‘Tis the Season
It’s time again ­to celebrate with family and friends and give thanks for our blessings. It’s also time to reflect on one of our greatest blessings, freedom, which comes with a heavy price.
By Col. Warren S. Lacy, USA-Ret.

This holiday season, as in many other years, thousands of servicemembers around the world are protecting freedom and fighting the war on terrorism. Additionally, our nation and the world are recovering from a calamitous year of natural disasters. As we go to press, Florida is reeling from Wilma’s blows, New Orleans has barely begun recovering from Katrina, and the Gulf Coast is in shambles from a series of storms. National Guard, Reserve, and active component forces all are conducting relief efforts at home. Overseas, more than 1,000 U.S. servicemembers are assisting earthquake relief efforts in Pakistan.

The challenge for Military Officer is to cover the many roles and faces of our military community. Currently, one of our writers is gathering stories from servicemembers who have assisted in hurricane relief. You’ll see these first-person accounts in a future issue. In this month’s edition, however, we’d like to offer some insights to our nation’s military from several unique perspectives.

We begin by speaking with the nation’s top Marine officer, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, Marine Corps commandant. In an interview with Contributing Editor Tom Philpott, Hagee discusses the challenges of Iraq and their effects on the Corps.

“The most important thing [the Iraq experience] has done is we have the best, battle-hardened, well-trained, experienced Marine Corps we have had in some time,” says Hagee. “Just about every unit, regular and reserve, has rotated into Iraq or Afghanistan — some more than once.”

Last April, Hagee updated his “vision and intent” for the Corps. He notes that Marines must remain the nation’s “force in readiness” and that individual Marines are the most critical weapon system. For the rest of the story, see page 46.

Our second article in the line of professional reading tackles a timely legal and ethical issue: “Must the United States comply with the Geneva Conventions in fighting the global war on terrorism?” We asked two legal authorities to give us their takes on this issue. You may read their responses beginning on page 66.
 
Would you like to share your thoughts on this question? If so, go to www.moaa.org/discussion and join MOAA’s discussion forum. We’ll publish selected comments in a future issue.

This holiday season, we should reflect on those who fight for perhaps the greatest gift of all — our freedom. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday!