Here is a link to a story by a former member of the NY Army National Guard & a combat veteran. Sergeant Raab states better than I why soldiers should never be compared to a civilian in any facet of life, HOOAH!
1) From Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
http://iava.org/blog/returning-soldier-answers-inevitable-question-%E2%80%98why%E2%80%99
Thoughts
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Military Retirement: FAIR or NOT
Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and now Secretary of Defense Leon Pannetta are having committees look at and suggest changes to the Military Retirement System. It was stated that "The board members are from big businesses -- experts, the Pentagon says, in executive management, corporate governance, audit and finance, human resources, economics, technology and health care." Associated Press|by Pauline Jelinek
I did not see if any of these "leaders" were former service members or not. I would make the assumption that they are not. There are several statistics that hit me as I read the article and will not quote them directly here. A couple of things stand out from my own experience in the US Army. First is that I never heard a recruiter refer to the Army as a career when talking to potential recruits. Recruiters talk about things such as education benefits. With $51,000.00 available for anyone currently serving for going to college or CC. Another recruiting pitch is soldiers can learn a skill. Many do very well at what the Army teaches them while others just want to get by and get out. There are certainly many Soldiers that enter the Army with the idea of making it a career and many of those never see service beyond their first enlistment. So that brings us to statistics. 17% of those who enter active duty retire after 20 or more years. The opposite of that is 83% who leave prior to the 20 year level.
I did not see if any of these "leaders" were former service members or not. I would make the assumption that they are not. There are several statistics that hit me as I read the article and will not quote them directly here. A couple of things stand out from my own experience in the US Army. First is that I never heard a recruiter refer to the Army as a career when talking to potential recruits. Recruiters talk about things such as education benefits. With $51,000.00 available for anyone currently serving for going to college or CC. Another recruiting pitch is soldiers can learn a skill. Many do very well at what the Army teaches them while others just want to get by and get out. There are certainly many Soldiers that enter the Army with the idea of making it a career and many of those never see service beyond their first enlistment. So that brings us to statistics. 17% of those who enter active duty retire after 20 or more years. The opposite of that is 83% who leave prior to the 20 year level.
So how does civilian careers compare to military careers? They don't! Take a military mechanic, supply/logistics soldier, truck driver or even medical careers. Though they sound like there is a direct correlation the jobs are vastly different. Look at the number of COMBAT ACTION BADGE awards (non combat arms jobs). 94,395 non combat soldiers were awarded the badge for combat actions in Iraq & Afghanistan, civilians are not in combat. The number of infantry soldiers awarded the COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE is 64,741 for Iraq & Afghanistan. If non military citizens think that the medical field is exempt (don't even consider that stupid show on ABC) from combat, they are not. The COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE has been awarded 15,573 times for action in Iraq & Afghanistan.
So when the civilian heads of the military consider a change to the retirement plan don't ask a civilian with no military experience to come up with a better plan.
One more thing, no one in civilian employment gets a retirement after 5 or 10 years on the job.
Question for reporter
http://news.yahoo.com/back-school-special-arne-duncan-goes-off-script-092006580.html "There is a lot of concern that these new waivers could lessen the pressure, particularly in diverse suburban schools, to improve outcomes for minority kids. How are you going to continue to ensure that minority kids don't get overlooked as a result of the new flexibility?" by ANDREW J. ROTHERHAM | Time.com In an interview with the US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. But in the world of political correctness does the question mean that educators are racist? That educators would deliberately not teach to minorities?
Just a thought!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Another 5 Soldiers Killed
WHAT: Five Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum NY killed by an IED.
WHY; Because the US is still in Afghanistan fighting for a nation that does not want us there.
WHERE: Kandahar province while on a breakfast run.
WHEN: Thursday, 18 August 2011
While headed to breakfast an IED ripped through the hull of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP). The type of explosion was so powerful that it pushed the engine into the crew compartment. Thus the thought that the explosive was of military grade. The five were led by their Squad Leader who perished in the attack. The other four Soldiers & Squad Leader were all in their 20's. What a waste of great Americans doing what the enlisted to do: Follow the Orders of their Superiors. Just have to wonder what "superior" means. Certainly there are many Soldiers that do not believe in the war, but because they are good Soldiers they do as told. If the President had kept his campaign promises about ending the Afghan war there is a chance that this news would not have been delivered to the families of those lost.
