we certainly do have our faults but after working with some of the world's other armies, it's hard not to notice the quality of the American soldier.

-DA 

I'm really not on a crusade. Was lead to this story in CBCnews.

One section really caught my eye.

"On my second tour in Afghanistan in 2005, I didn't work with U.S. forces as much as I did other NATO troops and I quickly realized that I missed the professionalism that the Americans bring to the table.

On a couple of occasions, for example, soldiers from other nations were caught sleeping in the guard towers overlooking Camp Julian. Doesn't give you a warm and fuzzy feeling when the people guarding you are sleeping on the job."

Maybe its all that Ramboesque, crazy assed, shoot everything in sight attitude of the US soldier that at the very least enables them to stay awake while on guard duty. (end sarcasm)

*

This should not be a surprise, As a Canadian solier myself I have been working with NATO troops since I was first stationed to Germany in '89. A lot of the euro's look upon the Cdn as a American, this pissed a lot of us off. That being said we also had a bond with the US as fellow North Americans. We preferred to work alondside the US due to the commonality of language and other social issues/values. Nowadays in Afghanistan it is still the same, in my observations and experiance we (US/CAN) are about the only ones willing to pay the price to get the job done. Many's the time where we had deployed with QRF to support US in need and the same can be said in the reverse. In Kandahar air base you got more NATO troops that you can shake a stick at, but that's all it is, they won't leave KAF (cowards) Nieghbors often bitch at each other but still have bbq's and beer on sunday, and look after one anothers place if they're gone on holiday, the respect IS there. 

 

The American military is often unfairly lumped in with the average American in general, which is hugely inaccurate.

 

And where do you think the ?average American General? comes from?  And what do you mean by that remark anyway?  Funny, the average American General has been fairly successful, don?t you think?  Or what is the standard of comparison, who is the baseline to which you?d compare ?the average American General??  Who IS the ?average American General?? And what are his/her flaws, in comparison to the average NON-American General?

my bad, so let me now add,

"HUH" Redux...

 

 

So Ok, Huh Redux, redux?as an "average" American would Basin care to tell me where the average American soldier comes from, if not from America, populated by us average Americans? And would Basin care to explain what is "wrong" with the Average American? And what is his/her baseline for comparison? I think the "average American" stacks up rather nicely with the "average (insert nationality here)". But I await an explication?.  I apologize if this was a mere tongue-in-cheek comment which I have misinterpreted.

 

 
The American military is often unfairly lumped in with the average American in general, which is hugely inaccurate.

 

And where do you think the ?average American General? comes from? 
And what do you mean by that remark anyway?  Funny, the average American General has been fairly successful, don?t you think?  Or what is the standard of comparison, who is the baseline to which you?d compare ?the average American General??  Who IS the ?average American General?? And what are his/her flaws, in comparison to the average NON-American General?                                                                                 

He didnt say average American general but rather average American *in* general. I'd like to know what is wrong with the *average* American myself? Personally, I'd rather be an *average* American then any one of these other nations peoples. Lucky me, I just so happen to be one of those *average* Americans!!

Come now, boys.  We know exactly what they are talking about.  The Americans most foreigners see are the ones that are broadcast on American television programs and movies.  On one end they are overprivileged and arrogant, while on the other end they are ignorant simpletons, whether they be rednecks front the county or ghetto thugs from the inner city.  Of course we know that Hollywood provides a poor portrayal of who we really are as a people, but that is the image that most of the world sees. 

 

To be fair, I have to admit that as an American I have a rather mixed view of what might be considered "Americans in general", and I would dare say that most Americans on this site have the same opinion.  In my experience most average Americans are relatively uninformed and tend to go with the flow.  Too many are comfortable with the status quo and don't even bother to participate in the most basic tenets of democracy, such as voting.  There are way too many drones or "sheeple" in American society to suit my taste.  As long as their personal lives aren't affected they are happy, or at least content.  We see these people every single day, and those of us that take the time and effort to inform ourselves and make a commitment to keep this country safe regard these folk with some contemp while at the same time dedicating our lives to protecting them.

 

That is what makes the American soldier exceptional, and that is the quality that is what the soldiers of our allies are beginning to notice.  Americans are a unique breed.  We embrace many Western values, but are still a very individualistic and independent group of people.  We are arguably less intellectual than our European counterparts, but certainly more violent.  I think it is surprising to a lot of European troops when they encounter American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and find them to be a very serious and professional bunch of soldiers.  Sure we know how to have fun, but we also know how to fight and get the job done when we need to as well.  This has always been the trait of the American soldier, but now a new generation of Europeans is beginning to realize that.