Posted on 07/10/2014 7:50:01 AM PDT by Beave Meister
In a stunning display of callousness, the Defense Department has announced that thousands of soldiers — many serving as commanding officers in Afghanistan — will be notified in the coming weeks that their service to the country is no longer needed.
Last week, more than 1,100 Army captains — the men and women who know best how to fight this enemy because they have experienced multiple deployments — were told they’ll be retired from the Army.
The overall news is not unexpected. The Army has ended its major operations in Iraq and is winding down in Afghanistan. Budget cuts are projected to shrink the Army from its current 520,000 troops to 440,000, the smallest size since before World War II.
What is astonishing is that the Defense Department thought it would be appropriate to notify deployed soldiers — men and women risking their lives daily in combat zones — that they’ll be laid off after their current deployment.
As one Army wife posted on MilitaryFamily.org, “On some level I knew the drawdowns were inevitable, but I guess I never expected to be simultaneously worried about a deployment to Afghanistan and a pink slip because my husband’s service is no longer needed.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
“. . .told they’ll be retired from the Army”
“Retired?” What?
Less than 20-yrs service and being ‘retired?’ Not likely.
A draw-down means ‘downsizing,’ forced separation and no retirement. . .unless congress specifically authorizes otherwise.
Media gets it wrong, again. Media should call it what is is, being laid-off, not ‘retired.’
yes he is
Obama does not want battle tested combat soldiers as part of his American Pacification Army - he wants as many of them as he can disarm and dispersed into the civilian population - likely declaring them ineligible to purchase weapons because of PTSD or some such.
He wants ideologues and sycophants of sympathy as his DHS army....that army as equally well equipped and well funded as the once-DoD army. ATF and BLS contractor goons. SWAT goons, FBI goons, you name it. Anything but an honorable American soldier.
Ah well. The good news is that all these “retiring” solders will now be qualified for the very fine health care services provided to them through the Veterans Administration.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ..... Oh, I so crack myself up!!!
We have 15 year veterans being discharged who have served many tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. They deserve better treatment and should have better retirement benefits like a 401k.
At the same time I hear that they are beefing up the SF and establishing many new teams that require Capt’s to lead them.
At first I thought this was satire:(
http://blog.militaryfamily.org/2014/02/20/captains-and-majors-heres-your-pink-slip
Here is what we know:
• Almost 19,000 Army Captains and Majors will be screened for separation and early retirement boards this spring. The boards could select up to 20% (3,800) of the considered population for involuntary separation.
• Officers subject to these boards are Army Competitive Category Captains in year groups 2006, 2007, and 2008 and Majors in year groups 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
• The Officer Separation Board (OSB) will screen officers with fewer than 18 years of active federal service (AFS). The Enhanced Selective Early Retirement Board (E-SERB) will screen officers with 18 or more years AFS.
• Officers selected for separation by the E-SERB will be allowed to serve their 20 years, earning them full retirement benefits.
• Those selected for separation by the OSB are eligible for involuntary separation pay, provided they have at least 6 years AFS.
• Selected officers with at least 15 years AFS on the date of their separation are also eligible to request consideration for early retirement under the Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA). It will be the officer’s choice to select separation pay or TERA. Please note TERA is discretionary, not an entitlement.
• The boards convene in April/May of 2014.
• Decisions are expected to be released in August 2014.
• There will be no “re-look” or “standby” boards, and a very limited appeals process.
• Actual separation will occur no earlier than the 1st day of the 9th month following release of the boards’ results (e.g., if the results are released in August 2014, separation will occur in May 2015)
• Officers in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) will be considered by the boards. If selected, the separation date will be determined on a case by case basis.
• Officers with non-statutory Active Duty Service Obligations (ADSOs) incurred for military schooling, PCS, etc. will be considered by the board. If selected for separation, the non-statutory ADSO will be waived.
• Officers with statutory ADSOs (e.g., Tuition Assistance, Advanced Civil Schooling, Critical Skills Retention Bonus) will be considered by the board. If selected for separation, the ADSO will be waived and the officer will not be required to repay any unearned portion of the pay or benefit received. As a condition of receiving separation pay, officers who have a statutory ADSO waived must serve in the Ready Reserve for three years.
• Selection for separation will have no impact on GI Bill benefits for the officer’s own use. In addition, members who transferred benefits to dependents prior to selection will retain their transfer and not face recoupment if they agree to serve until the mandatory separation date.
Captains and Majors in the affected year groups are encouraged to have their photos updated and to scrub their board files. They should receive guidance from their chain of command in terms of reviewing their official record and preparing it for the board.
Obviously Troops who do not toe the party line.......
The commander in chief doesn’t think that there are hordes of militant bearded savages just waiting for an opportunity to invade us and turn the USA into a middle eastern hell hole.
My very first thought as well. Something's not right here. I truly believe we're being setup. The wheels are in motion for something big.
Not if they are denied the ability to buy weapons
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