military swear off sex for the time of their enlistment, not on ever.

I think this comment should have been posted to me as I was the one that posted the thought you commented on.

First, thank you for your service. I didn't retire from the military but I did serve.
Second, I assure you that while in the Navy I did know several men that did not have sex with anyone else. At least not while we were serving on the same ship.
I knew these men well. They were God fearing Christian men who were not married yet and were waiting for marriage before having sex.

I do not pretend that I was one of these men.

[oldenuff2no]

I”ll grant you this “several men” number. Now we are at a few men in a million and that is supposed to represent the norm? That doesn't work for a third grader doing the math. It did not even set the norm on your ship. These are inconsequential numbers and are most defiantly not the normal conduct of our military personnel.

[Just another Joe]

I didn't say it was supposed to represent the norm.
If you had read any of my other posts you would see that I, basically, agree with you.
Males and females should not be serving together in combat, or even in a situation where combat might occur.