Doing The Mission

  I want everyone who is incarcerated, no matter what the reason, to be treated at least as well as the members of our Military Services while they are out “Doing The Mission”. For any that are not familiar with military life let me explain what that means:
  The mantra is “Mission, People, Everything Else”. The primary requirement to accomplish the mission is both obvious and trivial in this discussion. The second requirement is stated as taking care of the people who accomplish the mission. What does taking care mean? They are put in no more physical danger than is required to accomplish the mission. They are equipped with the tools they need to accomplish the mission. They are adequately fed and clothed. Their creature comforts are looked to as well as circumstances allow. They are returned to their communities knowing they have honorably completed the mission.
  Let me detail what that meant to me while deployed for 6 months at a time. The work day is set by the tasks to be accomplished and a mere 8 hours of work is a holiday. Sleep is a luxury taken when all the tasks are completed, I have existed for weeks on 4 hours of sleep a day taken in 30 minute cat naps. Tasks include the Warfighter role as well as domestic housekeeping, digging holes, maintaining vehicles, training, hauling trash, guard mount, etc., etc. One shower every ten days makes tactical spacing between individuals a welcomed requirement. Living accommodations are split between under the sky and under canvas. There is no TV, no air conditioning, no recliner, no beer in the ‘fridge. Bed is a cot, a plastic mat on the ground, the front seat of a Hummer, a tree, or any other handy object that will prop you up for awhile. Luxury is being able to take ones boots off for 15 minutes after four days and put on clean socks. Food is defined as two cold and one hot — meaning two meals of MRE’s (dehydrated food out of plastic bag) plus one meal that is actually “prepared”. This hot meal is usually delivered in insulated cans, served lukewarm — whether intended to be hot or cold — and without ceremony eaten in the open. You also can’t be otherwise engaged in combat, training, driving, sleeping, washing, guard, etc., when it arrives because they won’t hold it for you. Clean means the grunge on your fingers and hands is not thick enough to fall into your coffee when eating. When not engaged in the front line mission there is laundry, hair cuts, training, exercise, discipline, maintenance, and rock painting.
  Note that there is nothing in the above discussion that indicates any participant “likes” taking part in these activities. “Like” has nothing to do with it. These people willingly forego ‘like” to accomplish a mission vital, or at least important, to the welfare of the people of the United States. Don’t ask me to treat those who break our laws and harm our residents better than I treat those who bravely and honorably defend our country and our people. I simply will not do that.
  Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Maricopa County, Arizona has the idea. Most military members who have spent any time deployed anywhere in the world would find his jail familiar and comfortable. Our penal system needs to study and learn from his activities. They need to make the penal system effective, efficient, focused, and above all, a place that no one wants to revisit. Recidivism is best corrected by making the penalty substantially less attractive than the alternatives. And I certainly don’t want criminals better treated and more comfortable than our military members around the world.