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MILITARY PROFESSONALISM

BY CHARLES DE GAULLE

MEN WHO ADOPT THE PROFESSION OF ARMS


SUBMIT THEIR OWN FREE WILL TO A LAW OF PERPETUAL
CONSTRAINTS.
OF THEIR OWN ACCORD, THEY RESIST THEIR RIGHT TO
LIVE WHERE THEY CHOOSE,
TO SAY WHAT THEY THINK, TO DRESS AS THEY LIKE.
FROM THE MOMENT THEY
BECOME SOLDIERS, IT NEEDS BUT AN ORDER TO SETTLE
THEM IN THIS PLACE, TO
MOVE THEM TO THAT, TOSEPARATE THEM FROM THEIR
FAMILIES AND DISLOCATE
THEIR NORMAL LIVES. IN THE WORLD OF COMMAND,
THEY MUST RISE, MARCH, RUN,
ENDURE BAD WEATHER, GO OUT WITHOUT SLEEP OR
FOOD, BE ISOLATED IN SOME
DISTANT POST AND WORK UNTIL THEY DROP. THEY
CEASE TO BECOME THE
MASTERS OF THEIR OWN FATE. IF THEY DROP ON THEIR
TRACKS, IF THEIR ASHES
ARE SCATTERED TO THE FOUR WINDS, THAT IS ALL PART
AND PARCEL OF THEIR JOB.

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