US Soldier Kills 16 - Where Should He Face Trial?

a lot of those guys fall in to 1 or more of a few categories, 1. really bad ptsd and didn't get any help. 2. serious drug/alc problem. 3.serious physical handicap.

i honestly don't know any vets that fell by the wayside, out of the 100+ of the guys that i still keep in contact with from my old unit's, they all make 75-150k/year. I think the hard times stories are far more of a minority than people are led to believe, and probably more of them infantry guys with really low GT scores than anything.

Okay...So I was a little hasty and a little broad with my comment. Here we go...


Sorry, Jet. I know you are a student. We all had odd-jobs when we were going through our BA or BSs. I know from experience that it's a means to the end, and you're not making a career out of it. :)


Baconwrapped mentioned very specialized fields. Just saying...

My dad had been working for Lockheed for over a decade because of his military experience in logistics. Yes, I can see how your service would play an important part in you being hired in some fields.


^^^This!^^^

Most of my friends who went the RN route at UT had two additional years of training after graduating with their four year degree. Most nurses also begin specialized training for career paths, like in NICU, pediatrics, and obstetrics at some point during their internships. I doubt you will encounter this training often on the battlefield. I could be very wrong, but I would think that the nursing experienced gained in the military would be the equivalent to that of a CNA or LVN maybe?

Even if people do go in for their college education, it doesn't mean they won't crash and burn. I've seen just as many veterans piss away their stipend as I have people piss away their FASFA checks. Some people won't be in it for the long haul. Sad but true.

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Anyhow, if it weren't for the US Army, my brother and I would have never been conceived, seeing as though my father met my mother while stationed in Germany. My parents bought their first home and my father received his bachelors thanks to his service (my mother already had her bachelors in nursing). My brother even received a scholarship because of our military dependent status.

While I agree what this guy did was wrong, I find it hilarious that the hypocrites over at the taliban had the nerve to call this guy a savage.

They are just mad he killed the civilians before they had a chance to.

Whats not funny is people will believe them. It only makes our situation harder.

I wouldn't be surprised, given the highly-publicized and absurdly-vile nature of this man's crimes, if he was sent to the Hague and tried as an international war criminal.
However, this would depend upon Afghanistan's standing in the eyes of the World Court, and upon whether or not Afghanistan's representatives "pushed the issue".

If the US Government manages to maintain jurisdiction over this man's trial and sentencing, he's probably going to be executed. There have been a handful of American soldiers tried for murdering civilian Afghans over the past 18 months, and from what I've read, they each got sentenced to 24+ years in military prison ... but those cases (I believe) involved single murders, and not always premeditated murder. This guy who flew off his rocker and broke into homes to shoot multiple children in the skull in cold blood ... that's a whole new level of despicable.

His defense will probably put up a pretty good mental duress defense ... since it does seem like this guy might have been loco ... but ultimately I'm sure the military will be under intense pressure, both internally and externally, to make an example out of this soldier. It's entirely unacceptable for a professional US soldier to murder civilian children who pose no threat to the soldier's life or limbs. Anything less than execution in this case would unfortunately set a precedent that the military can not afford.

A few friends of mine our though, it's honest and *** work really, the public sucks...

plus I make 7.65 (I was making 8.50 but ***happens)

This is more of a psychological problem than an issue with actually finding work

The only thing I would argue as a potential employer. Is which is "more well rounded." The job market is touch now a days. Employers even discriminate BSN over ASN. even though their clinical training may be identical. Reason being. A 4-year university offers you a General Ed req.

The writing, sociology, philosophy, chemistry, art history, economics, calculus, physics... etc that one has to take first two years is not something that is omitted by employers. It provides, good writing skills, eloquence, analytical skills.

Plus big point. its easier to go to college now. Tons of financial aid options that wernt available when i was doing undergrad. Why risk your life for a G.I. Bill when you can get FAFSA etc.

not everyone can get fafsa, and most of the general ed you typically take in a 2 year degree anyway...

the extra 2 years is typically more specialization and a few higher level general ed courses (if one didn't finish those already).

Speaking from somebody who goes to a CC, where everyone gets an associates and has read over several degrees and several 4 year degrees from higher institutions.

Getting off topic, but...


There are income requirements that can keep a family who make just a little over ineligible. I forgot what that number was, it's probably changed since I went through, but yeah...Neither my brother and I qualified for FASFA because of our parents gross income. It was rough on them when my brother was already in college and I started.


See...That's what I don't understand about getting an Associates. May as well push until the completion of a BA or BS. If it can make you more competitive in the workforce, may as well, right?

Associates used to be enough to get good jobs. Now that so many have them, its about the same as having a diploma.

Probably because you were claimed as a dependent by your parents and/or were still on their medical plan. If you claim independence on taxes and work for a little bit, there's little they can say to reject you.


The same could be said of Graduate School and Doctorate?

I'm not quite understainding what you're saying here... You said having an associates used to be enough to get a good job... Now that so many have them (assuming an associates) its about the same as having a diploma (associates is like having a diploma from a 4 year university?)

What I mean is, before having any form of college was good enough. Which is why people would only work on getting their AA.

Now a days, having an AA means as much to most good jobs as graduating High School.

it's good for awhile and it holds it's weight, plus you can always go get a 4 year degree after.

Most of the people who go here are in some sort of transfer or are adults who work full/part time or have lives.

Not to mention it's cheaper to go to a cc for 2 years then transfer.

Yeah, I think that's what he's saying. And I'd agree.

When the standard was high school, what differentiated you from others? A 2-year degree or higher.

When the standard is a 2-year degree, what differentiates you from others? A 4-year degree or higher.

When the standard becomes a Bachelor's degree, what differentiates you from others? A Master's degree or higher.

