Posted on 10/27/2015 6:59:44 PM PDT by pboyington
The US Army is sick; sick in body, mind and spirit. No matter how many times Pentagon perfumed princes and feather merchants bedazzle us with light shows, veterans know the truth. We always know. We know that the Army is suffering from a number of ailments, that unless stemmed will destroy the institution that has been around since the Massachusetts boys went live in 1775.
The first problem lies with the people at the helm of the US Army Titanic. From Secretary of the Army John McHugh down to the joint chiefs to corps and division and brigade and battalion commanders, the Army is infested with “Yes men” and moral cowards who will not speak up about anything affecting the Army. Silence is not golden gentlemen. In the Army’s case, it’s actually quite deadly. You could probably count on the half of one hand the amount of actual leaders in the Army from the rank of Brigadier General to General.
The perfumed prince malaise does not include enlisted soldiers, who as usual, must bear the brunt of idiotic policies, carry out ridiculous orders, and somehow try to salvage and make do with an Army that is a currently a mirage at best and a hologram at worst. These people are and always have been the salt of the earth.
Political correctness and feminism is destroying the very soul of the Army, the warrior culture, the Brotherhood of War. In the US Army of 2015, warriors need not apply. The legends of the US Army; men like Patton, Audie Murphy, Lightning Joe Collins, Maurice Rose, Gunfighter Emerson, Jim Gavin, Hal Moore and thousands of others would have no place in today’s Great Social Experiment Army. The US Army isn’t seeking warriors, but corporate lackeys, who will roll over on every absurd order given to them.
Despite a 278 million dollar program to boost morale in the US Army, morale is down to post-Vietnam levels. The troops have spoken. They think the Army sucks now, plain and simple. They want to be soldiers, not supporting characters on an episode of “Will and Grace” or “The View.” They have no faith in their senior leaders and are burnt out from the wars in the Middle East.
The Army is extremely focused on battling insurgencies and fighting light infantry battles against people like the Taliban. But, what if we have to go up against some of Putin’s boys? The Armor Corps is nearly extinct. The US Army of 2015 would have big problems fielding even one heavy armored brigade. We would be looking down the barrels of Russian T-90 tanks with Hummers and M-16’s. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how that would turn out.
The US Army in Europe is severely limited on equipment. During exercises we borrow helicopters from the British, trucks from the Germans and bridging equipment from the Hungarians! Anyone who has ever served a day in the US military knows we used to be the guys with a limitless logistics chain that could produce anything from Chicklets to M1 tanks. We had an endless supply of personal gear, chow, water, coffee, light equipment, heavy equipment, trucks, tanks, planes, ships. Right now, we’re looking as powerful as the British did on the eve of World War II. We are not even a hollow force. We are becoming a non-force.
Combine the Army’s logistical maladies with current plans to bring the active duty strength down to 420,000 soldiers, the smallest active duty force since 1940. The Army is also undergoing severe budget cuts, which will only increase pay at a rate of 1% a year for three years. Bases and commissaries are slated for closing as well.
The US Army is incapable of fighting even one major war, regardless of whatever dog and pony show the Pentagon puts out. We couldn’t take Quebec right now. How would we do it, with drones? We have become so reliant on technology that we’ve forgotten the fundamental premise of the US Army, leading soldiers, not pushing buttons and wearing high heels to sympathize with rape victims.
A perfect storm is brewing, one in which our enemies are quite aware of and will certainly take advantage of too.
Can the Army be saved? Maybe; but, time is running out and our enemies seem to be metastasizing every day. Unlike the 1970’s, there is no cadre of senior combat leaders who have the courage and will to fix the lean green machine. The Army that was rebuilt from 1973 to 1991 is extinct.
The Army must get back to basics. The Infantry motto of “Follow Me” must become the rallying cry of the whole force. The Army must purge itself of senior leaders who are more concerned with stars, benefits and sending their resume to Fox News after retirement. The warrior culture must be reinstated. The feminist and politically correct nonsense must cease immediately. The Army must further evaluate the proper roles for females in its ranks and stop living a fantasy induced by Pentagon Kool Aid. Army troop strength needs to be boosted to levels where it can successfully fight two major wars at the same time. Money must flow into the ranks, to provide soldiers with the best equipment, pay and training in the world.
Finally, the US Army needs a Commander in Chief who doesn’t have a secret prayer mat in the White House garage. Someone who believes America is the greatest country on God’s green earth and everyone else is a Eurotrash has been or a Third World punk looking for a fight; a Commander in Chief who loves the majesty of America. Not someone who thinks the US is just another country like, uh….Kenya.
During the Gulf War, I never for one moment doubted the leadership of my commander, my division commander, the corps commander and all the way to Schwarzkopf himself. I knew that they were good men, who not only knew their jobs, but who actually cared about their soldiers and the Army. I would have followed them into hell and I couldn’t have asked for better company.
Most of the Army’s senior leaders in the Gulf War had served in Vietnam. They were eyewitnesses to an Army severely damaged by perfumed princes, poor leadership and plummeting morale. They vowed that one day when they were generals they would rebuild an Army that would be spectacular on all levels. It was.
We need such men today. Where are they? Time is running out.
Obama’s appointment for the head of the army is a known homosexual. When Obama finishes, the whole army will be useless.
Under Obama the Army is to be used to control the US people and to serve as a social incubator for the revolution.
Its literally straight out of Mao’s little red book. Obama is focused on a Maoist plan. It isn’t incompetence.
