Warrior NOT Fighting Skills

[EDELWEISS]

This seems a good place to discuss some NOT Fighting skills every warrior should have.

Language skills--We can start with your primary language. At one time that would be silly to suggest since every school kid, knew how to diagram a sentence AND how to speak "The Kings English"; but thats hardly the case anymore. Im even open to a sub category of profanity, (you should be able to tell how much time a soldier has, by how long he can cuss without repeating himself). However it seems that a true warrior should know when to use each of these categories. Next and I think very much over looked a warrior should know a foreign language. There was a time where it was an insult to say, "He knows little Latin and even less Greek". A foreign language is a skill of patience. Some seem to find it easier than others. Along with this, is the ability to speak in public.

Manners -- They seem to be almost a lost art. Perhaps its because theres little penalty for ignoring them.

Dinner Skills -- We can start with knowing which fork to use first; but its much more than that. Picking the correct wine and after dinner liquors seems prudent, even if you dont drink. Knowing how to make a toast is another lost quality.

Musical Instrument -- Much like speaking a foreign language, being able to play an instrument (any instrument), is a matter of patience, worthy of investment. A sub category would be singing. A warrior should know a song he can sing when going into battle, as well as when he comes out.

Literature -- A warrior should be well read and able to at least quote from some of the classics. I think its better to have actually read them; but memorizing some of the better known passages is a start. A sub category would be poetry. A warrior should be able to compose his own sonnets.

Art -- Not everyone is born to paint; but a warrior should at least be able to sign his name so that it is legible. A warrior should have some understanding of the classic artists and be able to recognize the different art genres beyond "dogs playing poker" and "nudes on black velvet".

[EDELWEISS]

Math & Science -- A warrior should be able do perform simple mathematics without the need for a calculator and have at least a basic understanding of geometry, algebra and calculus. Simple chemistry and physics are required life skills.

Botany -- A warrior should have some knowledge of the plants around him.

[Netpackrat]

Some basic mechanical skills, if for no other reason so you can care for your gear.

The ability to operate a variety of different vehicles... Never know when you might have to run a small boat, airplane, cargo truck or 4x4, to name a few examples.

Navigation, ranging from the ability to orient yourself with a map and compass, up through dead reckoning and various electronic means. bonus points for mastering celestial navigation.

Survival... You should be able to handle being dumped in any likely environment and make do for a period of time... And either get found, or avoid getting found, depending on the goal and circumstances.

[Jack Rumbaugh]

This seems a good place to discuss some NOT Fighting skills every warrior should have.

Manners [/B]-- They seem to be almost a lost art. Perhaps its because theres little penalty for ignoring them.

No kidding it's a lost art. Help a woman load something heavy into her car or horror of horrors hold a door and you may get a look like you have 3 heads.

[choirboy]

No kidding it's a lost art. Help a woman load something heavy into her car or horror of horrors hold a door and you may get a look like you have 3 heads.

Jack hit the nail on the head with this one. I have held doors for late teen/early twenties gals and said after you ladies and they looked behind them for ladies.

I have been doing much of my locomotion with a wheel chair while my leg is healing. I have had kids the same age rush in front of me at a door and let it close in my face.

Choirboy

[Sam Mayes]

#1 on my list is simple money management.

You should be able to budget and live within your means. VERY important to me right now as wife has been laid off, And my oldest starts college in 2 weeks. He and I have been having many discussions on the evils of debt, and buying needed v.s wanted things.


Recently I held the door open for a group of 20 something ladies at a local eatery, They actually stopped and one of them looked at the others and said "We don't need a man to hold the door for us".. I was dumbfounded.. My wife looked at me and laughed and stated "Wait until they ar 50 years old with no husband or divorced 7 times, They will be falling over for anyone to open a door for them"..

I just don't get people nowadays I really don't..

[Chris Upchurch]

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." - Robert Heinlein

"A young man should be computer literate, and moreover should know Hemingway from James Joyce. He should know how to drive a car well - such as is not covered in "Driver Ed." He should know how to fly a light airplane. He should know how to shoot well. He should know elementary geography, both worldwide and local. He should have a cursory knowledge of both zoology and botany. He should know the fundamentals of agriculture and corporate economy. He should be well qualified in armed combat, boxing, wrestling, judo, or the equivalent. He should know how to manage a motorcycle. He should be comfortable in at least one foreign language, and more if appropriate to his background. He should be familiar with remedial medicine." - Jeff Cooper

[EDELWEISS]

Netpack mentioned Navagation, to that I would add use of a sextant and a sun compass, (and can somebody help me with those).

I think the important issue isnt so much the conquering of all these goals, as the striving to reach them. Being a warrior is more than just the ability to fight. No matter how good we are at slaying dragons, those skills fade with age; but a true warrior persists no matter how much strength and speed time takes away.

[Steve Paulson]

He should be the kind of husband any woman would kill for--strong, gentle, humble, confident, affectionate, romantic and an excellent lover. A vigorous protector of her body, heart, mind and image, ready to break the jaw of the guy who refers to his queen as his "ball and chain".

He should be the kind of father to his children that would have his wife bragging, not gossiping. Physically & emotionally present, consistently enforcing discipline with love (never out of anger), mentoring, teaching, playing, laughing, affirming, affectionate (with his sons too!), always assuring them of his love, approval and pride. Through his marriage he must demonstrate to his daughters what they should expect (and what father will demand) of their own husbands, and to his sons how to truly love their own wives.

[Netpackrat]

He should be the kind of father to his children that would have his wife bragging, not gossiping. Physically & emotionally present, consistently enforcing discipline with love (never out of anger), mentoring, teaching, playing, laughing, affirming, affectionate (with his sons too!), always assuring them of his love, approval and pride. Through his marriage he must demonstrate to his daughters what they should expect (and what father will demand) of their own husbands, and to his sons how to truly love their own wives.

You've got no idea how much you've just made me miss my dad.