As the Army developed better vehicles to withstand the blasts of IED's they should have known that the enemy would also improve the bomb making material used against the US Military in both theaters. This war should not go on as long as the current withdrawal plans indicate. It should end now and bring our Soldiers, Marines, Sailors & Airmen home sooner rather than later.
Screw you GW & Donald Rumsfeld.
WHY; Because the US is still in Afghanistan fighting for a nation that does not want us there.
WHERE: Kandahar province while on a breakfast run.
WHEN: Thursday, 18 August 2011
While headed to breakfast an IED ripped through the hull of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP). The type of explosion was so powerful that it pushed the engine into the crew compartment. Thus the thought that the explosive was of military grade. The five were led by their Squad Leader who perished in the attack. The other four Soldiers & Squad Leader were all in their 20's. What a waste of great Americans doing what the enlisted to do: Follow the Orders of their Superiors. Just have to wonder what "superior" means. Certainly there are many Soldiers that do not believe in the war, but because they are good Soldiers they do as told. If the President had kept his campaign promises about ending the Afghan war there is a chance that this news would not have been delivered to the families of those lost.
As the Army developed better vehicles to withstand the blasts of IED's they should have known that the enemy would also improve the bomb making material used against the US Military in both theaters. This war should not go on as long as the current withdrawal plans indicate. It should end now and bring our Soldiers, Marines, Sailors & Airmen home sooner rather than later.
Screw you GW & Donald Rumsfeld.
Monday, August 15, 2011
"A closed mouth don't get fed!"
While not grammatically correct, could a statement be more true?
Of course there are more meanings to that statement than an empty stomach. In a way I guess you could apply that statement to a great many things in life. Apply it to your brain, opinion, weight gain/loss, relationships, appetites & passions and i think the list could go on & on & on.
As Confusious said "An opinion set in stone is that of stupidity." Look that up on Googgle or Bing.
Of course there are more meanings to that statement than an empty stomach. In a way I guess you could apply that statement to a great many things in life. Apply it to your brain, opinion, weight gain/loss, relationships, appetites & passions and i think the list could go on & on & on.
As Confusious said "An opinion set in stone is that of stupidity." Look that up on Googgle or Bing.
National Debt
The US Congress seems afraid to vote against most legislation that comes before them concerning the DoD budget, especially the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Active duty Soldiers and SPOUSES can now be reimbursed for books and other supplies. Does that mean if they sell the book back, do they have to return the money back to DoD/Treasury? Beginning Oct. 1, active duty members and their spouses can receive up to $1,000 for books and supplies, per academic year, as part of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Active duty members were not previously eligible for the books and supplies funding, Veterans are. Spouses? Spouses are considered a part of the military almost as much as those who took the oath of service. Spouses just don't earn a retirement unless they divorce the service member after 10 years of marriage. If Congress' Super Committee of 12 wanted to strip a few million dollars from the DoD budget they could start with all non-service member benefits under the GI Bill. To me it is just to much "pork" in a program that costs a lot of money.
Department of Defense: The mission of the Department of Defense (DOD) is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. Almost seems worth $700 billion and is mandated by the Constitution.
The Army currently at 570,000 plus active duty members and the Marine Corps currently with 201,000+ or - was deemed capable to fight 2 wars with only 483,000 soldiers and 171,000 Marines respectively. So with the draw down of troops in both Iraq & Afghanistan why can't they go back to the post cold war numbers established under Bush I & Bill Clinton? The so-called Cheney Powell doctrine. There is no reason not to return the Navy & Air Force to those levels. The Coast Guard should be left alone in force reductions & budget cuts, 1.3 million men and women on active duty (should be reduced to post cold war numbers), nearly 700,000 civilian personnel (should be cut at least in half), and 1.1 million citizens who serve in the National Guard and Reserve forces (best value for the dollar).
Other things that could be done to reduce the current deficit budgets is do away with "Americorp", end the Bush prescription drug program under part D of Medicare, do away with the departments of Education, HUD, Energy & Labor.
