AND NOW HE'S ATTACKING DICK CHENEY

Neal Nuze ^ | 8/3/04 | Neal Boortz

[Straight Vermonter]

John Edwards turned 18 on June 10, 1971. The war (and the draft) would go on for more than a year.

Where was Edwards?

[New Girl]

I spoke with my Dad about Kerry's attack on Cheney and he was furious. Back in the 60's my Dad was putting himself through college and unsure about what he really wanted to do when he decided to join the Navy. At the last minute he was persuaded by his folks to finish his studies so he could enter service as an officer. Well, things change -- he finished school, met my Mom and she was pregnant within months of their wedding (Catholic). By the time Vietnam was in full swing, he was older and had a young family to support -- the same situation that Cheney was in. My Dad has also always been a huge supporter of the military and you can bet he did not trash Vets when they came home from that war like Kerry did.

My Dad was greatly offended by Kerry's comments. Every time Kerry opens his mouth, he manages to offend someone.

I'm beginning to think that Kerry is mentally unstable. What kind of guy runs around for 30 years talking about 'Nam? Most true war heroes don't say anything their service.

[rock58seg]

The Navy had a Reserve program, the same as the Army and The Air Force. Enlist for six months active duty, which would cover Basic training, Military Occupation Specialty (MOS)training, A few months of working in that specialty, and then active reserve status for an additional 6 - 8 years. Attend meetings one weekend a month and 2 weeks summer training. That is what Kerry originally enlisted for.

However: If you score well enough on the Battery of entrance exams, specifically in this case the OCTS test, you can apply for Officer Training, but you must then also lengthen your active duty commitment.

All officers, to my understanding are commissioned as reserve, except those graduating from the Military Academies. They are commissioned as Regular officers. This establishes a very quaint system in which reserve officers have both permanent and reserve rank. Only regular officers are one rank. a reserve officer could hold a Captains rank, but only a Corporal permanent rank. Therefore if passed over for promotion to Major, a requisite number of times, (not Promotable) He then reverts to permanent rank. I think standard practice is they leave active duty, and resume reserve duty status where they are still officer rank until retirement.

The original Kerry enlistment would not have even had him aboard a ship more than 2 months.

[BIGLOOK]

I think the correct term is SOLIPISM. Kerry lives in a world of his own creation. BTW, I think this means nuts too!

[rock58seg]

I would like to perhaps phrase the following sentence better.

............Only regular officers are one rank. a reserve officer could hold a Captains rank, but only a Corporal permanent rank. .....

Regular officers carry only one rank. Their permanent rank is their only rank. A reserve officer can be any officer rank, and their permanent rank somewhere below that. A reason why most reserve officers would like to have their status changed from Reserve to Regular. (This is the origin of the phrase, He's Regular Army, Navy or whatever.) OCS training was also the origin for "90 day wonder", meaning an under-trained officer.

In addition, Kerry perhaps qualified for a commission as a result of college graduation, meaning he did not even have to do well on the tests. Something that would be revealed if the full service record were released.

BUSH/CHENEY IN 2004