No replies to you, I like that. When you point out that people are understandably pissed at Congress but it’s not right to take it out on the working level that has no control over policy, the entire thread goes quiet.
The fact is, people have no clue what DoD civilians do. All the pro-military FR-bots will get a wakeup call when ships can’t get underway, jets are grounded, and military guys can’t get paid.
The talk radio hosts fill them with stories about gov. civs that sit around and play solitaire all day. Mind you, these are the same talk radio hosts that have only set foot on a base for a 2 hour PR event and have only talked to military that they’re interviewing. I agree with them on a lot of things but they’re CLUELESS on this.
My favorite myth is that civil service CAN’T be fired. BS. I’ve worked military, CS, and contractor and you better believe I’ve seen civil service get fired. Granted, it’s more difficult and paperwork intensive than it should be but it sure as hell happens. My program manager with 15 years of service got fired right out the gate, tell me it doesn’t happen. When I worked CS, I back-filled a guy that got fired (not moved, they took his ID and escorted him out the gate). Especially in this environment where personnel cutbacks are hitting hard. If you’re doing something sketchy, you’re going to be first to go.
These FR people do not understand what they’re cheerleading.
Seems to me that the bottom line here is that Republicans have once again fumbled the ball by agreeing to automatic cuts that hit DOD employees harder than entitlement programs that actually need cutting.
They have compounded the error by not pointing out that the cuts are going to hit producers harder than takers.
Frankly, I think DOD employees shouldn’t be immune to across the board spending cuts, but they sure as Hell shouldn’t be the focus of targeted cuts.
You’re so right in so many ways. People don’t like to have the truth pointed out and they’re all happy to jump up and down and say that DoD civilians do nothing.
Well my husband gets to work by 7 am, usually eats lunch at his desk, if he eats and typically leaves at 5:30 or later. He is in charge of training for the base and not only has been deployed, he has gone TDY for shorter periods.
I don’t think half these people here understand what’s asked of many DoD civilians. It’s ofen not just like a “regular” job. I also agree about firing - I’ve seen civilians fired and the retirement that so many speak of as a “Cadillac plan” is not that at all. *smh*
Thanks - I appreciate you commenting.