Veteran FReepers - Your Advice is requested (Vanity)

Me ^ | 11/05/08 | OB1kNOb

[OB1kNOb]

To all my fellow FReepers who have served their country in the armed forces, first of all, thank you for your service. I need your advice. More specifically, my son needs your advice. He will be graduating from college in December. He wants to join the Navy shortly thereafter. While I applaud his patriotism, as a parent, I am concerned for his safety. Even more so given that our next commander-in-chief (gag) will be a socialistic radical leftist.

I have talked with my son at length about the challenges and danger he may face should he enlist with the new President in charge. He seems unswayed by the issues that I raise. I want to make sure he's not enlisting due to some unrealistic or romanticized expectation of what his time spent in the service will be like.

For those of you who have served during the Viet Nam war or under the Clinton presidency, I would greatly appreciate your opinion as to what it was like serving under those conditions. For those of you who currently have family in the military, I'd also appreciate your sharing what your enlisted family members have told you about what they expect under Obama. I plan to gather these comments and then give them to my son and ask that he read and consider the opinions of those whose shoes he is about to step in. If he still enlists, then at least I want him to do so with his eyes wide open.

[OB1kNOb]

Thanks for your help. - OB1

[A_perfect_lady]

Make sure he understands that Obama is likely to send him into harm’s way on feel-good “peace keeping” missions that having nothing to do with America’s security. Kosovo and Somalia were examples, upcoming: Congo, Darfur, Rwanda, who knows what else. Possibly being put under UN control as well.

[BGHater]

Your son has to understand however long he serves, the commitment is 8 yrs to Uncle Sam.

I served under Clinton. Simply respect the office and he will be fine. Congress pulls the strings more than the Pres.

RLTW

[TMSuchman]

Good Afternoon;

Having served under both Presidents REGAN/Bush (41) and Clinton, I found that there will be some problems, like moral, also equipment will be come and issue, because of budget cutbacks [I can only imagine that it will be come very sever]. But I would not let that deter someone who has had the calling of serving our nation. It takes something kind of special to serve [especially during times like those that are coming up] The time to be ready for trouble is before it actually shows up.
So with the peace-nicks in charge is time to really be ready for trouble, fore that is when it is going to show up on our door step.

[mbynack]

I served during the Carter administration and during the Clinton administration. I believe that the next administration will be closer to the Carter years than the Clinton years because that was the last time that the Democrats controlled all three branches of the government.

The nain things I remember is that we only had 60% of the people that we needed assigned to our overseas bases. We worked 12 on/12 off for 90 days straight without any days off.

We also couldn't get spare parts to maintain our systems and had vehicles sitting around awaiting parts for two or three years.

Money for training and new systems were non-existent.

Our pay raises didn't keep pace with inflation.

When we finally had to conduct a military operation (the Iran Hostage Rescue) our people were working with outdated equipment that hadn't been properly maintained and attempted the mission without adequate training. It took 10 years for the military to recover.

[areukiddingme1]

Does it have to be the Navy?

Is he enlisting or getting a commission (Officer or Enlisted), I only ask because you said he is graduating college — don’t enlist if you have a degree.

Seriously, considering who the CIC is — I would join the Coast Guard.

But, if he must join the Navy — become INTEL.

During the eight years when BJ was the CIC we simply got used to saying “do more with less.” Less people, less money, less support, less knowledge of what it was that we were doing out there on the pointy end of the spear...my prediction (for what its worth since I actually picked McCain to win) is have your son do a little reading on the Operation Earnest Will — that is what the U.S. Navy is going to be involved with over the next decade if we chose not drill for oil here at home.

That is my two cents.

[struwwelpeter]

I did 13 years active and almost 20 reserves (just finished a year-long mobilization), from Ford through 'W', and I plan to stay under Obama and his successor until mandatory removal age.

If I could tell your son something over a beer, I'd say that no matter who is president, no matter what will happen in the world, no matter how long he serves, his service will be the highlight of his life.

[The airman]

while i agree with OB1, it also depends on what your child's career field will be. When it comes to the army or marines they will throw you to the infantry like dogs to the slaughter. How ever the navy is more on the lines of what job you have. Some one getting a desk job is not likely to have to pick up a gun and go fight a war. That dosen’t mean you will not go to a war zone it just means you will not leave the base. You also don't have anything to worry about when it comes to money or health because the contracts are already signed for the next couple of years and obama will not be able to touch it

[Billy Bud]

I had the great pleasure of serving in the US Navy from 1976-1980 during the Carter era. Post Vietnam era Vet. The military was not the place to be during those years. The budget was stripped to the bone; there were times we could not leave port due to the fact we could not get fuel. There was little to no room for advancement, and absolutely no bonus money for anything. The common theme at that time throughout the Little Creek Naval Base was FTN. I’m sure you can figure the acronymn.
Currently my son is with the ARNG serving in Afghanistan. The early word on the street is people giving any thoughts of staying in are going to leave when eligible.
My fear is the military will start being utilized again for so-called “Peace Keeping Missions”. tying their hands and weapons to the point where it makes them vunerable. I hope you find the information helpful.

[TADSLOS]

I spent 25 years in the military. Started my career the same year Carter was elected (Post Vietnam draw down/Desert One). Endured it. Served under Reagan (Rebuild/Grenada), Bush I(Just Cause/Desert Storm), Clinton (endured that too), and briefly under Bush II (prior to 9/11). We swear an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. Presidents come and go. The best part of my experience was and always will be the soldiers I served with. Let your son decide.

[easternsky]

I think its a little early for us to try and give the young Man advice. I personally will spend some time in Prayer and offer my advice then, just a little to painful to go there right now.