Yes, our country was practically founded on civilian control of the military. The electorate bears much of this responsibility for what has happened. People get the government (then the Army) they deserve.
If the generals just flat out resigned in protest, we’d be in the same boat or worse.
Funny you should ask. Check FR tomorrow on the Marines.
Semper Fi!
Talk to the Commander-in-Chief.
I have been here as long as you, and I agree with his post. What exactly is your problem with the article?
Now for a short public service announcement to all on FR:
I prefer Cruz and my money goes to his campaign, hence the Cruz link. If you like someone else, donate to him/her (find your own link to do it) and if you use FR and don't donate, then please don't complain about the welfare leeches or those who have Obama Phones because, functionally, you are no different than any other FReeloader.....
GO CRUZ!! Keep it up Trump!!
We were just allowing Europe & Canada to do that (by absorbing their defense costs); there was no reason for that massive military after WWII (the last massive effort by our country’s military).
Ping
Or are you just up late and channeling someone who's known my wife longer than I have?
Obama’s appointment for the “head” of the army is a known homosexual.
Interesting choice of words..well done..
You lucked out! All I ever got was Newports.
I harbor no doubts that I would have been $hit-canned before I made 1st LT. I admit that I was a PITA as a young officer, but that was thanks to the lesson from failing my first ARTEP: I was responsible for everything my unit did, or failed to do.
With my Battery Commander and Battalion Commander breathing down my neck, I said "screw it. If it's my neck, then let me do my job and stay the hell out of my way."
Over the next 18 months, I passed several platoon level tac evals, and had the only passing platoon in a battery level tac eval.
I also stepped in and unofficially took over my battery when my battery commander went catatonic during another tac eval. For that effort in righting the ship, I received the worst OER of my career.
I was the XO of an Admin/Log detachment that was TDY to a German anti-aircraft range used for semiannual ASP for Vulcan units. We were the only Americans for 200 miles, and our support came from Bremerhaven. I was left in charge for most of the summer, as the CO was dealing with personal issues at home, 400 miles away.
Instead of being commended for arguably the best run detachment in years (according to our support elements in Bremerhaven), my name was mud at Battalion and Group because I never took no for an answer.
Still, it all worked out. My last two years in Germany were awesome, as I went from being relegated as the "Assistant to the Assistant S-3" to running the logistics operations as the Battalion S-4, a job I was ideally suited and trained for, starting with my Public Accounting degree.
Those four years in Germany were an adventure. I'm happy with my current situation, and I don't live in the past. But I always get angry with leaders who don't lead, and don't hold themselves accountable.
It appears that the Sam Damons have left the Army, leaving behind the Courtney Massengales to eff it up.
Being 40 miles from battalion HQ was a liberating experience, as was being the Army Liasion Officer in the Wing CP during alerts.
“there was no reason for that massive military after WWII”
Not real familiar with history, are you. Back when America was a force for good, there WERE reasons, many of them and good ones, for securing our place in the world. And we could easily afford it because we were not spending almost all of our capital buying votes for democrats by subsidizing the lazy and immoral.
I spent 2-1/2 years at San Vito in southern Italy and loved it. We had a jackass of an officer that made everyone's job a lot harder 9he was removed via complaints that reached the ears of an IG team and life got much nicer) but I still tried to extend because the area was so nice. I was with the 6917th Electronic Security Command (modernized Security Service) and we handled a lot of "interesting" data.
A stint at Osan rounded out my short/long OS tours and the rest was split between Myrtle Beach/Altus/Keesler (even Altus had some good points and the rest were pretty plush assignments - especially since I didn't move nearly as much as many end up doing.
Sounds like you did not have adequate leadership/mentorship and just did the best you could under the circumstances.
Actually, it was necessary. Russia was intent on taking over Europe, precipitating the Cold War.
I am in complete agreement that European countries and South Korea need to pay a larger share of the burden. Back then, Europe was in shambles.
If your statement was not meant in a spirit of superiority or sarcasm towards a new FR member, then please, please, accept my legitimate and heartfelt apology.
I will, however, say this.
On another thread, this new member posted another article, which had great insight and was full of truthfulness regarding the misuse and abuse of our brave military.
Almost immediately, he was met with the "Welcome to Free Republic!" post.
Since you have been on FR since 1998, as have I, you may have noticed that this post is frequently (and I dare say overwhelmingly) used in a mocking fashion towards those who regard new members as trolls, liberals, and enemies.
When this "greeting" is used towards someone from a liberal blog who is clearly posting garbage in order to stir the pot, I can see their point. However, the older I get, and the more I read the Scriptures, the more I realize that the spirit of mocking is not a weapon in the arsenal of the Christian. Mocking is a tool used by (and invented by) Lucifer, the enemy of all that is good and true.
Almost every on-line comment verbiage consist of mocking.
Absent of the Truth, that is all they have.
As to new members, I frequently feel they are not made to feel very welcome here. The "old" members tend to flaunt their supposed "superiority", as if their voices mean more than anyone else, despite the subject or merit. That has always bothered me. Would one greet a new family in ones church in such a way? No! Moreover, this is Jim's creation. Many of us have supported FR over the years financially, and in person at rallies, because of his gift to the conservative cause. For that, I am humbled and grateful. But, that implies a responsibility in all of us to welcome all new members (unless they demonstrate malice or deceit) with actual benevolence.
Again, if your comment was not meant with malice, accept my apology - please.
I happen to agree with everything about the original article and I'm happy for someone to post it here.
Apology accepted, period.
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