The first was that when new guys come in, it was because some old guy has gone—and typically “gone” meant “dead.” Institutionally, soldiers can be replaced like cogs. On the platoon and squad level, however, you’re replacing a friend, a squadmate, someone who had fought and won and died. The idea that you, whoever you are, could be a replacement or a substitute for that dead friend and teammate is mildly offensive to those who knew him or her. Secondly, of course, you simply haven’t fought yet. And until you do, you’re not one of them. You can’t be.
