To: MindBender26
I was back in Lawton this October and took a trip down memory lane out on the post. Wasn't sure how it would go as trips down memory lane, often don't have good results. I guess enough time had passed and it went fine.
Obviously we survived the process (RIF) but I really was puzzled and angry. I was a Mustang. 6 years enlisted, buc Sgt. when I went through. The Army had spent a bundle on my military eduction and many like me many other mustangs never had the goal of becoming Generals. I would have been fine with another 10 years and retirement as a Battery Commander. I don't have any regrets, but I sure wish I could have been a BC. I know I would have been quite good at it. Oh well, that was then and this is now.
As a side note to the stange policies of the day. Imeadiately after being RIF'd I was in a Reserve Unit in Lawton and promoted to O-3 within 30 days of my RIF. Fired and promoted in that order within 30 days. Strange Daze indeed.
Thanks for the posts and the information. I have always had great trust in Rummy's leadership and management capabilities and style. I think he enjoys GW's utmost confidence.
111 posted on
01/27/2003 5:56:21 AM PST by
ImpBill
To: ImpBill
Know what you mean. 5 of us in class had RVN time. 3 were career guys, one a WO rotor head. Other two, me included were newbies. Had been BCT, AIT, ABN School, 12 months RVN, then direct OCS. An "old guy" at 23. Made 02 in 12 months, 03 in 12 months back then.
RIF was most foolish. I got out when one year I was 17 months away from 0-4, next year I was minimum 7-9 years away.
Did you hear about the more than 300 guys who cut their own orders for DS. Most were reservists or retired reservists. Couldn't accept fact the Big Green Machine was going to throw war without them.
After months of applying for individual callup or reactivation, they simply cut themselves a set of orders, (what 20 year vet with a typewriter couldn't do that?!) xeroxed 50 copies and showed up at Maguire AFB or somewhere like that.
They were not in system, but since they were all E7, E8, O4-O5-O6, types, they knew who to talk to.......
They would be outshipped with understanding orders would "catch up with them." Same thing in Germany, etc.
When they finally got incountry in Saudi, would "see someone," get a quick physical, sign a few papers, and away we go........... 5th SF was at 280% strength day ground war started. 11ACR had an extra 4 experienced guys in the S-3 shop, 3 extra very experienced hands in the maint barns!
128 posted on
01/27/2003 7:24:52 AM PST by
MindBender26
(.....and for more news as it happens...stay tuned to your local FReeper station....)
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