Within the ranks of the US Army, the awards PFC Mace Veit received for graduating these prestigious schools are called "Scare Badges."

One of my comrades broke her ankle during her first jump at Airborne School and another broke his foot on his fourth jump. Unfortunately, both never earned their one "Scare Badge," the silver-toned US Army Basic Parachutist Badge.

I was fortunate enough to graduate Jump School and earn my wings as a "five-jump chump." But years after I retired, I am still waiting for my promised orders to attend US Army Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, KY.

Hi Matt

The only US Army specialized training that I wanted to complete was Air Assault school. By coincidence I knew two Vietnam War vets who were both helicopter M60 door gunners, so I heard their war stories. And I would learn more at Air Assault school (LZs, knots, hand-and-arm signals, heliborne operations, etc) than Jump School, which is just muscle-memory practice of PLFs and guiding away from trees or water.

Tough break on the EFMB.

I had zero respect for senior leadership.

Hmph.

Last century, I knew a USAR soldier who attended Air Assault School as a permissive TDY at Ft Belvoir, VA. He showed up at O dark thirty in the morning and got a slot when someone didn't show up or was kicked out later that day. He passed.

Afterwards, he studied and practiced for the EIB. Somehow he finagled his way into a MDARNG infantry unit and took the EIB test during one long weekend with them. He passed.

"AP" repeated the same process with Pathfinder School, skills which he never used, but he looked great in his Class As or Dress Blues.

"AP" was more proud of his ability to get the scare badges than the training itself.

And incredibly enough, "AP" was a lousy swimmer.

I was the unit's 'WSI' because I was an American Red Cross certified lifeguard, not an official WSI or certified WSSI.

So, I coached him for several days on efficient strokes and breath control before the unit validation tests and he passed.

No scare badge for that though.

'AP' did me some small favors along the way, so I hope he's doing well and enjoying retirement.

Yup, sadly that's what it is.

All of the RW indoctrination takes place at the School of the Americas on Ft Benning, GA.

The JOTC will be all technical training.

On one of my missions in the Middle East years ago, my eyes doubled wide as saucers.

I came across a young SF operator in full battle-rattle.

He was a Corporal.

Years ago the barest minimum rank for a SFOD-A was SGT (and with years experience.) This SF Corporal was barely shaving.

Times are a-changing.

Well, young PFC Mace Veit hasn't killed anyone yet, but your point is well, well taken.

Hopefully he'll learn it's better to capture the enemy than to kill him and that war isn't always glorious.

Maybe PFC Veit will watch "Born on the Fourth of July," "Coming Home," or "Gardens of Stone" over the next few months or years.

PFC Veit is in the NVARNG, so he'll be home soon.

My buddy-- Ranger/7th SFG(A) veteran-- loved watching Blackhawk Down.

I asked if he ever watched Soldier in the Rain (1963) with the delicious Tuesday Weld, but I don't think he ever did.

This "Army buddy" classic was released a few days after JFK was slain, so it, like other movies, concerts, or football games, became OBE from late Nov-Dec 1963.