Military Mottoes and Commandments

[daftandbarmy]

Hi,

Does anyone have any favourite military 'mottoes and commandments' to post?. These are like Executive Summaries for battlefield success.  I've attached a couple below to get the ball rolling:

10 Commandments of the Fallschirmjäger

1. You are the chosen ones of the German Army. You will seek combat and train yourselves to endure any manner of test. To you, the battle shall be fulfillment.

2. Cultivate true comradeship, for by the aid of your comrades you will conquer or die.

3. Beware of talking. Be not corruptible. Men act while women chatter. Chatter may bring you to the grave.

4. Be calm and prudent, strong and resolute. Valour and enthusiasm of an offensive spirit will cause you to prevail in the attack.

5. The most precious thing in the presence of the foe is ammunition. He who shoots uselessly, merely to comfort himself, is a man of straw who merits not the title of Fallschirmjäger.

6. Never surrender; to you death or victory must be a point of honour.

7. You can triumph only if your weapons are good. See to it that you submit yourself to this law - first my weapon and then myself.

8. You must grasp the full purpose of every enterprise, so that if your leader is killed you can fulfill it.

9. Against an open foe, fight with chivalry, but to a guerilla, extend no quarter.

10. Keep your eyes wide open. Tune yourself to the topmost pitch. Be nimble as a greyhound, as tough as leather, as hard a Krupp steel, and so you shall be the German warrior incarnate.


The Commando's Prayer

Give me, my God, what you still have;
give me what no one asks for.
I do not ask for wealth, nor success,
nor even health.

People ask you so often, God, for all that,
that you cannot have any left.

Give me, my God, what you still have.
Give me what people refuse to accept from you.
I want insecurity and disquietude;
I want turmoil and brawl.

And if you should give them to me,
my God, once and for all,
let me be sure to have them always,
for I will not always
have the courage to ask for them.

Corporal Zirnheld
Special Air Service
1942

 

[Jacqueline]

3. Beware of talking. Be not corruptible. Men act while women chatter. Chatter may bring you to the grave.

Do you believe this? I know that this doesn't apply to all women. Do people actually think this of all women? That's definetely not me!


Here's a motto from Lieutenant Robert Peacock:

" A gallon of sweat spent in training is better than a pint of blood in battle."

 

[Michael OLeary]

Do you believe this? I know that this doesn't apply to all women. Do people actually think this of all women? That's definetely not me!

Well, rather than a succint "I don't think this is very accurate", did it need a chatty four-sentence reply?

 

[Sig_Des]

Well, rather than a succint "I don't think this is very accurate", did it need a chatty four-sentence reply?

:rofl:

 

[Jacqueline]

Well, rather than a succint "I don't think this is very accurate", did it need a chatty four-sentence reply?

No, it didn't. Please forgive me. :

 

[daftandbarmy]

That's actually Patton. Good old Patton...

And no, I can't say that I agree with German airborne doctrine ca. 1941 as it regards gender equity!

 

[043]

Well, rather than a succint "I don't think this is very accurate", did it need a chatty four-sentence reply?

Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!

 

[daftandbarmy]

And another one for the hopper...

Colonel Glover Johns
Basic Philosophy of Soldiering



1. Strive to do small things well.

2. Be a doer and a self-starter-aggressiveness and initiative are two most admired qualities in a leader-but you must also put your feet up and THINK.

3. Strive for self-improvement through constant self-evaluation.

4. Never be satisfied. Ask of any project, How can it be done better?

5. Don't over-inspect or over-supervise. Allow your leaders to make mistakes in training, so they can profit from the errors and not make them in combat.

6. Keep the troops informed; telling them "what, how, and why" builds their confidence.

7. The harder the training, the more troops will brag.

8. Enthusiasm, fairness, and moral and physical courage - four of the most important aspects of leadership.

9. Showmanship-a vital technique of leadership.

10. The ability to speak and write well-two essential tools of leadership.

11. There is a salient difference between profanity and obscenity; while a leader employs profanity (tempered with discretion), he never uses obscenities.

12. Have consideration for others.

13. Yelling detracts from your dignity; take men aside to counsel them.

14. Understand and use judgement; know when to stop fighting for something you believe is right. Discuss and argue your point of view until a decision is made, and then support the decision wholeheartedly.

