In the U.S. Military, we all follow orders. Orders are enforced to ensure a disciplined force. One of the most important set of orders for the U.S. Military is the General Orders for Sentries. Originally there were eleven, but in more modern times, the U.S. Army broke from the ranks of the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard to form a consolidated set of three General Orders for Sentries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Orders_for_Sentries
General Order #1:
"I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved."
General Order #2:
"I will obey my special orders and perform all of my duties in a military manner."
General Order #3:
"I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions, to the commander of the relief."
Since the U.S. military forces have entered the Middle East over the past three decades, we have had to adjust our behavior to accommodate our hosts. In 2000, a new set of General Orders was issues for those Service Members serving inside CENTOM (U.S. Central Command) in the Middle East region. This is known as General Order 1A, and subsequently 1B. Among the prohibitions are:
No Alcohol. Since we are in a Muslim country and the Quran forbids alcohol, U.S. Forces cannot partake of alcoholic beverages. No matter that the majority of our coalition partners still do it without any repercussions with the host governments. Likewise, many, many Muslims, especially the rich ones have fully stocked bars in their own homes just out of sight of the general public and hide their vice with piousness much in the same way that Southern Baptists do in the United States.
No Pornography. Pornography is also illegal in Muslim countries, although not banned per se in the Quran. When Troops have been caught with print form pornography, funny thing is that usually it was the locals who supplied it to them.
No Illegal (Non-Prescription) Drugs. No matter that Afghanistan is the leading producer of Opium in the world, illegal drugs are also banned. Not that they aren't back in the U.S., but I think it's probably better just to include it in this list of vices and be done with it.
No Gambling. Making wagers is forbidden in Islamic countries. Unless of course you're in one of the wealthy ones like Dubai, Abu Dabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, etc. etc. etc. However, that really doesn't stop American Service Members from playing Fantasy Football for a pot of money.
No Sex. Until just a couple of years ago, consensual sex between un-married individuals was forbidden, although the PX still sold condoms and the TMC gave them away. Let me clarify that: If you were married and just happened to also be deployed together, you could in theory live together and have sex. Just in 2008, the ban for consensual (heterosexual sex) was lifted, however, there were caveats. You may not cohabitate, reside with, or sleep over with a member of the opposite sex, and the door must be open when mixed company is present. (What is this? The 19th century?) And a ban on sex with local nationals is still in place. The ban on homosexual sex is set to be lifted soon. But we all know that has always occurred just as much as the other. What is still banned is pregnancy.
No Proselytizing. Some Service Members feel compelled by their faith to spread it. There have been cases where Christian churches have sent over Bibles in Arabic, Dari, or Pushtu to hand out and spread "The Word". When they are discovered, the offenders are disciplined and the foreign language Bibles are confiscated and destroyed/burned. By stark contrast, burning a Quran is prohibited as it incites violence...
No mascots or pets. Animals in the third world have a sorry lot in life, and they're often reviled as dirty or unclean by the locals in the Middle East. (Really, have you seen some of these people and wondered if they know what soap is?) A large number of them are exposed to all sorts of bio hazards, and as such are vectors for diseases, particularly rabies. Occasionally a story of an animal so extraordinary surfaces that special arrangements are made to have the new pet quarantined and vaccinated in order to have them imported back into the U.S. These occurrences are rare and require approval basically from the top.
No taking of archaeological or cultural items. From the specific language of the order: "Removing, possessing, selling, defacing or destroying archaeological artifacts or national treasures." Furthermore, Section 2(k) prohibits "Taking or retaining individual souvenirs or trophies," but "does not preclude the lawful acquisition of souvenirs that can be legally imported into the United States". This came into play after the looting of Iraq in 2003.
I know to most civilians and non-military types these rules seem silly, but the General Orders keep good order and discipline within the ranks of the U.S. Military. They provide a framework for acting ethically and respectfully with our host nation's inhabitants, even if most of those locals don't follow those rules themselves. Leading by example, the U.S. Military. The greatest fighting force the world has ever known.