The sad reality(at least in my field of computers) is that there are teenagers in high school who have greater understanding than the average 4-year degree holder in the same field. Yet, these teenagers, 9 times out of 10, will get a bad shake when it comes to a company choosing them.

Your general ed in a 4-year is always assumed to be first two years unless u dont pass a class or ur part-time. second 2 years are known as upper div, upper div electives, seminars.

Furthermore the G.E. reqs completed at a JC and a 4-year are very different. They will vary upon the transferring 4-year's department. (e.g. if you went to a JC you may have not been required to take o-chem, but the 4-year may require o-chem) Same goes from programs ASNs usually do not require organic chem or biochem. Most BSNs require o-chem and biochemistry.


The only benefit of getting an A.S./A.A. is you can get it for free with a state programs (e.g. Governer's Grant which in CA includes non-citizen legal residents). But now RN, RT, XRayTech are in such demand they now have these "lotto systems" to actually get into the last 2 years of the program

My cousin is going to a JC for her ASN. I even told her dont chance being on a "lotto system" wait-list for years. Just go to a CalState and finish ur BSN there. You'll ultimately get paid more, entry level.

Yeah...I understand the transfer students and what not. I took dual-credit and college release in HS.

Maha pretty much touched on what I wanted to say. It seems like Associates are becoming even more devalued since the BA/BS is also becoming more obtainable. So, why not just finish the four-year, because you're going to behind anyway if you go for the Associates.

I went to a 4 year university, didn't graduate in 4 years, and when I did I got a job and paid off student loans in less time than it took me to get the degree!

That's great advise!

When I was going through under-grads, my roommate was a Bio major. She intended on leaping into Med school after she received her BS, but she delved into domesticity a little earlier than intended. She knew that she didn't really want to teach, but the RN program at the university she chose was very competitive and exclusive. (The drop-out rate was pretty high because the program was really intensive.) She ended up getting her teacher's certification on top of her BS to fund her BSN.

Competitive! Medical field is competitive! But then again, isn't every specialized field now?

/five year grad highfive

LOL!

I'm going to be starting my 5th year of my PhD this fall! And I'm no where near being done! GoGo student loan deferment! At this rate i wont start paying my loans till my 30's lol

I thought about going back for my masters... but then I thought to myself you know... I'm doing really well right now and it probably won't affect my standing much so why bother... I still might though as I set aside funding for if I do decide to go back.

I already dumped a ridiculous amount of money on grad-school this year, and bolted because of my indecisiveness. I'm bad.

I really wanted to get my MSA in Historical Preservation, but with the economy how it is, it seems like a loss. Community and Regional Planning or Sustainable Design would be a better route. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Masters is easy, depending on the institution. A lot of schools no longer require a thesis/research. You can obtain your masters via exam now.

Yeah...One of my friends received his MBA a couple of years ago, and I was surprised by how much was done via correspondence. I have two girl friends who teach, one of which has a Masters in Education Administration and the other her PHD in Early Childhood Development. (Why you would need a PHD for teaching Pre-K is beyond me. There's a little "keeping up with the Joneses" between those two.) Theirs was pretty simplistic compared to what would be in my curriculum.

One night recently, they were ragging on me a little bit about dropping my Masters program. I explained to them that Historical Preservation would require me to go on-site and travel pretty often, and that Sustainable Design would be more beneficial for my company who has already given me so much lee-way that I am absolutely thankful for to no end. In one ear and out the other with them. The entire time I felt like screaming, "Ummm...All this coming from teachers?!? Yeah! You have the good graces of a schedule that would permit you to blast through grad-school in a blink of the eye!"

I really feel like the pressure is on because both my mother and grandmother received their Masters. I need to bring it up the rear, and continue the legacy, or feel like a failure.

Complete opposite in my family, Zah-- my father dropped out of college, my mother went to nursing school and stopped at the minimum RN (which is still awesome), and my husband is the first from his family to attend college besides an aunt and uncle. His parents/grandparents etc didn't go to college.

Don't feel pressured. :-( If your folks are disappointed in you or love you any less because of your own choices concerning your own future in college, then the problem lies with them. Not with you.

Life is education. College only facilitates it. The end result of going to College is learning to facilitate education in your own life.

That's how I see it anyway. Anyone caught up in "rank," "prestige," and a piece of paper has missed the point, imo.

Yah it'll really depend on your field. There are some fields where a Masters will boost your salary significantly BSN > MSN(Nurse Practitioners make bank! lol). I really regret not becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Its ridiculous how much more they make than RNs and PA's. At least here in California.

In research related stuff like the sciences the masters does really nothing.I just did my masters to get into a better doctoral program. Because my GPA wasnt so hot as an undergrad.

It does a lot more than that. It provides a degree of job security. It also allows you to enter fields that cant be accessed with just a H.S. education.

That's awesome for you and your hubby! Again grats on him receiving his Masters!

Yeah...I do get overly critical of myself sometimes. It's usually when I know my capabilities, but don't follow through that kills me. It's just my mind-set. I work myself up over absolutely nothing a lot more than I should.


Agreed. That's why I dropped the blurb about my friend who has her PHD in Early Childhood. Even her husband, who is a lawyer, still complains that he's paying the bill for her prestigious piece of paper. LOL! He gets so irate about it. While playing darts in the garage, if someone even mentions her PHD, you can see his face turn red. He's /facepalming himself internally.


I know, right?!? ACK! If I wasn't so squeemish I would have gone that route! My mother started teaching PRNs and LVNs after getting her MSN. My buddy's mother has her Doctorate and teaches BSNs. Sweet Jeebus! Even when you get older, and feel like the grueling schedules and being on your feet all day is enough, you can still make bank by teaching nursing!