Season 8, Episode 16: Bottle Fatigue
Special Guest Stars: Dr. Anj and Scott X
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Okay, I am not very far into this podcast, but I have to jump in now regarding booze in a combat zone. European militaries still issue rations of alcoholic beverages. Our country’s history with alcohol is more complicated. Here’s a site with sourced information on when the rations stopped and started for the U. S. military: https://www.alcoholproblemsandsolutions.org/alcohol-rations-in-us-military-history-early-history/
Here’s a neat BBC article I ran across summarizing the history of alcohol consumption in America: https://www.alcoholproblemsandsolutions.org/alcohol-rations-in-us-military-history-early-history/
Specific to the club system (officer and NCO clubs), they are one of many functions on a base paid for wholly or in part by non-appropriated funds (NAF). That means they’re expected to be partially or fully self-supporting. Other services at least partially paid for with NAF include chapel ministries, the base exchange, the outdoor recreation shop where you rent camping gear and athletic equipment, the auto hobby shop, and the arts and crafts shop. That list is from the top of my head and not comprehensive. But they are generally things it’s harder to justify to the taxpayer than food rations, fuel, and ammunition.
The history of drinking down range (in a combat zone) is even more complicated. It’s a lot more restricted now than it was in Korea or Vietnam. There are a lot of places where it’s absolutely forbidden, except for certain authorized exceptions. Sometimes Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines (and presumably even Space Force Guardians) need to blow off steam. (NOTE: With junior Marines and Army Rangers, it’s generally best that it happens in a very controlled environment). And sometimes, you need to build relationships with people from other cultures, and drinking together can help. There are also places where consumption is permitted, but limited. That’s usually at an air base far away from, but directly supporting the fight.
Sometimes, people make unauthorized exceptions to alcohol restrictions. I can expound at length on how and where this might occur, but it may be best if I do so when you are not recording.
I promise, the text above had paragraph breaks before I clicked “POST COMMENT.” And I haven’t had anything this morning but coffee and eggs!