Response

Provide a 250-350 word response to the posting below. Justify and support your answer using your experience and source support from the assigned readings. I am struck a bit here by the various contexts for the Code’s application in Tamika’s post, particularly her first paragraph. In this context (as well as that of the question itself on captivity), I think we need to consider other stresses that may occur; sometimes, I think we all (myself included) tend to automatically make an assumption that “combat” tasks are more important than "non-combat" tasks, in a professional context. Fair enough, but take that logic a bit further. Considering issues of focus, and translating “non-combat” tasks to “combat” tasks, can one say that all non-combat tasks are menial? (e.g. do you not have to conduct debriefings when deployed?) Or, when you are deployed, are the ONLY things you have to do fly, eat and sleep? (No paperwork, no additional duties, no "non-combat" duties at all). From my experience, there will always be a certain amount of non-combat tasks that have to be accomplished, that no one wants to do, but that still need to be done (my “favorite” being the latrine barrel burn detail from Desert Shield/Storm and OIF/OEF - good leaders NEVER let his/her Soldiers do this without some Officer or Senior NCO participation). To a degree, there is a certain gray area between what tasks can be considered menial, or not tied to combat, and I think the idea of maintaining focus is paramount. When considering questions of focus and cohesion, these questions are very central to how we frame our perspectives. But I digress….What I am getting at is simply that to distinguish types of training for types of Airmen (or jobs) may not be as easy and clean as we think. So, then, does the Code apply just as much in all situations? Peacetime v. Wartime? How so (or why not)? A couple different ways one could address this question. Yes, I know that the question in great part to captivity, but not entirely so – does the Code (or SERE or SIT), have validity in other environments and situations? Dr. B