15. Stay ahead of your boss.

 

[The Bread Guy]

http://www1.idf.il/dover/site/mainpage.asp?sl=EN&id=32

Israeli Defense Forces

The Values:

Tenacity of Purpose in Performing Missions and Drive to Victory - The IDF servicemen and women will fight and conduct themselves with courage in the face of all dangers and obstacles; They will persevere in their missions resolutely and thoughtfully even to the point of endangering their lives.

Responsibility - The IDF serviceman or woman will see themselves as active participants in the defense of the state, its citizens and residents. They will carry out their duties at all times with initiative, involvement and diligence with common sense and within the framework of their authority, while prepared to bear responsibility for their conduct.

Credibility - The IDF servicemen and women shall present things objectively, completely and precisely, in planning, performing and reporting. They will act in such a manner that their peers and commanders can rely upon them in performing their tasks.

Personal Example - The IDF servicemen and women will comport themselves as required of them, and will demand of themselves as they demand of others, out of recognition of their ability and responsibility within the military and without to serve as a deserving role model.

Human Life - The IDF servicemen and women will act in a judicious and safe manner in all they do, out of recognition of the supreme value of human life. During combat they will endanger themselves and their comrades only to the extent required to carry out their mission.

Purity of Arms - The IDF servicemen and women will use their weapons and force only for the purpose of their mission, only to the necessary extent and will maintain their humanity even during combat. IDF soldiers will not use their weapons and force to harm human beings who are not combatants or prisoners of war, and will do all in their power to avoid causing harm to their lives, bodies, dignity and property.

Professionalism - The IDF servicemen and women will acquire the professional knowledge and skills required to perform their tasks, and will implement them while striving continuously to perfect their personal and collective achievements.

Discipline - The IDF servicemen and women will strive to the best of their ability to fully and successfully complete all that is required of them according to orders and their spirit. IDF soldiers will be meticulous in giving only lawful orders, and shall refrain from obeying blatantly illegal orders.

Comradeship - The IDF servicemen and women will act out of fraternity and devotion to their comrades, and will always go to their assistance when they need their help or depend on them, despite any danger or difficulty, even to the point of risking their lives.

Sense of Mission - The IDF soldiers view their service in the IDF as a mission; They will be ready to give their all in order to defend the state, its citizens and residents. This is due to the fact that they are representatives of the IDF who act on the basis and in the framework of the authority given to them in accordance with IDF orders.

 

[I_Drive_Planes]

How about something from a little closer to home, I'm sure some will recognize these:

The 10 Principles of Leadership

1. Achieve professional competence.

2. Appreciate your own strengths and limitationsand pursue self-improvement.

3. Seek and accept responsibility.

4. Lead by example.

5. Make sure that your followers know your meaning and intent, then lead them to the accomplishment of the mission.

6. Know your soldiers and promote their welfare,

7. Develop the leadership potential of your followers.

8. Make sound and timely decisions.

9. Train your soldiers as a team and employ them up to their capabilities.

10.  Keep your followers informed of the mission, the changing situation and the overall picture.

10. Keep your followers informed of the mission.

Words to live by for any leader!

Planes

 

[Michael OLeary]

Military incompetence involves:

  A serious wastage of human resources and failure to observe one of the first principles of war - economy of force.

  A fundamental conservatism and clinging to outworn tradition, an inability to profit from past mistakes (owing in part to a refusal to admit past mistakes).

  A tendency to reject or ignore information which is unpalatable or which conflicts with preconceptions.

  A tendency to underestimate the enemy and overestimate the capabilities of one's own side.

  Indecisiveness and a tendency to abdicate from the role of decision-maker.

  An obstinate persistence in a given task despite strong contrary evidence.

  A failure to exploit a situation gained and a tendency to `pull punches' rather than push home an attack.

  A failure to make adequate reconnaissance.

  A predilection for frontal assaults, often against the enemy's strongest point.

  A belief in brute force, rather than the clever ruse.

  A failure to make use of surprise or deception.

  An undue readiness to find scapegoats for military set- backs.

  A suppression or distortion of news from the front, usually rationalized as necessary for morale or security.

