Philosophical Question

[mowens]

I know several people on here who work on military and defense projects.

Does it ever give you pause to know you are working on something that could potentially kill thousands of people?

Just curious.

[JParis]

Does it ever give you pause to know you are working on something that could potentially kill thousands of people?

Yup...on occasion...

At the end of the day though, I keep in mind that what we build can and does help our soldiers in harm's way get home.
We cannot see how all the tools will get used....we're that the case no one would make a hammer.

As we see played out so many times, anything can be used to end lives violently and prematurely...

[Rstewart]

Meh, not really

Just keeping the military industrial complex rollin

[JakeL]

Does it ever give you pause to know you are working on something that could potentially kill thousands of people?

If the thought does cross my mind I just tell myself we're making parts for the "good guys"

One of my coworkers was working on a part for some kind of fighter jet. I was talking to him one day and he said "This is kind of crazy to think about. If we make a good part, hundreds or thousands of people could be killed. If we make a bad part, one American would be killed".

[mowens]

I think about it occasionally, especially when we start a new project. It's easy to just think of it as a job and move on but I think it's healthy sometimes to sort of pause and realize the responsibility that we take on with this work.  But, with all the bad actors in the world, I think we need the best defense we can muster.

With two son in laws having served multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war fighter is never far from my mind.

[YoDoug]

Don't have that issue at my current job, we only make aftermarket car parts. I do think you could get overly philosophical and ethical about a lot of things being manufactured. Medical devices, food service and processing, Alcohol/marijuana processing, etc. There is an automation company about 25 minutes from my house. The owner has offered me a job several times. They do a lot of food service processing automation. Some of which I consider to be unethical. I think I would have trouble working there because of that. I think I would have less trouble making parts for defense that could be used to kill people versus equipment that is used to maim and/or kill animals for human consumption.

[RobertELee]

In the beginning I built tons of military stuff, from diecast molds for the selection dials that go on the nose of mortars, infrared rifle scope cases, all the way up to parts for F22s and F35s. Back around the time after 9/11 it gave me a sense of pride. Now days if I was still doing that stuff it would likely give me a little depression knowing exactly what it's doing.

[Del.]

No because I knew anything I worked on probably wouldn't work. 

[gcode]

Because our countries certainly aren't at risk of invasion anymore -

Follow Michael Yon on Twitter
you will changed your mind about that

Not a full on military invasion,
but the Chinese are building a fifth column here in the US
Sooner or later the shit is going fly

[Incogneeto]

https://www.chemring.com/about-us/our-business/chemring-energetic-devices

https://www.nacconsortium.org/member_listing/chemring-ordnance/#:~:text=Chemring%20Ordnance%20is%20a%20world%20leader%20in%20the,components%20for%20military%2C%20homeland%20security%2C%20and%20first%20responders.

https://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2016/11/visiting-missile-sites-designed-protect-twin-cities-soviet-attack/

https://www.nationaldefensecorp.com/tech-ord/


Yes, Incog had DoD Clearance. (Not bad for DeBurr)

I worked for TechOrd out of St. Boni.

Yes, we made machines that made Bullets, Explosives(energetics).

Big Un's and Small ones.

Our Owners were Euro, collaborating with U.S.

Swede's,Norwegians and such.

We worked in the old Nike Rocket Bunkers filled with CNC Equipment.

I loved the fact that I could look on the computer for detailed assy. drawings.

We did several G' jobs making .50 Cal sniper rifles. (For home use)

[MIL-TFP-41]

I've build (and still do build) stuff that goes from pew pew (22lr) to pretty much the biggest BOOM possible (Trident D5).
As far as I know the trident hasn't ever been used in an act of war - but I can tell you that we are actively making parts for them. I believe every few years they get refurbished.

The 22 stuff doesn't bother me much - and the other rifles/handgun stuff doesn't really either. The Trident stuff I doubt will ever get used.

The aircraft stuff we have built (the ladder for getting into the cockpit of the F35 comes to mind) I don't think about much. Side note on the ladder - it is a hunk of shit & due to that we get to make a bunch of them every few years - like enough for every plane in the fleet.

The ones that do make me think on occasion would be cruise missile stuff and "dumb" bomb stuff. Those ones I know have been used to kill. Shit way to have job security, these are 1 time use parts. 

[Incogneeto]

No because I knew anything I worked on probably wouldn't work. 

"You know when your mouth is Dry, You High"

(George Thorogood and The destroyers.)

Hey Del, Give me a heads up when you can put a Hot wire on an Explosive device.

I just want to watch.





From about 500 yards away.

[Incogneeto]

I've build (and still do build) stuff that goes from pew pew (22lr) to pretty much the biggest BOOM possible (Trident D5).
As far as I know the trident hasn't ever been used in an act of war - but I can tell you that we are actively making parts for them. I believe every few years they get refurbished.

The 22 stuff doesn't bother me much - and the other rifles/handgun stuff doesn't really either. The Trident stuff I doubt will ever get used.

The aircraft stuff we have built (the ladder for getting into the cockpit of the F35 comes to mind) I don't think about much. Side note on the ladder - it is a hunk of shit & due to that we get to make a bunch of them every few years - like enough for every plane in the fleet.

The ones that do make me think on occasion would be cruise missile stuff and "dumb" bomb stuff. Those ones I know have been used to kill. Shit way to have job security, these are 1 time use parts.

Yep 5.56 and 7.62 ,We also did work for Rolls Royce Nuke Subs.

and some silly Carbide impregnated missile caps.

Bunker buster lids.

Soo No mowens.

The only one I wished I had a part in was that Trump ordered Soleimani Strike.

https://www.npr.org/2020/01/04/793364307/timeline-how-the-u-s-came-to-strike-and-kill-a-top-iranian-general

Even NPR was in Awe.

Pure Genius.

and set back Iran Decades.

[Incogneeto]

https://www.npr.org/2020/01/04/793364307/timeline-how-the-u-s-came-to-strike-and-kill-a-top-iranian-general

This is NPR, Your Go to.

Show me this Leadership, This Strength with Biden....

You Can't.

Trump had them squirming.

Decisive and Powerful.

[Incogneeto]

I know several people on here who work on military and defense projects.

Does it ever give you pause to know you are working on something that could potentially kill thousands of people?

Just curious.

Philosophical, My Son is in Iraq. How many do you think I would kill to keep him alive and send him home safe?

He is there to protect others. Are you asking me what extent I would go to to protect him?