More to follow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Orders_for_Sentries
General Order #1:
"I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved."
General Order #2:
"I will obey my special orders and perform all of my duties in a military manner."
General Order #3:
"I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions, to the commander of the relief."
Since the U.S. military forces have entered the Middle East over the past three decades, we have had to adjust our behavior to accommodate our hosts. In 2000, a new set of General Orders was issues for those Service Members serving inside CENTOM (U.S. Central Command) in the Middle East region. This is known as General Order 1A, and subsequently 1B. Among the prohibitions are:
No Alcohol. Since we are in a Muslim country and the Quran forbids alcohol, U.S. Forces cannot partake of alcoholic beverages. No matter that the majority of our coalition partners still do it without any repercussions with the host governments. Likewise, many, many Muslims, especially the rich ones have fully stocked bars in their own homes just out of sight of the general public and hide their vice with piousness much in the same way that Southern Baptists do in the United States.
No Pornography. Pornography is also illegal in Muslim countries, although not banned per se in the Quran. When Troops have been caught with print form pornography, funny thing is that usually it was the locals who supplied it to them.
No Illegal (Non-Prescription) Drugs. No matter that Afghanistan is the leading producer of Opium in the world, illegal drugs are also banned. Not that they aren't back in the U.S., but I think it's probably better just to include it in this list of vices and be done with it.
No Gambling. Making wagers is forbidden in Islamic countries. Unless of course you're in one of the wealthy ones like Dubai, Abu Dabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, etc. etc. etc. However, that really doesn't stop American Service Members from playing Fantasy Football for a pot of money.
No Sex. Until just a couple of years ago, consensual sex between un-married individuals was forbidden, although the PX still sold condoms and the TMC gave them away. Let me clarify that: If you were married and just happened to also be deployed together, you could in theory live together and have sex. Just in 2008, the ban for consensual (heterosexual sex) was lifted, however, there were caveats. You may not cohabitate, reside with, or sleep over with a member of the opposite sex, and the door must be open when mixed company is present. (What is this? The 19th century?) And a ban on sex with local nationals is still in place. The ban on homosexual sex is set to be lifted soon. But we all know that has always occurred just as much as the other. What is still banned is pregnancy.
No Proselytizing. Some Service Members feel compelled by their faith to spread it. There have been cases where Christian churches have sent over Bibles in Arabic, Dari, or Pushtu to hand out and spread "The Word". When they are discovered, the offenders are disciplined and the foreign language Bibles are confiscated and destroyed/burned. By stark contrast, burning a Quran is prohibited as it incites violence...
No mascots or pets. Animals in the third world have a sorry lot in life, and they're often reviled as dirty or unclean by the locals in the Middle East. (Really, have you seen some of these people and wondered if they know what soap is?) A large number of them are exposed to all sorts of bio hazards, and as such are vectors for diseases, particularly rabies. Occasionally a story of an animal so extraordinary surfaces that special arrangements are made to have the new pet quarantined and vaccinated in order to have them imported back into the U.S. These occurrences are rare and require approval basically from the top.
No taking of archaeological or cultural items. From the specific language of the order: "Removing, possessing, selling, defacing or destroying archaeological artifacts or national treasures." Furthermore, Section 2(k) prohibits "Taking or retaining individual souvenirs or trophies," but "does not preclude the lawful acquisition of souvenirs that can be legally imported into the United States". This came into play after the looting of Iraq in 2003.
I know to most civilians and non-military types these rules seem silly, but the General Orders keep good order and discipline within the ranks of the U.S. Military. They provide a framework for acting ethically and respectfully with our host nation's inhabitants, even if most of those locals don't follow those rules themselves. Leading by example, the U.S. Military. The greatest fighting force the world has ever known.
More to follow.
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