Originally Posted by Linnea

These soldiers are out fighting for the U.S. and they can't choose to smoke or not?! That is pretty bad. they are risking their lives daily for this country but yet they can't smoke or drink. Off duty for drinking is fine with me but as long as they are not on duty. Smoking is another thing. It doesn't alter their way of thinking and it doesn't make you do stupid things(like drinking does). Smoking is a way to release stress and be calmer i think in war they can smoke a cigarette or chew. It is a stressful time and after a big battle it would call for a smoke. If it doesn't cause any harm to others and makes a person who is fighting for our freedom feel better let the kid have a cigarette for god sakes.

There is a time to smoke, and a time not to smoke. Smoking is not illegal in the military.

the only time smoking is not allowed is at night during combat operations. A lit cigarette makes a nice target. That is probably why a lot of people chew in the army

On another note...as a non smoker I always bring a few packs of cigarette to the field. When a smoker runs out, he'll pay a lot for a pack. The price of poor planning...

Originally Posted by Doody

A lit cigarette makes a nice target.

...and of course lighting it is pretty tricky too.

There is a British Army superstition that lighting three cigarettes from the same match is bad luck. They think this comes from World War 1, when a night sniper would be alerted when he saw the flash of the match lighting the first cigarette, get set on the second, and aim and fire on the third.

Bad luck indeed.

Cigarettes also have a distinct smell .. one you do not want on a patrol.

there's a classic cartoon from Bill Mauldin showing a medic lighting up a smoke right with a bunch of grunts. The medic says "it's ok, Joe. I'm a noncombatant"

I couldn't find it online. Check out the book...it's a classic