But then there are the contradictions. We keep reaching back to our past to grasp those things that symbolize balance and stability. For example, we look back at an age dominated by the herbalist, punctuated by the sweet smell of potato pudding, and a time when good manners and common decency were in vogue. But even in these frequent excursions into the past, we have to be mindful of the present day hype; as everything now requires ceremony. Grandma’s vegetable stew is now being heralded as a new age invention to cure all ills but, even this, has its inherent shortcomings, as we have not yet devised a way to package the warmth with which she served it, and the sense of love that she inspired, even as we sat on rock stones around the fireside eating her stew.

Not to be deterred by our apparent lust for sensationalism and ‘discovery’, indeed the way forward should be with one leg in the past. In the military we term it ‘one leg on the ground’.

But the question is, how far back should our leg be? It is a question of balance. It is also a question of who or what determines this balance. As it is with other agencies, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is also caught in this dilemma, a virtual twilight zone. And like the rest of the Jamaican society, the JDF has its own set of tough choices to make. Sadly though, in today’s Jamaica filled with cynics, it appears that the absence of a quantifiable bottom line is a recipe for extinction. The JDF therefore walks a tightrope, because in addition to this, the forces of 21st Century materialism have empowered the underbelly of the Jamaican society, giving rise to decadence and a chronic aversion to law and order. It is an ominous position to be in; our organization cannot sit by and watch the demise of civil society, but at the same time we cannot turn our guns on our brothers and sisters. It is therefore a question of balance.

The JDF’s role within the Jamaican society has always been, and must continue to be developmental in outlook. We must continue to invest wholeheartedly in the human element, that element with which we have a comparative advantage. To this end we must train our soldiers to be tough, but also discerning; to understand the task at hand and to have the courage to act appropriately. They must also be acutely aware of the awesome responsibility to the nation, even in the face of ingratitude. It means therefore perfecting our core competencies and resisting the debilitating effects of indiscipline, and other forms of anti-social behaviour, that have wreaked havoc on the wider society. To do this, the military must steadily reaffirm its stance with one leg in the past. So, while some elements of the Jamaican society meander from one new found craze to another, the military must continue to stand on those hard won rights and principles bequeathed by our forefathers. We must continue to do this, even in the face of the changes thrust upon us by globalization and technological advancements.

The military must therefore contribute to nation building, not just by building roads and bridges but also, by spawning men and women who view loyalty and dedication to country, as more than just a punch line.

The resources with which to do this are limited, each bullet purchased could mean one less litre of intravenous fluid for some dying infant born on "the other side of town". This must forever be in our sights, therefore we must balance our needs with appropriateness; sufficient to do the job, always being mindful that there are competing ends; schools; clinics; affordable housing and food for the destitute. All important elements, that will lessen our use of ammunition for purposes other than training, and will lead to the creation of a safer environment for our friends and loved ones. It is this discernment, that will not only tell us where we sit in the quagmire, but even more importantly, where we stand in the mosaic. We must continue to be part of the solution, using all the weapons in the arsenal, which include our creative minds to optimize the use of the very limited resources, knowing that this too is an integral part of getting the job done.