Posted on 10/13/2014 10:17:48 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The Army’s top general said Monday that an increase in threats around the world requires that the U.S. rethink plans to cut the size of the American military’s ground force.
The Army agreed – reluctantly — to cut the size of its force to 490,000 under the budget reductions originally approved in 2011. But as a result of subsequent White House-Congress spending battles and military budget reviews, Pentagon leaders said the Army has had to make plans to shrink even further, to 450,000 or even 420,000.
But Gen. Ray Odierno, the chief of staff of the Army, said Monday that even 490,000 may be too small, given recent events such as the rise of militants fighting for Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and Moscow’s moves in Eastern Europe....
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...
Yes, I guess that’s true. Today’s military pay and benefits are much better than back then.
The average CEO earnings in the Fortune 500 were $8,530,000 in 2013. That’s a hell of a lot more than $240,000 a year. And the upper generals have very similar responsibilities, sometimes more so. I worked mostly for 3 and 4 stars and it was incredible all that they are expected to do.
Thank you for our daily dose of Russian propaganda.
This thread is really not the best one to have some Russian active duty soldier busting in on, as we are having to move troops up to the East to protect NATO as you invade Ukraine.
Sending a rambunctious boy who had too much male energy into the military wasn’t about the draft, it was about a male run culture where the judges could see a good kid that needed a constructive outlet for his proper dose of testosterone.
Due to the remoteness of our unit (40+ miles from battalion hq), I was staff duty officer 1-2 times each week, plus every other weekend.
All that for the princely sum of $666 a month. I was lucky to have several great NCOs working with me, but we were dealing with the growing pains of the all volunteer force in the late 70s.
BTW, I was pretty good as NBC officer, too (lol). My first NATO Tac Eval, I was briefing the wing commander on our positions when an NBC input came in. Although a lowly butterbar (an Army one at that!), I spoke up when the Wing NBC officer, an AF Captain, erred in his recommendation. The Wing Commander agreed with me that the input did not require the base to go red, i.e. full NBC gear...I recommended yellow, because the "attack" was 60 miles away.
15 minutes later, I heard the Wing Commander bellow from the "Eagles Nest", "as long as I'm in command, I want that Army Lieutenant here whenever there's an NBC input!" lol
A couple of years later, as a 1LT, I was the Supply Officer (S-4) for our battalion, and played a small role in turning a C3 battalion to a C1 in 18 months. I was perfectly suited for the job, as my college degree was in Public Accounting.
I thoroughly enjoyed my 8+ years in the Army, and it was an honor to serve my country.
I saw some character on 60 Minutes or a similar show telling everybody how he easily made tens of thousands of dollars a DAY in identity theft and he didn’t seem very remorseful.
Different time, different America.
I am sure that there are males in modern America who could benefit from such a choice. This choice no longer exists.
As it turned out, it was the right call. By the time I would have separated, I would've been kept on active duty to go to Iraq for Desert Storm. At the conclusion of hostilities, I would then have been separated.
I know how those officers in Afghanistan feel, i.e. the ones that got the "pink slip" while serving in a combat zone. IMO, the chain of command showed their disdain for these officers. If the Army had to do this, they should have been sent back to the States before the separation orders were given.
I would worry more that it’s being filled with wimps. A small group of strong men can accomplish far more than a battalion of dykes and twinkle-toed “males” could ever accomplish.
The Gestapo, SS and Waffen SS were all chock-full of homosexuals & assorted other deviants and they (along with the rest of the German military) came **this** close to conquering the world. Sparta and other ancient armies had a history of overt or covert homosexuality.
General Odierno , please do something about ‘your boss’
Sounds like you and I were in about the same time (1978-81 active for me) and we have similar stories, including being NBC Officers. That course at Vilseck was interesting and challenging, to say the least. The Carter/post-VietNam years had to be among the most difficult transitions ever for a large organization.
Modern “gays” have been overly feminized. Men throughout history had to act like men and participate in “manly” pursuits, or they would have been at a disadvantage. Now it’s encouraged for men to act like women, and, for the most part, they willingly do so. Not only that, they have been given free license to harass other soldiers with their gross attentions. That affects the morale and well-being of our normal soldiers. Then there is that stupidity about letting women into combat. Male soldiers will risk their lives to save these incompetent women. Then, when the idiot women get captured and killed, that will also negatively impact the well-being of the men who feel as if they failed to protect. Our wimp armies don’t stand a chance.
I was also able to attend the NATO NBC Officers course at Oberammergau. I don't remember much of the training, but I do remember the "personal study time" on Wednesday afternoon. The afternoon was spent touring Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, and the Wies Cathedral, courtesy of the school.
I was there from '77-81, which included an 18 month extension. My first request was turned down by the Bn Cdr, which was a story in itself. I later "redeemed" myself, and would later work for him at Fort Bliss after the Advance Course.
I admit, I was a PITA back then. After I flunked my first ARTEP (no excuses), my attitude was "ok...you asked for it. If you're going to bring this much flak down on me, then I will run my platoon my way. If you don't like it, fire me..." I had no intentions of making it a career.
That was the last ARTEP I ever flunked, and underwent 3 more as a Chaparral and Vulcan platoon leader. We had a Group level ARTEP when I was Maintenance Officer where I had to double as the XO. We barely pulled it out, and for saving the BC's hide, I received a horrible OER. The Group Cdr saw through the BS and entered his own remarks that countered what the BC & Bn Cdr had written.
I loved being the S-4. With my 2+ years in the battalion, and my Public Accounting degree, I ran circles around the Group S-4 and his staff. I was able to get away with telling off the Group S-3 when he wanted to change the budget at the last minute. I was looking for a fight...I was still pissed after being called back from Crete early. I was looking forward to another week when an "emergency" arose over the budget.
My XO lit me up, and rightfully so, when I was intemperate in speaking to him upon my arrival back. However, he and the Old Man always backed me when we had issues with Group. At that time, I think I had a few months TIG as a Captain. IIRC, the time to CPT back then was 4 1/2 years, if not a bit longer.
Forget about it. He's spending his time getting women through Ranger School.
How much should the General be paid?
Why not? What is it about who the worker works for that argues for less pay?
Well, I was probably wrong. I did a little research and now think the pay is OK.
Well, I was probably wrong. I did a little research and now think the pay is OK.
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