  A belief in mystical forces - fate, bad luck, etc.

Norman F. Dixon, On the Psychology of Military Incompetence, 1976

 

[daftandbarmy]

Aha, Dixon is one of may favourites. I saw a lecture by him once. He's only got one arm (former Royal Engineer) and said he lost the other 'largely through my own incompetence'.

Out of a sense of equal time for the Brylcreamers:

TEN OF MY RULES FOR AIR FIGHTING
Sqn Ldr 'Sailor' Milan

1. Wait until you see the whites of his eyes. Fire short bursts of one to two seconds only when your sights are definitely "ON"
2. Whilst shooting think of nothing else, brace the whole of your body: have both hands on the stick: concentrate on your ring sight.
3. Always keep a sharp lookout. "Keep your finger out".
4. Height gives you the initiative.
5. Always turn and face the attack.
6. Make your decisions promptly. It is better to act quickly even though your tactics are not the best.
7. Never fly straight and level for more than 30 seconds in the combat area.
8. When diving to attack always leave a proportion of your formation above to act as a top guard.
9. INITIATIVE, AGGRESSION, AIR DISCIPLINE, and TEAM WORK are words that MEAN something in Air Fighting.
10. Go in quickly - Punch hard - Get out!

http://zar.co.za/sailor.htm

 

[paracowboy]

I got a few:

THE AIRBORNE CREED

What Manner of men are these who wear the maroon beret?
They are firstly, all volunteers and are toughened by hard physical training.
As a result they have that infectious optimism and that offensive eagerness which comes from physical well being.
They have "jumped" from the air and by so doing have conquered fear.
Their duty lies in the van of battle; they are proud of this honour and have never failed in any task.
They have the highest standards in all things whether it is skill in battle or smartness in the execution of all peace-time duties.
They have shown themselves to be as tenacious and determined in defence as they are courageous in the attack.
They are, in fact, men apart--every man an Emperor.
Of all the factors which make for success in battle the spirit of the warrior is the most decisive.
That spirit will be found in full measure in the men who wear the Maroon Beret.
- Field Marshall The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

… When an enthusiastic horseman said that there was no delight on earth, like that which could be found on horseback, there were neither aircraft nor parachutes.  If a canter on a good horse is a wonderful sensation, it is one that cannot be compared with that of soaring into the air with the terrific but controlled power of an aircraft.
… Greater than either, however, is the almost superhuman sensation of the parachute jump. It alone compresses into the space of seconds feelings of concentrated energy, tenseness and abandon; it alone demands a continual and unconditional readiness to risk one’s life. Therefore the parachutist experiences the most exalted feelings of which human beings are capable, namely that of victory over one’s self.  For us parachutists, the words of the poet, who said that unless you stake your life you will never win it, is no empty phrase.
- General-Lieutenant Bruno Brauer
German Parachute Regiment

 

[paracowboy]

few more:

The Airborne Creed
(American)
I volunteered as a parachutist, fully realizing the hazard of my chosen service and by my thoughts and actions will always uphold the prestige, honour and high esprit-de-corps of parachute troops.
I realize that a parachutist is not merely a soldier who arrives by parachute to fight, but is an elite shock trooper and that his country expects him to march farther and faster, to fight harder, and to be more self-reliant than any other soldier. Parachutists of all allied armies belong to this great brotherhood.
I shall never fail my fellow comrades by shirking any duty or training, but will always keep myself mentally and physically fit and shoulder my full share of the task, whatever it my be.
I shall always accord my superiors fullest loyalty and I will always bear in mind the sacred trust I have in the lives of the men I will accompany into battle.
I shall show other soldiers by my military courtesy, neatness of dress and care of my weapons and equipment that I am a picked and well trained soldier.
I shall endeavour always to reflect the high standards of training and morale of parachute troops.
I shall respect the abilities of my enemies, I will fight fairly and with all my might, surrender is not in my creed.
I shall display a high degree of initiative and will fight on to my objective and mission, though I be the lone survivor.
I shall prove my ability as a fighting man against the enemy on the field of battle, not by quarrelling with my comrades in arms or by bragging about my deeds.
I shall always realize that battles are won by an army fighting as a team, that I fight first and blaze the path into battle for others to follow and to carry the battle on.
I belong to the finest unit in the world. By my actions and deeds alone, I speak for my fighting ability. I will strive to uphold the honour and prestige of my outfit, making my country proud of me and of the unit to which I belong.

