# US mililtary personnel and illegal orders

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-mililtary-personnel-and-illegal-orders/654096>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 27, 2013, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-mililtary-personnel-and-illegal-orders/654096 "2013-03-27T13:38:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-mililtary-personnel-and-illegal-orders/654096/41 "2013-04-01T00:31:06Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> Quoth **shortride** :
> 
> The code that Marines practice and believe in very seriously is a measurement of a Marines ability to follow orders without question. The part, “without question” is what has cost thousands of Marines their lives but at the same time is what make the United States what it is.

With all due respect, that’s not what made the US what it is; it’s what made Nazi Germany what it was. I don’t believe that any branch of the US military has ever held the position that their personnel should carry out orders without question.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-mililtary-personnel-and-illegal-orders/654096/42 "2013-04-01T02:07:30Z")

</div>

+1

Weird and off comment, particularly when we’re talking about a Code Red. I am sure, thank God, that Marines are taught the “I’m only following orders” discussion of military law.

> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> There is usually no time for discussion in the heat of combat. … The platoon (or company, etc) sergeant may argue the wisdom with a young officer, but as a snuffy your job is to charge and die (or not, if you’re lucky).

“Snuffy”–Black, cynical word for soldier about to die (to snuff it), therefore used by all recruits in field?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-mililtary-personnel-and-illegal-orders/654096/43 "2013-04-01T03:03:26Z")

</div>

> [@Leo\_Bloom](#):
>
> +1
> 
> Weird and off comment, particularly when we’re talking about a Code Red. I am sure, thank God, that Marines are taught the “I’m only following orders” discussion of military law.

If **shortride** is/was a Marine (especially in a combat role), then he may provide some germane perspective.

So, **shortride** , if you’re a Marine, what’s your background?

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-mililtary-personnel-and-illegal-orders/654096.md?page=2)