Posted on 07/22/2022 5:07:13 AM PDT by MtnClimber
“Suppose they gave a war and no one came.”
That was a slogan of the 1960s anti-war movement. Now it’s becoming a reality, at least for the United States Army, as recruiting woes mount. The problem is a simple one: Not enough people want to be soldiers — and with reason.
The Army’s No. 2 officer told Congress Tuesday that the service has no choice but to reduce total force strength by 10,000 for the fiscal year starting in September, with the next year looking even bleaker: By the end of fiscal 2023, it could be up to 28,000 soldiers short of its 476,000-troop target. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth’s spokeswoman said it’s met only half of its recruiting goal so far this fiscal year — with just 2½ months left.
Why is this? There are several potential explanations. One is that the new “woke” Army isn’t all that appealing to the kinds of people who traditionally join the military.
As Jeff Groom writes in Spectator World, the Army has waged a culture war, and it’s a quagmire: “Imagine you are an eighteen-year-old, white, Christian male in Georgia with a family history of military service. As you progressed through your teen years, you watched Confederate statues being torn down and military bases being renamed, endless media and elitist demonization of your culture as racist and deplorable and backwards, and military and civilian leadership that thinks diversity and inclusion (i.e. fewer white men) is best thing since sliced bread. Would you volunteer? Identity politics works both ways.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
The amazing thing is that they are surprised by this.
They really are just that arrogant,
And everybody thought the problem with Nixon was a Watergate break-in.
If the neocons manage to get us into a WW3 situation (which I believe to be the case), they will be forced to resurrect the draft. This is likely to provoke a similar reaction against the draft that we experienced during the Vietnam years. Are those pushing for war unaware of this very real possibility? They had best take this into consideration in their planning, because I see that as a very likely scenario.
This retired Field Grade Army Officer is not surprised whatsoever. It will take Donald Trump 47 to clean up the mess.
If I had children that were military age, I’d not recommend they join.
In fact, at this point, I’d be disappointed in them.
The loss of soldiers of all kinds does not inhibit them from persecuting and discriminating against those who will not take their stupid shots.
The woke military and half the country that voted for this mess can go to hell and I hope they do.
I wish mine could today. It is a miserable place to be.
Sorry to throw a wet blanket on that idea but I’m not sure even he could. There are too many plants to ferret out of the system. You would just about have to destroy the experienced officer corps to be able to reconstruct. Of course, the attitude of the staff is a reflection of the management. A few good firings and people will get with the program and fall in line. That would be a start.
It is an IQ test isn’t it? Also one of standards. I would hope they would have higher standards than to join such a chit show.
I was a recruiter for 16 years. One thing I wonder about in this situation is how many careers are being ruined. Not making your recruiting goals was not a minor issue. It could potentially ruin an otherwise good career. If the services are missing goals by that much there are a lot of recruiters in trouble. It’s not like, “oops, we missed goal”. The recruiting command commanders are going to get slammed, the middle managers are going to get slammed, and the recruiters are going to be crucified. Crap rolls downhill. When I was in there were no excuses, especially excuses aimed at the leadership (for example, I can’t find anybody who wants to risk their lives to protect globohomo). That wouldn’t fly.
“This retired Field Grade Army Officer is not surprised whatsoever. It will take Donald Trump 47 to clean up the mess.”
This retired E nothing Navy enlisted thinks that the homo and equal opportunity affirmative action crap is so embedded it will never go away. I saw it happening for 20 years, 20 years ago.
That is sad that careers could be ruined and the problem is clear, but there is nothing they can do about it.
I wonder how much standards are being dropped just to make the numbers they have today?
Everyone remember when Obama was firing military advisors and replacing them over an 8 year period? Well, the Biden administration is just picking up where Obama left off. The “transformation of the USA” one step at a time.
“I wonder how much standards are being dropped just to make the numbers they have today?”
That’s a damned good question, and the answer is probably a lot.
I feel your pain, brother. I worked for two Captains during my 4 years in Germany, they never should have been allowed near soldiers.
It got better for me after my new battalion commander was able to observe my work performance. We went back to Fort Bliss about the same time, and he asked me to work for him again at his directorate.
He appointed me as Operations Officer, a position usually held by a LT Colonel. I was a Captain with about a year time in grade. Trust me, the job wasn't that difficult.
When I talk to my sons and nephews about the Army, I strongly advise them to seek another career. It's not the same as when I was in, I knew my senior leaders had my back.
My last job in the Army was as a HQ Battery Cdr. I had my soldiers for an hour a day, the rest of the time they worked on CG Staff and 5 other directorates on Fort Bliss. My boss played favorites, and I wasn't in the "cabal". The day after I received my first OER from him, I put in my resignation paperwork.
All those bird Colonels in my battery? They wanted to know what the deal was, because we had built great relationships, and the job was getting done. They were shocked that I was resigning. Enough of a fecal storm was started by those Colonels to the point my boss wasn't recommended for Army War College. That meant he would not go farther than Colonel, no stars for him.
I had enough after 8 years, and battery commander was my last objective. All metrics that I could be judged on were excellent: 98.5% pass rate on the PT test, CG's Best Dining Facility, etc.
My problem was I went from a Battalion Commander I thrived on in Germany. He demanded intelligence, imagination, and independence from his officers. Sure, he chewed me out often, I was a 25 YO LT running his supply operations for a 600 man battalion, with an area of operations of over 1000 square miles. It was never personal, and it was forgotten five minutes later.
My boss at Fort Bliss was a micromanager, with a leadership style reminiscent of James Cagney in Mr. Roberts.
i wouldn’t even consider joining today
i’m sure the academies are equally as ‘woke’ and embarrassing
Will they ask “Can you count to twenty two using your fingers, toes and teeth?”
Even the half-baked Gen Zers know that if a shooting war starts the WOKE commanders will ensure there is a bloodbath - and it won't be the enemy!
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