Parachute jumping tests and hardens a soldier under stress in a way nothing short of battle can do. You never know about others. But paratroopers will fight.
- Field Marshall Montgomery

If you want to find out if a guy will fight in battle, find out if he’ll jump out of an airplane. If he will, you’ll know he’s a fighter.
Brigadier General James M Gavin
Comd 82 Airborne Division (1944)

10 Commandments of Canadian Parachute Troops
1. You are the elite of the Canadian Army. For you action shall be fulfillment and you must train yourself to stand every test.
2. Cultivate true comradeship, for together with your comrades you will triumph or die.
3. Be shy of speech and incorruptible. The strong act, the weak chatter. Chatter will bring you to the grave.
4. Calmness and caution, thoroughness and determination, valour and a relentless spirit of attack will make you superior when the test comes.
5. Face to face with the enemy, the most precious thing is ammunition. The man who fires aimlessly merely to reassure himself has no guts. He is a weakling and does not deserve the name of “Paratrooper”.
6. Never surrender. Your honour lies in victory or death.
7. Only with good weapons can you achieve success. Look after them therefore, on the principle, “First my weapons, then myself.”
8. You must grasp the full meaning of each operation so that, even if your leader should fall, you can carry it out coolly and warily.
9. Fight chivalrously against an honourable foe; fifth columnists and civilian snipers deserve no quarter.
10. With your eyes open, keyed up to the highest pitch, agile as a grey hound, tough as leather, hard as steel, you will be the embodiment of a Canadian Paratrooper.
- reprinted from Canadian Army Training Memorandum Number 24 (March 1943)

 

[paracowboy]

some others:

OPERATION VARSITY.... THE RHINE DROP
It was reported that Brigadier Hill stated during his briefing:
"Speed and initiative is the order of the day. Risks will be taken. The enemy will be attacked and destroyed wherever he is found. Gentlemen, the artillery and air support is fantastic. Beaten and demoralized, pounded by our artillery and bombers, what would you think, gentlemen, if you saw a horde of ferocious, bloodthirsty paratroopers, bristling with weapons, cascading down from the skies? And you needn't think just because you hear a few stray bullets flying about that some miserable Hun is shooting at you. That is merely a form of egotism. But if by chance you should happen to meet one of these Huns in person, you will treat him gentlemen, with extreme disfavour."

“The characteristics of Airborne Forces are boldness, speed, surprise, and the capability for far-ranging action. It is, however, the aggressiveness, initiative, and sense of teamwork of the individual paratrooper that will guarantee success.”
- from the preface to AIRBORNE vol. 1, AIRBORNE OPERATIONS

 

The Rule of LGOPs
(LGOPs = Little Groups of Paratroopers)
After the demise of the best airborne plan, a most terrifying effect occurs on the battlefield.  This effect is known as The Rule of LGOPs.  This is, in its purest form, a small group of Pissed Off Paratroopers.  They are well trained, armed to the teeth, and lack serious supervision.  They collectively remember the commander’s intent as “March to the sound of the guns and kill anyone who isn’t dressed like you…” or something like that.  Happily, they go about the day’s work!

Where is the prince who can afford so to cover his country with troops for its defence, as that ten thousand men descending from the clouds might not, in many places, do an infinite deal of mischief before a force could be brought together to repel them?
- Benjamin Franklin, 1784

 

[paracowboy]

and...

AIRBORNE TOAST
I have ridden the skies in great machines, hooked up and jumped with the best of men.
I have fought long and hard, and when I felt I had no energy left,
I have been fired by the fear that if I stopped fighting, my comrades would die.
And when I was in danger, enemy all around, I heard the thunder from my left and my right, as my life was defended.
I have never been alone.
I live, jump, fight and battle to victory with the greatest assemblage of men on earth.
Gentlemen, to the BROTHERHOOD of the AIRBORNE.
To the AIRBORNE!

