Yeah but we get to wear a right nice gear that pulls the chicks....

The Romans had a crazy idea. They wanted to make the World Roman. The amazing thing was they actually gave it a pretty good try. Of all of Rome’s achievements the Roman Army was one of the greatest. Every soldier had four basic jobs to do.

The first is obvious, conquering, he is trained to fight and kill just as every soldier is. The second job is fairly straightforward as well. Once you have conquered your enemy you must control them, so the Army also acted as a “police” force in every territory they controlled. The third job is the interesting one, Having smashed the enemies country to bits the Army will then start to rebuild it. Not as it was, but in the style of Rome, roads, towns, cities, baths, temples, arenas the lot, and it’s not just for the Romans it’s for everyone to use. The last job is to patrol the borders to stop anyone else from causing trouble.[1]

How Poor Kids are Made to Fight Wars for the Rich

by Chris Hedges, Boston Review

We condition the poor and the working class to go to war. We promise them honor, status,
glory, and adventure. We promise boys they will become men. We hold these promises up
against the dead-end jobs of small-town life, the financial dislocations, credit card debt, bad marriages, lack of health insurance, and dread of unemployment. The military is the call
of the Sirens, the enticement that has for generations seduced young Americans working
in fast food restaurants or behind the counters of Walmarts to fight and die for war profiteers
and elites.
I learned at an early age that when the poor fall no one picks them up, while the rich
stumble and trip their way to the top.                    
Click to read more How Poor Kids Are Made to Fight Wars for the Rich

Image of Bear River Tom Smith (1838-1870)

Frontierado is about the myth of the American west, not the grinding reality.

Read about four forgotten gunslingers with cool names at Balladeer's Blog

Image and text on Roman Army Life snitched from Lore-and-Saga UK
Image of Bear River Tom rustled from Balladeer's Blog