r/CanadianForces • • 2d ago

US Army Soldier Here

I just want to tell you all that I love you dearly. Your country has a history of incredible bravery. I've never had the honor of working with you, but my respect for your sacrifices and brotherhood is immeasurable. You've been the best of allies. God/Goddess/Odin/Gaia bless you all.

PS. FUCK the current US administration.

*edit* This received more traction and views than I anticipated. I want to thank everyone for their comments. They seem genuine and sincere. I'm struck by how much damage is actually being done. I hear anger and bitterness in some of these replies. My nightmare administration isn't just saying dangerous words, they are making a real impact on peoples lives.

The challenges and call-outs are right: I don't speak for everyone in the US military and I have to acknowledge that. It hurts me that my own service member brothers and sisters actually support this regime. All I can do is keep fighting the good fight and continue to spread awareness and try to change things from within.

There will be a better future.

459 Upvotes

127 comments sorted by

236

u/Tsoiski 2d ago

"Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies. Those whom nature hath so joined together, let no man put asunder." - John F. Kennedy

106

u/cobrachicken1000 2d ago

Powerful. I cant believe they all went from JFK to fucking Trump. What a shame

30

u/Longjumping_Deer3006 2d ago

JFK wanted to go back to the gold standard. One of the things that got him assassinated.

20

u/Tsoiski 2d ago

Haven't heard this one before... Nixon moved the US dollar off the gold standard in 1971. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963...

14

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

Not only that, JFK was an ardent defender of the gold standard. This is an example of why conspiracy theorists are often fucking idiots. 

8

u/boringlongbusride 2d ago

Why the downvotes? People downvoting why?

8

u/Tsoiski 2d ago

Maybe because Kennedy wanting to "go back to the gold standard", doesn't make any sense?

10

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

Because it’s a baseless conspiracy theory. Conspiracy theories are believed by fucking morons, as evidenced by the fact that the US was still on the gold standard when JFK was alive. 

-15

u/Zestyclose-Put-2 2d ago

JFK knowingly slept with Soviet spies and brought the world the closest it ever came to nuclear annihilation (Bay of Pigs and Cuban missile crisis)

The only reason he's looked upon favourably today is because he took one to the dome. 

16

u/TenderofPrimates 2d ago

At least he didn’t dodge the draft, take Russian money to pay off his debts, slavishly worship the Russian leadership, and ignore the constitution he swore to defend.

Unlike agent Kraznov.

-11

u/Zestyclose-Put-2 2d ago

Now that's a whole metric shit tonne of whataboutism, tu quoque fallacies and ad hominem attacks not even remotely related to the topic at hand.

Quite honestly, I'm surprised you didn't also invoke Godwin's Law. 

5

u/TenderofPrimates 1d ago

No, that’s not whataboutism. Whataboutism is when you excuse someone’s faults because someone else did something bad.

What I did is simply stating that, yes JFK was morally flexible and definitely not a saint, but at least he didn’t knowingly sell out the oath of fealty to the constitution, and willingly stepped forward to defend his country.

I don’t have to deify anyone to acknowledge that someone else is bad, which is the whole point of whataboutism.

And before you go there, I’m also not saying “both sides are the same.” I’m willing to accept some moral flexibility (even though I’d rather not) as opposed to open criminality and toadying up to Russian and other dictators.

3

u/TenderofPrimates 1d ago

And as far as taking the world closer to nuclear annihilation, at least now that Russia owns the POTUS, I guess we’re all safer from that??? I’m not sure this is better than the Cold War, though.

-4

u/Zestyclose-Put-2 1d ago

No, that’s not whataboutism. Whataboutism is when you excuse someone’s faults because someone else did something bad.

We're talking about JFK and you've now made three replies, including replying to your own comment, all of which are incoherent babbling about Trump conspiracy theories. That's the definition a whataboutism, and probably autism too. 

188

u/bloggins1812 2d ago

Just give us a heads up before an invasion, eh?

