LETTER: Leave room for U.S. military

Editor,

I joined the United States Navy little over a year ago but follow USU’s news. (I left as a junior and plan to return come the end of my enlistment.)

Recently, I have read the series of letters addressing the National Guardsman use of Blackhawks on the Quad. I find the opinion, that the use of the Blackhawks as being overly “disturbing,” distressful. First, I would like to point out that these exercises are very infrequent and I do not understand how they could really have that significant of an impact on the school. If a student really wants to be there and learn, they will. If they would prefer to be lazy and inattentive (as many are in the “MTV-generation”) they do not need helicopters as an excuse to not pay attention.

Even if the exercises are only a recruiting stunt, that should not automatically make them unnecessary, or unwanted. It was mentioned that a person who has paid great amounts of money to go to school should be able to have a pristine learning environment. What about the debt owed to our country? Retention and recruiting rates in the military have been decreasing over the last several years and I find it appalling that the very people who tout the legitimacy of the war on terror and the war in Iraq (Utah is in many accounts the most conservative state in the Union) would say in the same sentence “do not recruit in MY neighborhood.” Isn’t this hypocritical?

Finally, this delicate temperament towards the use of military equipment seems to be widespread. I am stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas with the HM-15 Mine countermeasures squadron which conducts bi-annual operations on the beach. Recently, we have been uprooted since campers near the state park where we conduct these exercises were continually complaining about the noise. What happens when there is nowhere left to conduct these vital drills and these services are called up in a time of need? Patriots really need to re-think their “not in my neighborhood” mentality.

Traci Strong