Recruiting Crisis – A Million Meals for Military Families In Need

Public Relations/Customer Service Update

A giant credit union uses social media to brag about supporting The Troops. The big charity drive delivers another image of what it’s like to do time in today’s US Armed Forces.

Nov, 20. 2023

A major credit union tells us:

“Together since Sept. 1, we’ve raised over 1.1 million meals for military families in need, and there’s still time to help. Donate a plate by Nov. 30 ”

Not seeing anything in comments related to the charity drive.

One person did provide an update on money management protocols:

“…said it would be a 20 min wait & now I’m missing my dr appointment just to have my bank unlock my account since they locked it !!!! For no reason saying I have to prove my identity ….& EVERYTIME I MAKE A TRANSACTION…”

“Currently over hour wait now !!! You don’t think y’all should let someone know that I’ve literally just missed my whole appointment for this !!!! #really
This is crazy I’ve never been on the phone waiting this long just to fix a mistake you guys made”

Credit union:

“…The wait for this team has been higher than normal, but they’re working to assist our members are quickly as possible. Since calls are answered in the order they’re received, I’d recommend waiting on the line until you’re able to speak with them…”

Some Americans may be asking:

What would the status of meals for military families be without the credit union charity drive?

Is the food drive also being promoted down at the recruiter’s office, or is it specific to a giant credit union marketing campaign?

Get On Down And Ask Your Recruiter

Why would military families in need be short over 1.1 million meals at any time in US Dept. of Defense history? Love to see newspeople ask about why cash in paychecks to pay for groceries every month and on base shopping at the commissary leaves military families short on over 1.1 million meals.

Changing the hours for alcohol sales on base. Raising the price too:

Dec 1, 2023 Military.com By Drew F. Lawrence

No More Late Night Alcohol Sales: Army and Air Force Exchange Stores to Ban the Practice Next Month

“The change on Army and Air Force bases is meant to support the Pentagon’s suicide prevention initiative, which said that limiting when alcohol is available “reduces heavy drinking and other adverse outcomes associated with alcohol misuse,” including suicide…”

“Other initiatives listed in the recommendations by the suicide prevention committee, created by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in 2022, included increasing the price of alcohol sold on Pentagon property…”

Note: Many thousands of The Troops are 18-20 year old adults. It is not legal for them to buy a six pack of beer on or off base in the USA.

Trying to recruit a younger generation for US military service – Late 2023

Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens. This was not the case in the Vietnam War era. More wars = less freedom? Ask your recruiter or elected official. Post in comments and let us know what they told you.

Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.

More here: The people of Alaska need services in the Middle East

Marketing Campaigns

Various big companies will use social media to remind us that they support veterans and The Troops.

Always wonder if any of those companies advocate for less in the way of undeclared/unwon wars. Do traditional veterans organizations advocate for less in the way of undeclared/unwon wars? Would a move in this direction attract more new members? Have any newspeople ever asked about this?

Press plays along by not asking any questions:

There has been a big stir over a blocked senior military promotion system. TV newspeople will avoid interviewing people who offer up a voice of dissent. Stalling the administrative steps to promote top level officers might lead to what? Decades of undeclared/unwon wars? A giant Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911? Needy military families who require a charity drive to cover for over 1.1 million meals?

Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed The Troops to live in the barracks described below?

Sept 25, 2023 MOAA

Military Barracks Blasted Over Horrid Living Conditions, Lack of Accountability

Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed military families in need to come up short on over 1.1 million meals while relying on their normal paycheck instead of accepting charity?

Federal Credibility/COVID Flip-flop Update:

Nov 20, 2023 FOX 11 NEWS

Army trying to re-recruit soldiers who refused COVID vaccine

Recruiting Crisis/Reality Check

Thousands of American families have had a loved one in the regular or reserve US Armed Forces who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. National Guard too.

If we can just get the veterans, parents and grandparents of the USA to recommend an enlistment to the young family members in their life, things will be looking up.

The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.

If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

Four-star officers, high level DOD civilians, policy think tanks and the press will avoid being honest about how DOD has been used over the past 30 years. They tend to avoid discussing a track record that is not attractive to the parents, grandparents, young people and veterans of America.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the Pentagon specializes in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.

Nov 30, 2023 W.J. Astore

The U.S. Military’s Alleged Recruiting Crisis Isn’t the Problem

“…the U.S. never met a war it didn’t like, even though it hasn’t won a major war since World War II.”