Department of Education: Do away with the bureaucracy and the money that is sent to the states can continue. The states can do a much better job of spending the money without federal government help. Besides "No Child Left Behind" is a farce and a failure. The U.S. Secretary of Education oversees the Department's 4,200 employees and $68.6 billion budget.
The USDA also plays an important role in overseas aid programs by providing surplus foods to developing countries. Why wouldn't you feed the poor and destitute in this country before sending it overseas? In a recent news articles and on TV news food banks all around Utah and the nation need more to help feed those who can't buy their own. $95 billion annual budget
"The Department of Commerce is the government agency tasked with improving living standards for all Americans by promoting economic development and technological innovation. The department supports U.S. business and industry through a number of services, including gathering economic and demographic data, issuing patents and trademarks, improving understanding of the environment and oceanic life, and ensuring the effective use of scientific and technical resources. The agency also formulates telecommunications and technology policy, and promotes U.S. exports by assisting and enforcing international trade agreements." Do you see anything wrong with that statement from the whitehouse.gov/our-government/executivebranch? Those in yellow seem to belong to some other agencies and are duplicated elsewhere in federal & state governments. But why would I throw a tizzy about $6.5 billion budget for a cabinet department with that low of a budget.
Department of Energy:
Active duty Soldiers and SPOUSES can now be reimbursed for books and other supplies. Does that mean if they sell the book back, do they have to return the money back to DoD/Treasury? Beginning Oct. 1, active duty members and their spouses can receive up to $1,000 for books and supplies, per academic year, as part of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Active duty members were not previously eligible for the books and supplies funding, Veterans are. Spouses? Spouses are considered a part of the military almost as much as those who took the oath of service. Spouses just don't earn a retirement unless they divorce the service member after 10 years of marriage. If Congress' Super Committee of 12 wanted to strip a few million dollars from the DoD budget they could start with all non-service member benefits under the GI Bill. To me it is just to much "pork" in a program that costs a lot of money.
Department of Defense: The mission of the Department of Defense (DOD) is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. Almost seems worth $700 billion and is mandated by the Constitution.
The Army currently at 570,000 plus active duty members and the Marine Corps currently with 201,000+ or - was deemed capable to fight 2 wars with only 483,000 soldiers and 171,000 Marines respectively. So with the draw down of troops in both Iraq & Afghanistan why can't they go back to the post cold war numbers established under Bush I & Bill Clinton? The so-called Cheney Powell doctrine. There is no reason not to return the Navy & Air Force to those levels. The Coast Guard should be left alone in force reductions & budget cuts, 1.3 million men and women on active duty (should be reduced to post cold war numbers), nearly 700,000 civilian personnel (should be cut at least in half), and 1.1 million citizens who serve in the National Guard and Reserve forces (best value for the dollar).
Other things that could be done to reduce the current deficit budgets is do away with "Americorp", end the Bush prescription drug program under part D of Medicare, do away with the departments of Education, HUD, Energy & Labor.
Department of Education: Do away with the bureaucracy and the money that is sent to the states can continue. The states can do a much better job of spending the money without federal government help. Besides "No Child Left Behind" is a farce and a failure. The U.S. Secretary of Education oversees the Department's 4,200 employees and $68.6 billion budget.
The USDA also plays an important role in overseas aid programs by providing surplus foods to developing countries. Why wouldn't you feed the poor and destitute in this country before sending it overseas? In a recent news articles and on TV news food banks all around Utah and the nation need more to help feed those who can't buy their own. $95 billion annual budget
"The Department of Commerce is the government agency tasked with improving living standards for all Americans by promoting economic development and technological innovation. The department supports U.S. business and industry through a number of services, including gathering economic and demographic data, issuing patents and trademarks, improving understanding of the environment and oceanic life, and ensuring the effective use of scientific and technical resources. The agency also formulates telecommunications and technology policy, and promotes U.S. exports by assisting and enforcing international trade agreements." Do you see anything wrong with that statement from the whitehouse.gov/our-government/executivebranch? Those in yellow seem to belong to some other agencies and are duplicated elsewhere in federal & state governments. But why would I throw a tizzy about $6.5 billion budget for a cabinet department with that low of a budget.