Memo:
From: Prime Minister
To: General Sir Hastings Ismay, Head, Military Wing War Cabinet Secretariat
We ought to have a corps of at least 5000 parachute troops including a proportion of Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians together. Advantage of the summer must be taken to train these troops, who can nonetheless play their part meanwhile as shock troops in home defence. Pray let me have a note from the War Office on the subject. 
Winston Churchill
22 June 1940

The Airborne Prayer
I was that which others did not want to be, I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do.
I asked nothing from those who gave nothing and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness should I fail.
I have seen the face of terror, felt the cold sting of fear and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moments love.
I have cried, pained, and hoped, but most of all I have lived times others would say were best forgotten.
At least someday I will be able to say I was proud of what I was:
An Airborne Soldier!
Soft Winds and Light Landings.
Airborne!

“When it absolutely, positively, has to be destroyed overnight. You call, we fall, no sky too high”

Airborne Policy
1. When an Airborne soldier is surrounded by more than one section/squad of enemy, he will give the enemy time to surrender before taking them prisoner.
2. Before a team of Airborne is dropped into a country, that country will be notified no less than three days in advance, so that they have enough time to evacuate.
3. When walking through a minefield, the Airborne soldier will remove his boots as not to damage them. By order of the Company Quartermaster.
4. Action when hit: Complaints have been launched by the enemy countries that the average Airborne soldier, when riddled with concentrated and accurate machine gun fire, has a tendency to lose his temper and remain on his feet. In the future, the Airborne soldier will go down for a few seconds, so as to let the enemy think he has a chance.

Airborne Creed
(Canadian)
I am an Airborne Trooper! A Paratrooper! I jump by parachute from anyplace in flight. I volunteer to do it, knowing well the hazards of my choice. I serve in a mighty Airborne force famed for its deeds in War; renowned for its readiness in Peace. It is my pledge to uphold its honour and prestige in all I am, in all I do. I am an elite trooper - a sky trooper - a shock trooper - a spearhead trooper. I blaze the way for far flung goals behind, before, above the foe’s front line. I know that I may have to fight for days on end without support. Therefore, I keep mind and body always fit to do my part in any Airborne task. I am self-reliant and unafraid. I shoot true, march fast and far. I fight hard and excel in every artifice of war. I never fail a fellow trooper. I cherish as a sacred trust the lives of men whom I serve. Leaders have my fullest loyalty and those who I lead never find me lacking. I have pride in the Airborne - I never let it down. In Peace, I do not shirk the dullest duty nor protest the toughest training. My weapon and equipment are always combat ready. I am neat of dress, military courtesy, proper in conduct and behaviour. In battle I fear no foe’s ability nor underestimate his prowess, power, and guile. I fight him with all my power and skill - ever alert to evade capture or escape a trap. I never surrender though I be the last. My goal in Peace or War is to succeed in any Mission of the day - or die if need be, in the try. I belong to a proud and glorious team - the Airborne - the Army - my country - Canada. I am its’ chosen pride - to fight where others may not go - to serve them well until the Final Victory. I am a Trooper of the Sky. I am Canada’s best. In Peace and War I never fail, anywhere, anytime, in anything
- I am AIRBORNE!

 

[paracowboy]

then there's:

A PARATROOPER'S PRAYER
Valiant St. Michael, hear my call,
As through the sky I swiftly fall,
You who hurled Satan far below,
Aid me to conquer every foe.

My static line keep firm to endure,
My risers' even flow make sure,
My suspension lines untangled be,
My deployment bag hold steadily.
As Angel's wings my chute smooth be,
From other jumpers keep me free.

Help, St. Michael, this sky ranger
To make a landing safe from danger
Soft and safe to land - and then
Do you thank God for me. AMEN
OUR LADY, QUEEN OF THE ANGELS,
DEFEND US IN COMBAT.

