Military Morale

The Greatest Generation Didn’t Have A Port Call Scheduled

September 3, 2026 by David T. Cloft

The Greatest Generation didn’t have Wi-Fi, DoorDash, FaceTime, scheduled port calls—or an expected return date. They had a war to win. Today’s sailors aren’t the problem; they’re products of a culture that has become extraordinarily good at eliminating discomfort. The question isn’t whether young Americans are “soft.” It’s whether America still teaches resilience before history demands it the hard way.

The Pacific Ocean doesn’t have an HR department, and the enemy doesn’t care about your deployment schedule.

First Cigarettes, Now Tabasco: The Army’s Great Taste Purge

August 23, 2025 by David T. Cloft

Once upon a time, the Army understood two things every Soldier needed in the field: nicotine and fire. Cigarettes were standard in rations for decades—until 1975, when someone in a suit decided “health concerns” mattered more than morale.

A Subtle Change; A Profound Difference.

March 9, 2023 by Joe Heaton

A subtle change; A profound difference. Just a couple years ago, the military mantra was “Mission First, People Always.” Now, the mantra is “People First, Mission Always.“ A small change at the strategic level. Huge implications down in the foxhole. We are the Military. When we do our job, people die. If you put people …