Department of Energy:
The mission of the Department of Energy (DOE) is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States. If this agency, formed in the 1970's, had done anything towards accomplishing its mission, perhaps I wouldn't think it should go away. But I doubt it because with its budget of $23 billion it is truly a waste of taxpayer money.
More later......
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
adding search element to my blog
I tried and tried to add the search box code & search results code to my layout. Did not have any success doing so. I even read the instructions several times and still couldn't get both to upload as .txt documents or using a copy & paste. Maybe tomorrow when I am not in so much pain.
I moved wrong on Saturday evening, just twisted a little. Nothing happened then that would have made this week somewhat difficult to bare. Sunday morning I sat up in bed to eat pancakes and "pop", pain. Since then movement has been difficult and painful. A few years back this wouldn't have bothered me so much. I would be less mobile but it would only last a couple of days, now going on 4 days.
Take vitamin D or get some sunshine every day. It works miracles.
I moved wrong on Saturday evening, just twisted a little. Nothing happened then that would have made this week somewhat difficult to bare. Sunday morning I sat up in bed to eat pancakes and "pop", pain. Since then movement has been difficult and painful. A few years back this wouldn't have bothered me so much. I would be less mobile but it would only last a couple of days, now going on 4 days.
Take vitamin D or get some sunshine every day. It works miracles.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Socialist Drift
As I sit here dozing & nodding off I wonder what it would have been like if I would have stayed on unemployment insurance instead of going back to work? Seems the Donkeys in Washington DC think those unemployed should continue to get paid for being unemployed as if it were a job. So instead of go out and find "something" that pays you money, we will pay you to stay at home, NANNY STATE will take care of you. What can you do with $350.00 a week (local average)? Just think how much money the IRS will collect from the income taxes on that income. Wow! Balance the Federal Budget maybe.
The Food Stamp Nation! Approximately 15% of the population of the U.S. was on NANNY STATE we will pay for you to eat. Now that comes with some restrictions of course but at least it isn't taxed at the federal level. I do have to thank the NANNY STATE for feeding my family during a time of under employment.
I recall Nanci Pelosi coming to a microphony with some others not serving and defending the Constitution of the United States of America with great big smiles on their faces when the Donkeys were in charge of congress. Nothing but smiles. I have begun to think that part of freshman orientation for serving in congress must be acting lessons on smiling and frowning. Back to nothing but smiles. She would almost take it down the throat to get close to a microphony in order to smile because something had passed congress and moved us closer to NANNY STATE. Now that the Donkeys are not in charge we don't see much of Nanci smiling & sometimes almost laughing (at us) with her comrades. Mostly frowns now because she isn't getting her way.
Now to be a little fair. We rarely see Speaker of the Farce ranting and raging because "the hell you have" Boehner has less to rant about. What good are RINOs anyway, John Wayne used to go hunt them in Africa in the movies and didn't wipe them all off the planet. To bad.
On more cheerful news gold is over $1700 a troy ounce and silver is somewhere over $40 an ounce. Is silver measured in Troy? I wonder why the Greeks moved?
The Food Stamp Nation! Approximately 15% of the population of the U.S. was on NANNY STATE we will pay for you to eat. Now that comes with some restrictions of course but at least it isn't taxed at the federal level. I do have to thank the NANNY STATE for feeding my family during a time of under employment.
I recall Nanci Pelosi coming to a microphony with some others not serving and defending the Constitution of the United States of America with great big smiles on their faces when the Donkeys were in charge of congress. Nothing but smiles. I have begun to think that part of freshman orientation for serving in congress must be acting lessons on smiling and frowning. Back to nothing but smiles. She would almost take it down the throat to get close to a microphony in order to smile because something had passed congress and moved us closer to NANNY STATE. Now that the Donkeys are not in charge we don't see much of Nanci smiling & sometimes almost laughing (at us) with her comrades. Mostly frowns now because she isn't getting her way.
Now to be a little fair. We rarely see Speaker of the Farce ranting and raging because "the hell you have" Boehner has less to rant about. What good are RINOs anyway, John Wayne used to go hunt them in Africa in the movies and didn't wipe them all off the planet. To bad.
On more cheerful news gold is over $1700 a troy ounce and silver is somewhere over $40 an ounce. Is silver measured in Troy? I wonder why the Greeks moved?
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