THE AIRBORNE MYSTIQUE
In French, they are know as "les Paras", in German "die Fallschirmjager, in Spanish "los Paracaidistas and, in English, we call them "Paratroopers". Whatever the language used, the connotation is that of soldiers who are held in awe and respect by their countrymen and possible adversaries. They form a body of tough, elite, highly disciplined troops for any nation. For some, they have been held back as a general reserve; for others, they have been the first forces employed in time of trouble.
More then any other types, airborne forces are most directly and effectively useful in cold war, limited conflict, and general war. In cold war they represent the nation's "hole card"---mobile forces always ready for rapid deployment---and so are a deterrent force. In limited war they would likely be the first army forces strategically deployed. In general war they could carry out a variety of missions such as reinforcing combat elements already deployed, filling strategic gaps where there were no deployments and interdicting enemy forces by vertical envelopment.
A large part of the viability factor in the airborne as an important part of the force structure comes from the effect of airborne training on the individual.
Why airborne? Aside from the practical value of airborne troops, there's a tremendous psychological mystique that's established around men who jump out of aeroplanes.
The "mystique" is, in reality, a personality change undergone by those who become paratroopers. The change is based upon two major facets: the rite of initiation which allows a soldier to be called a "paratrooper", and the continued reinforcement of this status.
THE INITIATION RITE
Sociologists long ago confirmed in laboratory experiments the logic that all men who have undergone stress to be accepted into a particular group intuitively know; a severe initiation causes entrants to value the group highly, whereas a mild initiation does not engender nearly as much of a commitment to the group.
This was demonstrated by Elliot Aronson of Stanford University and Judson Mills of the Leadership Human Research Unit, Human Resources Research Organization in their 1959 studies. Aronson and Mills described a situation in which a number of subjects were given a severe initiation to a group they knew nothing about; an equal number were given a mild initiation; and a third group was given no initiation at all. After listening to the group's discussion by the use of headphones, the subjects were asked to rate the group and their own feelings toward being a part of the group. The subjects who received no initiation rated the group a statistically significant amount lower then did the subjects who received a severe initiation.
Said Aronson and Mills:
The results clearly verified the hypotheses. Subjects who underwent a severe initiation perceived the group as being significantly more attractive then did those who underwent a mild initiation and those who underwent no initiation.
The initiation described by Aronson and Mills lasted but a few hours. Contrast that with the three weeks of intensive training to make a paratrooper, and the finding effect of the initiation is magnified many times. The three weeks of jump school is a severe "rite of passage", and there is no "mild" initiation. There are only two grades in this school: Superior or failure!!
The rite of passage analogy as described by Melford Weiss has three stages:
...separation from the former group or state; transition to the new; and, finally, incorporation...In the case of paratroopers training, the transitional phase is most important.
The transition is accomplished by physical stress and repetition through the first two weeks of the training. The trainee is subjected to all situations encountered in jumping, one at a time, and drilled to execute an automatic response to each of these situations. In the third week, he puts it all together.
Before the last week is out, he jumps five times. Five times he is grabbed by apprehension, and five times he is exhilarated when his chute pops open and eases him down...He'll step out a little prouder, more confident, his head still dizzy from the experience which will live in his memories for the rest of his life.
The rite of passage is not completely over. Any airborne trooper joining a unit is regarded with distrust until he has jumped with the unit.
The cohesiveness of any unit is greatly enhanced by shared experiences of its members. A requirement of an elite group is that a new member demonstrate his credentials for joining the group. Says University of Chicago sociologist and former Israeli paratrooper Cideon Aran:
"The striking resemblance between the jump experience and rites of passage suggests another aspect of the association between jumping and elite status. Jumping can be viewed as a test which allows those who pass it to join an exclusive club."
REINFORCEMENT OF STATUS
All the soldiers on jump status are required to jump at least once every three months. The majority jump more frequently than this. In no case does the act of jumping become routine. In every instance in which a paratrooper steps into space with the ground 1250 feet away, he risks his life. His main parachute, reserve parachute, or both, may malfunction; he may be dragged by the wind once he lands; or he may be blown into the trees or high-tension wires. Although the number of fatalities and serious injuries from parachuting is very small, the consequences of being part of a very small statistic keeps the paratrooper respectful of the act in which he is engaging.
The tensions involved in the continuous requirements for jumping ensure that there is no regression from the personality change which took place during the initiation. Gideon Aran states that there are two motifs which maintain the personality change which we may call "The Airborne Mystique". The first motif is the:
...rich symbolic significance with which parachuting is charged.....this motif obviously results from the intense emotions that accompany the act, especially fear.
The fear is always there, but is under control. The following thoughts were expressed by a young paratrooper:
"You feel these thoughts -- strong inside you. Fear! But fear mixed with the wild spirit, freedom and bravado that jumping gives you. These thoughts are dormant in your consciousness; the only thing that goes through your mind is -- let's get out; let's jump; let's GO!!"
THE RESULT
Jumping encourages self confidence, determination, self reliance, masterful activity, aggression, courage, and other items symptomatic of the phallic-narcissistic type, all of which are very important in the military setting, especially in paratroop commando units, which rely heavily on individual action and are aggressive in nature. In a way, even the illusion of omnipotence enhanced by jumping can make a better soldier.
Paratroopers live a life of uncertainty. Not only must they continually be tested in the air, but they are also subjected to frequent alerts for deployment. At least an equal number are due to actual conditions which may require their presence. In recent history, we can think of a sufficient number of actual deployments to know that the paratrooper must be ready.
Parachute jumping tests and hardens a soldier under stress in a way nothing short of battle can do. You never know about others. But paratroopers will fight. You can bet on that. They repeatedly face danger while jumping and develop self discipline that conquers fear. Subconsciously, every trooper knows this. That's why he has that extra cocky confidence.
Part of the World War II German paratroopers creed reads as follows:
"Be as nimble as a greyhound, as tough as leather, as hard a Krupp steel......Never surrender. To your death or victory must be a point of honour."
German paratroopers performed acts of daring against great odds at Fort Eben Emael and on Crete. They often fulfilled the requirements of their creed. Canadian paratroopers have performed similarly and will continue to do so in the future.

