Active Duty?

[TimmyBoston]

What are the "Active Duty" tags next to member names?

[Nick]

Tim,

They recognize members who are currently actively serving in a standing military force somewhere in the world.

-Nick

[TimmyBoston]

Very good! Very cool! I wondered if that might be it.

[xChris]

Wow -- thanks for the distinguishing tag -- looks good!

[Jim]

If you are active duty and were missed and you have 20 posts- please drop me a PM.

[daniel]

I saw that last night, but was too tired to comment. This is a very cool addition!

:a14:

[Holton181]

Yet another reason why I love this forum. Thanks for reconizing our boys in service.

[tim8557]

Tim,

They recognize members who are currently actively serving in a standing military force somewhere in the world.

-Nick

GREAT IDEA !!!!!!!

[Mottern Man]

Sorry did I miss someting, I can't see it...........................ohhhhhhh THAT, well you know us Sailors can't even find land! :a54:

[Kyle]

Very cool! :thumbsup:

[Straight Arrow]

Very nice recognition of the ones that put it all on the line for the rest of us.:thumbup1:

[Mr. Clean]

Nice addition. Kudos to both the servicemen and women and to whoever came up with the idea for the recognition. :thumbup1:

[Limey]

Yet another reason why I love this forum. Thanks for reconizing our boys in service.

+1

[Bucnak]

Nice touch, and Thanks to all Serving at the current time, and to those who already have served as well!:thumbup1:

[Groundhog]

Very classy....thanks to all who serve our country.

[Tank7900]

Outstanding, I love it!!!

[Martlet]

Wow, there are a lot more of us on Active Duty here than I would have expected.

[slcsteve]

June 6th always give me pause. It reminded me that the least mentioned and seemingly overlooked veterans are the Korean War vets.

I salute them.

[Labarum]

They recognize members who are currently actively serving in a standing military force somewhere in the world.

.

I wondered what that meant. I am not on active service - in British Parlance at least that means service in a theatre of war.

I command a small training unit - a safe job for an old man.

http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/features/chref/chref.py/main?query=%22active+service%22&title=21st&sourceid=Mozilla-search

Thank you for the kind recognition, but I think you need a different tag.

[Nick]

GREAT IDEA !!!!!!!
It's Jim's baby. He's also the keeper of the list for anyone who has been left out. :thumbup1:

-Nick

[moses]

Thank you for the kind recognition, but I think you need a different tag.

Brian,

Your humility is noble, but I think the tag deserves to stay. This may be partly a Brit/US terminology thing, as well. Here it means full time service (as opposed to reserves, for example - not sure if you have anything equivalent to the reserves?), regardless of where you are serving, or whether you are getting shot at. So, just like all of our chaps and chapettes in full time service but located stateside, we would consider you on active duty. And I see no reason not to honor you as such. Now, if there is a desire to create a special badge for those folks currently serving in combat theaters, that is perhaps a thought.

At any rate I think all that is correct. Military gents, please correct me if I'm wrong.

-Mo

[CapeCodJay]

Very classy....thanks to all who serve our country.

+1 Great job!

[analog_kid]

Great idea, and thanks to all those serving our country!

[Scott of the "C"]

Excellent form! The very least our guys (and gals) deserve...our deepest respect and admiration....that and a great shave:wink:

[Labarum]

Brian, Your humility is noble, but I think the tag deserves to stay. This may be partly a Brit/US terminology thing

This is entirely a Brit/US terminology thing, and I quote the Chambers Dictionary in my first post; but if B & B is an international site (and I hope it is) language that is accurate both sides of the Atlantic should be used.