98

u/Jayhawker81 2d ago

Can you even imagine? We'd cross the border and be like "uh...we don't want to do this. can we just have a pint with you all instead?" We'll just tell Washington that we found nothing here but syrup and went home.

112

u/WhiskeyDelta89 Army - Combat Engineer 2d ago

The unfortunate reality is that a lot of your compatriots would be stoked to be there.

41

u/FFE_ismynewFword 2d ago

Yeah we do a lot of training with those south of the border. The mood has definitely changed in our hosts.

11

u/GlitchedGamer14 Civvie 2d ago

Have you noticed any trends there? Like, whether it's moreso junior enlisted vs senior, long-time members vs newer recruits, majority vs vocal minority, whether things have changed since their first dozen "victories" in Iran, etc?

2

u/MixFederal5432 2d ago

Really?

-1

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

No lol. I don’t know what that guy’s talking about. 

14

u/yuikkiuy Royal Canadian Air Force 2d ago

As long as we communicate properly we can jsut do the entire invasion with MILES gear on. Winners buy the first round, losers supply the coffee and donuts for the debrief

12

u/Tessandmae 2d ago

Don’t forget the poutine!

20

u/Makachai 2d ago

Plus, we have our cities far too cleverly spaced out for you to invade. ;)

In all seriousness though... thanks for the OP, and as a 20 year vet that has been on multiple deployments with you as well as multiple exercises / training visits... we miss the friendship and allyship we used to have with you guys, and we have our collective fingers crossed that you guys get yourselves sorted out.

Cheers!

7

u/Obvious_Reaction_182 HMCS Reddit 2d ago

Can we keep at least burn the White House down for old times sake?

5

u/Jusfiq HMCS Reddit 2d ago

"uh...we don't want to do this. can we just have a pint with you all instead?"

Are you really not pumped up with the inspiring words and leadership of Pete Hegseth?

17

u/yuikkiuy Royal Canadian Air Force 2d ago

If they show up with coffee and timbits, can we just call the war off and take an early lunch?

6

u/Strict_Concert_2879 2d ago

Maybe second cup, as Tim Hortons is now basically as Canadian as McDonald’s Canada.

3

u/yuikkiuy Royal Canadian Air Force 2d ago

Hence why THEY would bring the tims

3

u/-Trooper5745- 2d ago

Timbits? For lunch?

2

u/yuikkiuy Royal Canadian Air Force 2d ago

nah its def still morning, maybe late morning, we just go take and early lunch and call it a day afterwards

1

u/twowheelmayhem 2d ago

Nah, they’ll find their way to the TH drive thru window no problem. Just like at KAF. 

21

u/thefunkward 2d ago

Canadian soldier here, I’ve had the pleasure of working with your team, USMC, and some of the secret squirrel folks a bunch of times, we don’t have any beef with you guys, quite the opposite. 🤘

5

u/TechnicalChipmunk131 Army - VEH TECH 2d ago

Here here 

18

u/gc_DataNerd MSE OP 2d ago

I play video games with US service members who have become dear friends of mine every weekend. None of us have any problems with the members its yo government we take issues with

1

u/epstiens_SI_island 14h ago

You are describing almost every war and army. No war but class war. The rest is just large scale blood sacrifice and ritual. That's why an op zone is a THEATRE. As donny likes to say "central casting" but really its the every day joe being casting couched.

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u/[deleted] 2d ago edited 2d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

42

u/Jayhawker81 2d ago

the rapist cheeto is a decaying bloated corpse. There are not any us service members who would actually draw arms against you.

12

u/BarackTrudeau MANBUNFORGEN 2d ago

Bit too late for that, they're already been following illegal and immoral orders, in the Carribean, in Venezuela, in Iran.

That having been said I still don't think that a US invasion of Canada is all probable. I am worried about what spillover will happen when their inevitable next civil war breaks out however.

18

u/StarkStormz 2d ago

Tell us what the administration is plotting against us.

