Bermudian US Marine David Perinchief has a message for members of the US Military who go public with their criticisms of the US role in the conflict in Iraq: put up or shut up.

The 24-year old infantry squad leader has little patience for initiatives such as the online lobby Appeal for Redress, where US soldiers sign their names to a demand to bring the troops home.

"The US Military is 100% voluntary," he said. "You signed the contract. Deal with it. No one made you do it. The only person you have to blame is yourself.

"You can have a political view, which I do," Sgt. Perinchief continued. "But to act on it — I am a Marine, regardless of political ideals. I have to execute my orders and I will do so without question.

"They let us voice our opinions, and no one holds a grudge, everyone has an opinion. But those guys going on national television and complaining, they are just hurting everyone still there. They should wait until it's over."

It appears the majority of the US Military agrees with him: despite being launched over a month ago, only 118 troops out of some 1.4 million on active duty have reportedly signed the Appeal for Redress. To Sgt. Perinchief, who has just returned to Bermuda from a tour in Iraq, political views are irrelevant when it comes to doing the one thing that is important: his job. After all, US President George W. Bush has made it clear that US troops will stay in Iraq until the Iraqi government has stabilised. Whether Sgt. David Perinchief agrees with him or not, the fact remains that if he, in his role as an infantry squad leader, does not train the Marines under him, "they don't come home. That's a family that I have to look in the face".

All of Sgt. Perinchief's considerable force of conviction is therefore bent on completing the job he is assigned: training his squad and, therefore, training the Iraqi security forces to do their job in securing the country. If President Bush announced that US troops would unilaterally withdraw from Iraq tomorrow, however, Sgt. Perinchief's response would be clear: "Roger that."

For the job is to follow orders, not formulate foreign policy. There is leeway: it is up to the Marines to reason the best, safest, and fastest way to complete a task.

In the end, however, he explained that in the Marines "there are no grey areas. I am dedicated to getting the job done, whatever that may be".

Complaints should be made through the chain of command, he said, adding that when the complaints are valid, the necessary changes are made. Circumventing that chain of command only causes a ripple effect that hits those still fighting.

As for civilians who criticise Western presence in Iraq, like with protesting soldiers, he defended their right to free speech — but added that unless one has been there, it is impossible to truly understand the situation.

"Have you run through those streets?" he said. "Have you stood for hours in 120 degree heat? Have you been shot at, have you engaged?

"Those other Bermudians who have been there know what I mean. It is impossible to make an accurate judgment unless you have been on the ground ... Talk to those who have been there, listen to what they have to say."

He compared the controversy surrounding the conflict in Iraq to two of the wars defining American foreign policy in the 20th century: World War II and Vietnam.

"For WWII, everyone was on board. Vietnam was split: there were people in the States protesting and there were those who went. They went through hell. It's something so horrific it still ripples to this day. Only years later did people understand what those guys went through.

"It's the same now. The media has twisted, bent, changed the way people think ... It's going to take decades before people understand what we did. You have to talk to someone who was there, see his opinion.

"I know what I did. Now, an entire company of Iraqi soldiers can control a city because I trained them.

"Everyone is entitled to their view on the war but everyone in the States are supporting the troops regardless," he said. Bermudians fighting the insurgency will voice their opinions if they like, but they will maintain their military bearing.

"Only those who have been there can understand."