In British English I am a member of the "Regular Forces" - and, yes, we do have "Reserve Forces"

RNR

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2718

TA

http://www.army.mod.uk/unitsandorgs/ta/index.htm

[The "Regular Reserve" is a little different,
being composed of those recently retired the Regular Army who may be recalled to duty
http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0071.html ]

RAF Reserves

http://www.rafreserves.com/welcome.htm

In recent years we have relied more and more on our Reserve Forces to augment Regular Units and Formations. The "Regulars" (More accurately "Regular Forces") have become more and more stretched with operational commitments in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. It is these folk, Regular or Reserve servicemen and women, who are properly described (in British English) as on "Active Service".

Whether the tag "Active Duty" is appropriately attatched to my name I will let others determine. It is no matter of great principle to me, but I did feel that I needed to clarify the use of the term - it is my friends on "Active Service" in Basra and Helmand Province, Afghanistan who are taking the big risks - I am in "Regular Service" but not on "Active Service".

[Doc4]

I wondered what that meant. I am not on active service - in British Parlance at least that means service in a theatre of war.

I command a small training unit - a safe job for an old man.

http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/features/chref/chref.py/main?query=%22active+service%22&title=21st&sourceid=Mozilla-search

Thank you for the kind recognition, but I think you need a different tag.

My general impression is that Canadians use the same terminology ... when I saw the 'active duty' tag my first thought was that it was to honour members over in Iraq.

But I certainly don't mind a nod to all who serve.

[Scarlatti]

There are many people who do worthwhile jobs (many of whom also put their lives on the line), and it seems to me invidious to single out one particular profession.

[Labarum]

There are many people who do worthwhile jobs (many of whom also put their lives on the line), and it seems to me invidious to single out one particular profession.

Notwithstanding the "Military Covenant"

http://www.army.mod.uk/servingsoldier/usefulinfo/valuesgeneral/adp5milcov/ss_hrpers_values_adp5_0_w.html

which makes it clear that members of the Armed Services offer extraordinary commitment to the nation and are owed extraordinary support, I am inclined to agree with you, Scarlatti.

Firemen, coastguards, police, paramedics and other emergency service workers all put themselves at greater risks than most.

---

And I observe the tag was attached without consultation. The project was no doubt well intentioned, but not, in my opinion, well judged.

---

Edit:

And I am glad the appellation "Active Duty" has been removed from my name - put it down to British Reserve.

Thank you, Mods.

[Scarlatti]

I would not want anyone to think that I do not support the armed services. But this is a SHAVING site.

[DirtyDave]

Two major league thumbs up to all of the people serving in the military today. :thumbup: Thanks to all for your service!

[jkroll]

I would not want anyone to think that I do not support the armed services. But this is a SHAVING site.

I think most reasonable people can respect the armed services as dedicated individuals, as embodying a dedication to the nation's - any nation's - service, without necessarily agreeing with each and every mission they are dispatched on. But in practice, such a distinction, that between supporting the troops and supporting the war, may become blurred - if only in the mind of the beholder - and I agree with Scarlatti insofar as I would prefer any kind of political statement to be restricted to the barbershop, where you can take it or leave it.

In principle, I welcome the extension of the tag to the members of armed services of other countries. This is, after all, an international forum, open to all comers. But relations between nations are not always as cordial as one might wish, and I, for one, would be sorry to see any animosity seep into B&B on this account.

[Austin]

There are many people who do worthwhile jobs (many of whom also put their lives on the line), and it seems to me invidious to single out one particular profession.

I agree that there are certain law enforcement groups, trade groups, etc., that perform duties that put them in harms way but I disagree that it's invidious (nice word) to single out our armed forces. I am a proud parent of a soldier who serves with honor. I worry for my child every day and look forward when this war comes to a conclusion. I am not a political person. I do not belong to any of the major parties. I am a free and independent thinker. I just happen to support our troops.

Andrew

[CapeCodJay]

I agree that there are certain law enforcement groups, trade groups, etc., that perform duties that put them in harms way but I disagree that it's invidious (nice word) to single out our armed forces. I am a proud parent of a soldier who serves with honor. I worry for my child every day and look forward when this war comes to a conclusion. I am not a political person. I do not belong to any of the major parties. I am a free and independent thinker. I just happen to support our troops.

Andrew

Well said Andrew! And thank you son/daughter for me!

[JohnP]

This is entirely a Brit/US terminology thing, and I quote the Chambers Dictionary in my first post; but if B & B is an international site (and I hope it is) language that is accurate both sides of the Atlantic should be used.

In British English I am a member of the "Regular Forces" - and, yes, we do have "Reserve Forces"

RNR

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2718

TA

http://www.army.mod.uk/unitsandorgs/ta/index.htm

[The "Regular Reserve" is a little different,
being composed of those recently retired the Regular Army who may be recalled to duty
http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0071.html ]

RAF Reserves

http://www.rafreserves.com/welcome.htm

In recent years we have relied more and more on our Reserve Forces to augment Regular Units and Formations. The "Regulars" (More accurately "Regular Forces") have become more and more stretched with operational commitments in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. It is these folk, Regular or Reserve servicemen and women, who are properly described (in British English) as on "Active Service".

Whether the tag "Active Duty" is appropriately attatched to my name I will let others determine. It is no matter of great principle to me, but I did feel that I needed to clarify the use of the term - it is my friends on "Active Service" in Basra and Helmand Province, Afghanistan who are taking the big risks - I am in "Regular Service" but not on "Active Service".

Interesting lessons on how things are done across the pond from us. I'm sure as this site was started in the U.S. that the U.S. usage was intended...I'm sure in Poland, Russia, Germany, etc. there is different parlance used as well?
Here Active Duty simply refers to someone serving full time, whether a reservist (in the U.S. sense-could be a 19 year old kid-) called up to full-time or someone doing this for a career.
Here there is no such thing as "Active Service" and "Regular service". All full-time people are considered Active Duty (hence the difference!) and when in a combat zone simply receive hostile fire pay and get to mail letters for free (yippiee!) and if we're lucky, shop at the Brit PX tent, because they have the proper tasty beverages...(we ended up buying from the Iraqis-I guess someone put out word to not sell to us when I was over there)
Then there is "forward deployed" "Sea-Duty/Shore-Duty"(has nothing to do with ships by the way) and all sorts of other things that give the poor personnel people job security...
While your humility due to differences in parlance is appreciated, I'm sure it was simply meant as a compliment...

John P.

[kalle]

But this is a SHAVING site.


But relations between nations are not always as cordial as one might wish, and I, for one, would be sorry to see any animosity seep into B&B on this account.

I agree here. The tag looks like a political statement, even if it maybe isn't intended, and touches upon controversial topics, especially that of US military operations in various countries around the world.

[Mottern Man]

Political statements? Discrimination of others?

@#$%^^*&&^%$$%&^&

Come on, a pin to show who the service members are that's it.


Jim, take mine away. I don't want anyone to know I am a "baby killer".

[Jim]

As the Mod who ran with this idea all I can say is if you are offended by the political statement this makes we are so sorry, In The USA and especially on this shave board our Active Duty members ARE HEROS. If you feel otherwise please show yourself to the door.

This thread is being locked

[Nick]

1. This is not a political statement. I don't see how it can be when we tried our best to give badges to members of standing militaries regardless of nationality. This is recognition of a contribution regardless of geography, nothing more. If you consider a military body comprised of volunteers, charged with defending their country to be inherently political or evil, then you've probably lost sight of what afforded you the luxury to think that way.

2. Badger & Blade is not a politically correct place. Hopefully it's accomodating, inviting, warm, friendly, and fun, but it's not politically correct. I don't waste sleep worrying that someone might raise their hackles because they jumped to conclusions and misunderstood a simple friendly gesture. We're supposed to be gentlemen, and ladies here, not boys and girls. If you're going to make inferences that lead to disdain based solely on speculation... then maybe you shouldn't, you'll be happier. :smile:

-Nick