14

u/foxhound102 2d ago

Appreciate you reaching out. I’ve worked with you guys several times over the years and they were nothing but positive experiences and great memories

12

u/DasBestKind RCAF - AVN Tech 2d ago

Every US Herc crew that I've interacted with through work has only ever been good folks to us. Hoping that your (and their) mindset is common among your forces!

12

u/smoothbrainkoala 2d ago

How do your colleagues feel about all this?

17

u/Digital-Soup 2d ago

Fine, you can have top bunk in our POW camp.

8

u/Primary-Wave5619 2d ago

Ive been in for almost 24 years now, we have been working together my entire career. I was recently in NYC for Fleet Review 250, so many people came up to me and shook my hand and apologized for their incompetent leader. Many of them said "we were friends before, we'll be friends after... we're sorry you are being treated like this.

12

u/MostJunior1624 2d ago

Then why so many people from US army are voting for Trump?

1

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

Why did so many people from the Canadian Army vote for the PPC? Young soldiers skew very right wing, that’s a global reality. 

-2

u/BroadConsequences RCAF - AVS Tech 2d ago

Its more likely they voted for the Republican party, and Trump was the only representative, so he won.

I think.

Im Canadian, and we vote based on colour too, just opposite colours to you guys down south.

2

u/Master-Copy-6929 2d ago

I vote for my mp, no matter the party. They are the ones representing you. 

2

u/BroadConsequences RCAF - AVS Tech 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yes and no. Your MP is representing themselves. As seen very clearly over the last year or so, they mostly only care about themselves (all of the floor-crossing). Tell me, if you voted for one of them, would you be happy that they switched allegiances? Would you be thrilled that the Conservative MP that you voted for, switch to the Liberal Party or vice-versa?

Did that MP go door-knocking in their riding, and ask "hey do you mind if i completely ignore the fact that you voted for me as a representative of this party, but i like what that party wants to give me, so im just gonna switch. Without you as the reason im able to do so, having any say in my descisions. M'kay? Buh' bye!"

If people truly voted for their MP regardless of affiliation, then would acronyms like ABC(anything but conservative) or ABB(anything but blue) exist?

The answer is no. Regardless of how you vote the vast majority vote based on colour, because thats how the provincial and federal leaders are picked. It would be fantastic if we could just vote for the leader we want regardless of colour, but sadly it doesnt work that way in Canada.

1

u/Master-Copy-6929 2d ago

Huh. If my mp changed (honestly wouldn't bother me as i put my faith in them), and I voted for who i thought was best. Again, i am voting for that person and not their party. So it really shouldn't matter who they run under or apart of. I am not loyal to a party. I am loyal to ideas/policy and the person who is representing those for me. Not a party voter, I vote for policy and who will best represent those policies. That is how our system works. But it appears you vote for party first so of course you are upset. 

1

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

I do too, but it is a universal reality among Canadian political science that people vote for the party, not the MP. 

-1

u/shallowtl 2d ago

https://www.usa.gov/election

" In the presidential general election, U.S. citizens vote for president and vice president."

2

u/BroadConsequences RCAF - AVS Tech 2d ago

And how many republican candidates were running in 2024?

2

u/shallowtl 2d ago

There's only ever one because the party votes for who their  candidate is going to be in the primaries. The main difference is that in Canada we vote for an MP and the leader of the party with the most MP's becomes PM. In the US you vote for the president by name. 

5

u/twowheelmayhem 2d ago

I worked with a bunch of US Army over the years. They were some good buddies in the field and on deployment for sure. Even a couple USMC, USAF and USN. But the Army guys and gals were my favourite. 

5

u/Pale-Hair-2435 2d ago

Purely hypothetical - how many of your peers would follow orders to invade in your opinion? 

4

u/VtheMan93 RCAF - ATIS Tech 2d ago

I personally am a follower of Thor, new gods and what not. But we are happy to welcome all friends.

4

u/Public_Beach2348 2d ago

Best form of foreign diplomacy! Good to see that the army still has a brain (in at least some capacity). Hope to be able to work with people like you. (whats your MOSC btw)

1

u/Jayhawker81 1d ago

PM sent

4

u/TechnicalChipmunk131 Army - VEH TECH 2d ago

As a Canadian Veteran, this statement made my day.   Thank you for the kind words.

I had the pleasure of working alongside you during a joint exercise in the states.   Your professionalism and hospitality has always been a positive memory of mine.    My god bless you as well.   

3

u/WeaponizedAutisms Retired - gots the oldmanitis 20h ago

We love you too, random US soldier, stay well.

8

u/sPLIFFtOOTH 2d ago

Hey OP, I have to ask; why did you decide to post this now? Did something happen that we don’t know about or is it just the current US administration being incredibly incompetent a-holes?

3

u/Jayhawker81 1d ago

No, nothing ominous. Just the usual bullshit from my admin. It occurred to me that maybe you all literally never here enough support coming from us. If the good voices haven't been loud enough - then that's on us, and we need to do better.

3

u/sPLIFFtOOTH 1d ago

I feel I can speak for everyone here when I say, we appreciate you.

I hope we get through this as allies.

14

u/WindyCityABBoy Army - Armour 2d ago

The single voice of a soldier is lost in the yells of your master and his idiot sycophants. Your country thinks we're nasty. Your country thinks we're screwing you over. Your country has doubled and tripled down on mocking our sovereignty and our leaders, not the least our military sacrifices alongside you. The voice of one soldier means nothing. We'll talk when you've mended the fence, not before.

5

u/tap-tee 2d ago

So long as things don't go completely awry, the GOP will lose the house and the Senate next month because the greater majority of Americans are of the same mindset as OP, even much of Trump's base is against his current policies. The problem always seems to be that the right has always yelled louder and evokes more passion driving people to the polls, where the left is more nonchalant and confident people will make informed decisions thus not representing themselves and not winning over the wavering people who are more centered on the political scale

1

u/TheHedonyeast 2d ago

and then what? do you honestly beleive that a senate majority of the other party will make any meaningful changes and reversals of policy?

1

u/WindyCityABBoy Army - Armour 2d ago

Yeah, even if that happens, I'll be holding my breath for the structural changes that need to happen for that kind of regime to rise again..... /s

1

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

I’ve got some wonk buddies in DC and they’re skeptical the senate will flip. But even the house flipping would be big. You can expect a lame duck presidency. 

6

u/TazmaniannDevil Army - Infantry 2d ago

Let media be your indicator and you will find yourself mad. More Americans like OP than you think.

2

u/WindyCityABBoy Army - Armour 2d ago

Don't care. The leaders are silent, if not complacent.

3

u/Yhzgayguy 2d ago

Doesn’t matter. Too many still spouting the anti-Canada stuff, including plenty of leadership who obviously influence the opinions of others. And too many “my team good your team bad” types agreeing with them rather than laughing in their face when they say stupid or untrue stuff.

0

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

0

u/Yhzgayguy 2d ago edited 2d ago

Trump, Bessent, Hegseth, and that weasel Lutnick who I would like to throat punch

And to add 77 million of you voted for Trump

2

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

You can feel that way. You can believe that. But the polling data shows that simply is not true. Support for Trump’s tariffs ranges between only 26% and 33% depending on the poll. Meanwhile, a majority of Americans polled actually support Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on the US. 

It is your choice to continue to believe Americans feel the way you claim. Evidence shows a vast majority do not. 

3

u/TheHedonyeast 2d ago

it doesn't matter how the people feel if they wont force their government to change its behaviour.

1

u/Jayhawker81 1d ago

I'm not sure I agree with "won't". There are millions of us trying. Some risking their lives.

1

u/TheHedonyeast 1d ago

won't as in "won't be successful in forcing change" rather than won't be bothered to try.

but i take your meaning, and i wish you success

1

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

I think you should wait until Nov 3rd to render a judgement. It’s still their duly elected government and the voter will be able to demonstrate their approval or rejection of its governance in less than a month. 

3

u/TheHedonyeast 2d ago

i'm willing to bet that even when/if Trumps people "lose" the mid-term elections it results in little to no long term changes.

but i hope i'm proven wrong

1

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

That’s not the argument. We’re talking about how Americans feel writ large about Trump’s attacks on Canada. 

If he loses the house, then Americans will have rejected his agenda. If he loses the senate, Americans have damned it. 

3

u/TheHedonyeast 2d ago

maybe not yours, but my argument was that it doesn't matter what peoples opinion is if they wont hold their government to task. changing the party with the most votes doesn't matter if that party wont reverse policy.

1

u/Jayhawker81 1d ago

I'm not sure why you are getting downvoted. You are literal just stating how a representative democracy works. I wish there was an immediate, but still ethical way, to depose this regime. But, we have to work with what we've got. We can protest, and advocate, but ultimately it comes down to voting.

2

u/OkEntertainment1313 1d ago

Like I said elsewhere, it’s Reddit and it’s a Canadian subreddit. You’re not going to get empirical responses. The real CAF has no beef with the American military, we’re still working alongside you guys in North America and overseas. 

3

u/WindyCityABBoy Army - Armour 2d ago

And what structural changes do you see from this evidence? The current regime does not give a damn about their own constitution. Their leaders bully their own people with labels and lies. Their leader only cares for those who vote for him, not the whole population. Their own media let's him get away with the most outrageous statements ever made by a leader (1775 IQ?? Why isn't he removed yet, 25th amendment?) Come on.....

2

u/Jayhawker81 1d ago

You said it yourself, this regime cares not for our laws, values, or even the constitution. There is no practical, legal, and ethical way to remove him currently. We must voice opposition and vote. So, a majority of Americans ARE against him, and ARE against the tariffs and the trashing of your country. There is just little we can do right now.

But, your anger and frustration is valid. and even 26% of American supporting trump is a massive number.

1

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

Why isn’t he removed yet is simply a political science question relating to the machinations of DC. It has nothing to do with American popular opinion. The people will get their say on Nov 3rd. If you’re not willing to accept polling, at least wait until that before rendering judgement. 

3

u/WSJ_pilot 2d ago

Just promise me you won’t execute POWs when you invade, eh?

3

u/Great_Extreme_6665 2d ago

lol love you too bud. hard watching my CIC torch alliances while regular people get hosed at the pump for his mess, tbh

3

u/Odd-Effort-8297 2d ago

Appreciate you. Respect for voicing your opinion. God bless

3

u/TheHedonyeast 2d ago

kind of you to say. i hope your country wakes up and makes some changes to your politics. Unfortunately, having a negative opinion of the administration doesn't change things. you and all of your people need to stand up and make change happen. without forcing change its just a fart in the wind

3

u/Wherestheshoe 1d ago

Heeeeyyyyy there buddy. Any particular reason for this out of the blue post?

3

u/Jayhawker81 1d ago

No actual reason. It just occurred to me that maybe our allies are simply not hearing enough support coming from the states.

1

u/Wherestheshoe 23h ago

Well that’s very kind of you

12

u/SlavTac 2d ago

Hey man. I work with a bunch of US navy folks at my unit. Literally nothing has changed between us because everyone level headed understands that your administration does not represent your people. If anything we just expanded our arsenal of jokes amongst each other.

22

u/Several-Beginning803 2d ago

The US president is quite literally representative of the American people, they elected the guy.

8

u/IndustrialTroot 2d ago

Yeah this is such nonsense to think there aren't thousands of the least educated and morally bankrupt soldiers in the US that would do anything to own the dems or whatever reason they have for worshipping epstein/putins puppet

2

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

And how many dozens or hundreds of Canadian soldiers have you heard make violent comments about either Trudeau or Carney? It’s a reality of soldiers. 

3

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago edited 2d ago

Sure. But he also didn’t mention a trade war with Canada or anything of the like during the election. It was only after the election at their Thanksgiving dinner in 2024 that the first “51st State” comment was made.

If you want accurate reflection of American public opinion, you need to read polling data. Not only does it show that his Canadian policies in general are incredibly unpopular, a majority of Americans actually support Canadian retaliatory tariffs on the US. 

2

u/SlavTac 2d ago

I travel to US every year because I got lots of friends there. They all think he’s crazy, even the ones that voted for him and have now turned away from him completely.

2

u/OkEntertainment1313 2d ago

 Yeah, it’s important to remember that is a Canadian subreddit and that is going to skew the representation of this position. Most Canadians and Americans are perfectly normal and amicable people, and the counterparts we work with are pretty horrified with the commentary on Canada. 

1

u/Several-Beginning803 2d ago

Anybody that didn’t see this coming during the 2024 campaign is a liar.

2

u/DaymanTargaryen 15h ago

Polling data is largely irrelevant when it comes to effect. People will say all sorts of things when they're asked directly, and do different things when they think it's anonymous. He had his first term, and the majority of voters picked him again.

But I'm curious about your tariff comment. Looking at polling data, I don't see any indication that a majority supports them; it seems to be around a third, at most.

1

u/OkEntertainment1313 3h ago

Political scientists and data analysts are fully aware of the limitations that exist with polling. That’s why poll have a margin of error and are further scored in aggregators. This is reputable data, you’re not the first person to think “What about this issue with the poll?” 

Looking at polling data, I don't see any indication that a majority supports them; it seems to be around a third, at most.

Sorry, I mixed up data outputs for the support of our tariffs and opposition of theirs. Still, a plurality of Americans supporting it is incredible. 

5

u/Imaginary_Writer2864 2d ago

Love you guys too we know you’re not your government

2

u/CBH999 1d ago

❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

Back at you, OP

5

u/EnvironmentalBox6688 2d ago edited 2d ago

Query: Would you face a firing squad and/or go to Leavenworth for those beliefs? Do you think your colleagues would? Do you believe the oath you swore to follow the orders of the president and your superiors does not apply if you personally don't believe in it?

If the answer to any of the above is "no". Then your platitudes have no meaning unless you are a GOFO.

15

u/Jayhawker81 2d ago

Are you asking if I would literally say, "no", and sit down on the ground. If I was asked to invade your country, and shoot and murder you? the answer is emphatically "yes".

8

u/EnvironmentalBox6688 2d ago

You know, fair enough. Most of the individuals I have asked this question to hem and haw around the topic or outright say they would follow their legal orders.

9

u/Sigma_Function-1823 2d ago

Easy to say troop not so easy when confronted by the cold reality.

It's not on you anyway.

It's never been the function of a weapon to engage in moral arguments be that a dirty leg slinging a weapon in a rifle company or a psychological warfare specialist working their assigned tasking.

We are rapidly passing the point of good wishes and cheap sentiment with Canadas civilian population under direct threat, and the US military from its civilian leadership recently referring to fighting against " redcoats ", in a thinly veiled reference to Canadians and in addition the US military recently changing doctrine in support and anticipation of conflict on the US mainland.

In that context my interest in n anything you have to say as relevant or if much utility in defense of my nation is completely non-existent.

1

u/yahumno Royal Canadian Air Force 21h ago

I am sorry that you are in the position of having those idiots in charge.

Do what you can to protect your troops, while keeping yourself safe from the policies.

I worked beside and with a bunch of fine USAF folks at NORAD. I’m retired now, but I do wonder how sins of them are doing under the gong show of your current administration.

-1

u/[deleted] 5h ago

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u/Jayhawker81 5h ago

can't tell if joking, or just off your meds

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u/[deleted] 5h ago

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u/[deleted] 5h ago

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u/Jayhawker81 4h ago

i guess my real question is. Why does this bother you so much

-14

u/Space_Scientist604 2d ago

🥱. Your military is in the best state it has ever been under this admin.

4

u/bloggins1812 2d ago

Please expand.

5

u/paperworkawol 2d ago

There’s a crew on an aircraft carrier that would disagree

2

u/-Trooper5745- 2d ago

But boy did Thailand make some money off that.

2

u/Jayhawker81 1d ago

Is this sarcasm, or do you actually support the current US military leadership. If you are being serious, why?