[antiRepublicrat]

I believe that the next administration will be closer to the Carter years than the Clinton years

Carter was a Navy man. It'll probably be worse under Obama.

[Nam Vet]

I'd tell him to shelve that military idea. My daughter joined 'a large Federal Agency centered on protection of Americans' instead. Has he considered something like that? Maybe a state Agency of some sort that is NOT under Zero's control.

Nam Vet

P.S.

[DustyMoment]

I’m a Navy Vietnam era vet. There’s a lot of good info here. For the best advice, you have to know if your son will be trying for a commission, or enlisting. It does make a difference.

I flew as an aircrewman in the Navy and, later, transitioned to pulling avionics maintenance on the EA-6B. The Navy consists of several significant career fields that might be of interest to your son. So, we also need to know what he wants to do in the navy? Also, what’s his degree in?

Finally, during ‘Nam, morale was pretty high until Kerry/Fonda came onto the scene and turned the tide of public opinion against us. After that, it was downhill. To this day, I still carry the emotional scars from Kerry/Fonda and the way that servicemen were treated by citizens dues to the lies that were told. This leads me to what your son might expect under Obama. First, low morale, funding cuts so there will be lots of broken and inoperative equipment and probably not much travel to foreign shores or foreign waters. Obama does not like the military and will probably decimate it worse than Clinton did. I honor your son’s desire to serve his country, but under an Obama administration, I’d think twice . . . . . then I’d think again. The military could well end up under the command of the UN, or it could end up being used against average citizens to “keep the peace”.

Whatever happens, I wish you AND your son the best of luck, smoothe seas and following winds.

[Red6]

I served under Clinton and what he can expect is a gradual bleeding of the armed forces. We saw pay raises that were always .5~1% less than inflation, retirements were slashed, health care cut, and the emphasis wasn't on fighting wars, but became don't ask don't tell, chasing phantom right wing fanatics, EEO training....... I'm not over exaggerating.

It didn't happen over night. But the DoD which reached it apex in the late 80s began a slow and gradual tumble into mediocrity and malaise. It was obvious that our Commander in Chief didn't appreciate us, leadership was willing to play games with the lives of troops to make symbolic political statements as in Somalia, pay and benefits eroded, force modernization was limited, politically motivated social experiments were pushed upon the armed forces, and even many of the senior military officers were not the stars of past but politically minded and savvy weasels like Wesley Clark. Hell, my former commander and the one who helped botch up Baghdad in its beginning as well as was associated with Abu Gahrib was a product of this era, Sanchez (1AD). What were our priorities? Black Berets, the Dennis Reimer Digital Library, and EEO training.

It may seem far fetched, but if you want to understand far left thinking regards national security, watch the video 52 seconds why Obama shouldn't be President, in his own words he'll explain it. http://www.youtube.com/v/Rb6EE3C7uWE&hl

Defense to a liberal costs money that should better be spent on inner city minority youth projects, free health care for illegals, a project to repair a damaged natural habitat......... National Security and especially defense (Which has a huge price tag) is a low priority and goes against the general pattern of thought that many within the far left fringes think like anyway: pacifism, anti-authoritarian, see the soldier as ignorant and vile.......

Think Patriot Act, National Defense Budgets, willingness of the Commander in Chief to take risk or take a black eye in order to do the right thing............... No, he'll surely be a setback in the long run.

[DallasDeb]

I share your pain. My son is in the USAF (pilot). I told him all along to do what he wanted to do and supported him and encouraged him in his decisions. Obama won’t be around forever (hopefully). However, I have had visions of Obama destroying the Constitution and all our home boys having to defend it (the Constitution) against their fellow American people. The thing that works best for me is knowing that God has guided my son to where he is right now (from enlisted airman to USAF Academy Grad, and now a pilot). God loves my son and yours more than we (mothers) love our sons. I get peaceful every time I think of that.

[Billy Bud]

Just a quick follow up to OB1’s note. Good idea to look at all options and let your son decide. There are many opportunities that time in the military can provide, (making it a career and providing experience/background for careers outside the military). Just be wary that almost all branches of service are now serving jointly in Afghanistan and Iraq. My son, currently serving in Afghanistan; is deployed with ARNG,Army-Airborne, Navy Personnel, and Air Force personnel. 2 concurrent wars has stretched things a bit, so be wary that there could be a chance he could get deployed, “on the ground” in Iraq or Afghanistan. But since we now have President-Elect Obama, maybe all will be over soon?

[Alien Gunfighter]

I’ve been in the Navy for 15 years, under Bush and Clinton. All I have to say is...ehhh. Presidents come and go, policies come and go, situations come and go. It doesn’t make much of a difference.

[gundog]

...the challenges and danger he may face should he enlist.

He's enlisting? Or seeking a commission? If he graduates college, enlisting is probably a bad idea. And if he seeks a commission, he should know that there is a hierarchy in the Officer's Corp that exceeds rank. It is 1. Academy grads, 2.Chicken poop, 3. ROTC pukes, 4. snake poop, and 5. OTC graduates. I served under Reagan, during peacetime, and stateside, so my perspective is limited. I'd suggest that he read Catch-22, however.

[frog in a pot]

Congratulations to your son.

Our country is about to careen to the left and your son’s decision will be unlike any the others of us may have made (even vis-à-vis Carter and Clinton).

Central to his decision is whether he is looking for a job or is firmly committed to a military experience.

If he has not already, recommend he start talking with recruiters asap; they are not impressed with officer candidates that walk in the day after graduation. Something to do with sincerity and commitment (and available slots).

If he is athletically inclined he should consider the USMC. Any branch of the Armed Forces can be dangerous, but the Corps, traditionally, is better trained and better prepared.

Tell him if he serves we will be forever indebted to him.