 

[paracowboy]

some others:

The Paratrooper
After the security of childhood and before the insecurity of the second childhood we find the "Paratrooper."
Paratroopers are found everywhere, in bars, behind bars, looking through police bars, in trouble, in debt, in the air, on leave and in love.
Paratroopers are found everywhere, in assorted sizes, weights, and states of sobriety, misery, and confusion.
Girls love them, mothers worry about them, the U.S. supports them, and somehow they manage to get along with each other.
A paratrooper is laziness with a deck of cards, a millionaire without a cent, bravery with a grin, the protector of America with the latest copy of "Playboy" in his possession at all times.
A paratrooper is a composite, sly as a fox, has the energy of a turtle, the brains of an idiot, the sincerity of a liar, the appetite of an elephant, the aspiration of a casanova, and the story of a hero.
A paratrooper, when he wants something, its usually a 3-day pass, special duty or someone to pull his C.Q.
He dislikes answering letters, wearing his uniform, his superior officers, getting up for reveille, Army chow, Army planes, Air Force reserve pilots, the week before payday, his girl's old man, curfews and "LEGS."
He likes girls, women, ladies, females, and members of the opposite sex.
No one can write so seldom, yet think of you so often. No one else can get so much out of your letters, civilian clothes or sex magazines.
A paratrooper is a magical creature, you can lock him out of your house, but not out of your heart. You can take him off your mailing list, but not off your mind.
  Pat O'Relley (1981)

There are three kinds of men: The living, the dead, and the AIRBORNE !
- Gen. Carl W Stiner, USSOCOM CINC

"One of the most intense areas of concentration was near Brigade Headquarters where the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was involved in a series of deadly encounters. Although the Battalion was entirely Canadian, they were very much part of the British 6th Airborne Division. The Battalion 600 strong was a magnificent fighting unit, but for all their qualities they were put to a tremendous test in and around the Le Mesnil Crossroads. They were in action on D-DAY, and in some respects even more so in the days to come. Many fell, but no one crossed the ridge, they held it. There is now a memorial there marking these events."
From "Red Berets into Normandy" by Sir Huw Weldon

Pegasus
A tale was told by HOMER
Three thousand years ago
About the first winged soldier,
And this is all we know:

He was born in the town of Corinth
And called Bellerophon.
He had rather a strict upbringing,
Considering what went on.

He had to do some dodging
Because he wouldn't play
With the lady at his lodging,
And she took it the wrong way.

For she made her husband pick him
For the worst job in the place,
To fight a damned great dragon
That no-one else would face.

Athena, the great goddess,
Was on his side, of course,
And gave him some golden harness
To catch the flying horse.

He could handle the heaviest spear there was,
And he'd practised all the cuts,
But the fact that he fought on PEGASUS
Showed brains, as well as guts.

