Stop the madness!

[BRAVO10000]

Originally Posted by BRUWIN

Seems to me that we just need to do what our leaders tell us to do. For those that put up with it past their first couple of enlistments than there's a damn good retirement package that comes with the sacrifice. I don't know how many people I've talked too outside the military that have told me they wished they had gone my route...deployments and all. I've said it before...considering the type of individual I was before I came into the Air Force, I will always owe the military more than it will ever owe me.

Absolutely, Chief. I wouldn't dream of disputing a word of that. However, I also can't dispute at least the majority of ChiefB's point when he asks "When is the DOD going to realize, admit and correct the fact that the US Army and Marines are undermanned, over tasked, fatigued, and living a tortuous regimen of deployment after cruel deployment to their own detriment and unnecessarily risking their mental and physical health or their lives?".

Of course we'll do what we're told/asked, and we'll do it well and with great enthusiasm. I think it is fair, though, that SOMEONE give us something of a light at the end of the tunnel. People are tired, burned out, and not seeing the tangible benefits of this long conflict (NOT saying that there's none).
I don't think it is too much to ask that the force be adequately shaped to meet the need with people trained to do what they are sent downrange to do. Our Army is desperate for a breather, but I am skeptical that having the AF/Navy provide that relief is really the answer over the long term. Too many of my Army friends come home for deployment just long enough to PCS to a new unit that is staging to deploy immediately. It just seems there's too much waste and patchwork and I haven't seen any evidence from the top that there's any impetus to do anything about it.

[BRUWIN]

Originally Posted by BRAVO10000

Absolutely, Chief. I wouldn't dream of disputing a word of that. However, I also can't dispute at least the majority of ChiefB's point when he asks "When is the DOD going to realize, admit and correct the fact that the US Army and Marines are undermanned, over tasked, fatigued, and living a tortuous regimen of deployment after cruel deployment to their own detriment and unnecessarily risking their mental and physical health or their lives?".

Of course we'll do what we're told/asked, and we'll do it well and with great enthusiasm. I think it is fair, though, that SOMEONE give us something of a light at the end of the tunnel. People are tired, burned out, and not seeing the tangible benefits of this long conflict (NOT saying that there's none).
I don't think it is too much to ask that the force be adequately shaped to meet the need with people trained to do what they are sent downrange to do. Our Army is desperate for a breather, but I am skeptical that having the AF/Navy provide that relief is really the answer over the long term. Too many of my Army friends come home for deployment just long enough to PCS to a new unit that is staging to deploy immediately. It just seems there's too much waste and patchwork and I haven't seen any evidence from the top that there's any impetus to do anything about it.

Well if your speaking for the Army and Marines than I agree. Hell...maybe even a few of our own in the Air Force are suffering too. I just know that from my own little corner of the world I haven't been asked too much at this point. My wife would disagree. She thinks I'm getting screwed all the time. However, I have a funny feeling she wouldn't feel I was getting screwed when I have to fess up 50% percent of my retirement pay to her after divorce. Not sure what that has to do with anything but that's when I would feel like I'm really getting screwed.

[ChiefB]

Originally Posted by Texpat

I was in for 24 years and went where I was told. That was my job. If at any point I felt I could no longer, in good conscious, do it, I would have gotten out.

Sounds like an episode of good, old-fashioned whining to me. Nothing new here.

Wondering how these would-be letter-writers imagine their commanders will react to such open belly-aching to the national and international media. I'd advise a visit to the PA office before firing off the cuff.

Well, shut my mouth, Tex...I have considerably more time than you and have never found reason to complain about deployment, either....but the point of my "Whine" is not about me or necessarily for the Air Force....its about the Army and Marines!

"When is the DOD going to realize, admit and correct the fact that the US Army and Marines are undermanned, over tasked, fatigued, and living a tortuous regimen of deployment after cruel deployment to their own detriment and unnecessarily risking their mental and physical health or their lives?".

If you think I'm out of line championing an Army/Marine cause, I could give a good rat's ass. I'm in a position that is impervious to retribution by commanders and any and all high mucky-mucks. Any others who write to the media on this subject may remain anonymous and just request the subject line in my letter be given consideration.

If you or others don't think the deployment/dwell ratio is a way out of line with what we should resonably expect for our soldiers in spite of all the evidence to the contrary (high suicide rates, divorce rates, banckruptcies, etc.) then, fine your help is not needed.

As to this statement: "If at any point I felt I could no longer, in good conscious, do it, I would have gotten out." I don't think that anytime in an enlisted's career does he have an opportunity to get out except separate at termination of his enlistment. There is no "resignation" option.

So when does a servicemember who now gets his 5th deployment order get out? Just before the order? Impossible. After the order? Impossible. None of the above...he has to follow his orders until enlistment termination which may be years in the future.

The point of my letter is not to get anyone out of the service, it is for the services to keep him in by treating him fairly, justly and humanely.

Your three points: 1. You had no problems with deployments. 2. They are just whining. 3. If they speak up, they will get hammered. All sound like the weak, non-leadership put-downs some ineffectual supervisor would give to a young troop asking for help. It must have been magic in your section.

ChiefB

[sweep_the_leg]

Chief B, another great news program is on PBS, called Frontline. They have done great stories about the wars in Iraq/Afghanistan, Hugo Chavez, the credit card industry, etc.

Their reporting is top-notch.

[ChiefB]

Originally Posted by sweep_the_leg

Chief B, another great news program is on PBS, called Frontline. They have done great stories about the wars in Iraq/Afghanistan, Hugo Chavez, the credit card industry, etc.

Their reporting is top-notch.

You are so right, STL. Frontline has broadcast some of the best indepth, and intimate studies of our troops in action and their personal trials.

I have them on my list to contact on this thread's subject, to include 60 Minutes, CNN's Christian Armanpour, and Dan Rather Reports on HD Net (who has done some great investigative reporting on the DOD and the WOT).

Thanks.

ChiefB