We don't know if he glided,
Or dropped down like a hawk,
But we know that he decided
That it wasn't safe to walk.

The monster breathed out clouds of Flak,
And had an armoured skin,
So he made the first Airborne Attack,
And did the bastard in.

 

[paracowboy]

and some non-paratrooper ones:

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."
- Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

"I love the Infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud, rain, frost and wind boys...In the end, they are the guys wars can't be won without!"
-Ernie Pyle, World War II Correspondent

The Infantry
Our Army is no better than its Infantry, and victory will come only when and as our Infantry gains it; the price will be predominantly what the Infantry pays. These days the entire Nation is following operations on war maps. It is to be noted that the front lines of these maps are simply where the Infantryman is. It is true that he is supported magnificently by Artillery and air, but this support is behind and above him.
There is nothing in front of him but ENEMY.
    -LTG Lesley J. McNair

“Soldiering was about fighting. It was about killing people before they killed you. It was about having your way by force and guile in a dangerous world, taking a shit in the woods, living in dirty, difficult conditions, enduring hardships and risks that could -and sometimes did- kill you. It was ugly work, which is not to say that certain men didn't enjoy it, didn't live for it...
It was how the real world worked. Nothing pleased him more than a well-executed hit, and if things went to hell and you had to slug it out, then it was time to summon a dark relish for mayhem. Why be a soldier if you couldn't exult in a heart-pounding, balls-out gunfight?”
            - Gen Grange, Commander of TF RANGER in Somalia as quoted by Mark Bowden

 

[paracowboy]

one more and I'll stop:

Who Is He?
He is profane and irreverent, living as he does in a world full of capriciousness, frustration and disillusionment. He is perhaps the best-educated of his kind in history, but will rarely accord respect on the basis of mere degrees or titles. He speaks his own dialect, often incomprehensible to the layman.

He can be cold, cruel, and even brutal and is frequently insensitive. Killing is his profession and he strives very hard to become even more skilled at it. His model is the grey, muddy, hard-eyed slayer who took the untakeable at Vimy Ridge, endured the unendurable in the Scheldt and held the unholdable at Kapyong. He is a superlative practical diplomat; his efforts have brought peace to countless countries around the world. He is capable of astonishing acts of kindness, warmth and generosity. He will give you his last sip of water on a parched day and his last food to a hungry child; he will give his very life for the society he loves.

Danger and horror are his familiars and his sense of humour is accordingly sardonic. What the unknowing take as callousness is his defence against the unimaginable; he whistles through a career filled with graveyards.

His ethos is one of self-sacrifice and duty. He is sinfully proud of himself, of his unit and of his country and he is unique in that his commitment to his society is Total. No other trade or profession dreams of demanding such of its members and none could successfully try.

He loves his family dearly, sees them all too rarely and as often as not loses them to the demands of his profession. Loneliness is the price he accepts for the privilege of serving.

He accounts discomfort as routine and the search for personal gain as beneath him; he has neither understanding of nor patience for those motivated by self-interest, politics or money. His loyalty can be absolute, but it must be purchased. Paradoxically, the only coin accepted for that payment is also loyalty.

He devours life with big bites, knowing that each bite might be his last and his manners suffer thereby. He would rather die regretting the things he did than the ones he dared not try. He earns a good wage by most standards and, given the demands on him, is woefully underpaid.

He can be arrogant, thoughtless and conceited, but will spend himself, sacrifice everything for total strangers in places he cannot even pronounce. He considers political correctness a podium for self-righteous fools, but will die fighting for the rights of anyone he respects or pities.

He is a philosopher and a drudge, an assassin and a philanthropist, a servant and a leader, a disputer and a mediator, a Nobel Laureate peacekeeper and the Queen’s Hit Man, a brawler and a healer, best friend and worst enemy. He is a rock, a goat, a fool, a sage, a drunk, a provider, a cynic and a romantic dreamer. Above it all, he is a hero for our time. You, pale stranger, sleep well at night only because he exists for you, the citizen who has never met him, has perhaps never thought of him and may even despise him. He is both your child and your guardian. His devotion to you is unwavering. He is a Canadian soldier.

--Author unknown--