Archives for category: Bait & Switch

Not here to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

In the news:

Letter: Write your lawmakers to oppose cuts to TRICARE

Pick a decade anytime after the war in Vietnam. No matter what political party or personality is in the White House, Uncle Sam struggles to get veterans health care to work properly. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and young people have access to this info.

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

And remember veterans:

Be sure to help out Uncle Sam by getting your young family member to go and enlist now:

“We need our veterans and military families to step up to help their country once again to prevent the national security crisis that would occur if our military were unable to fight and win when called upon. We need veterans’ assistance in issuing the call to serve and persuading more young people to answer.”

And don’t think any of the wrong thoughts, or come up with any questions to ask, like:

Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?

National Security Crisis?

We need more young people to sign up for more decades of undeclared/unwon wars to prevent a national security crisis. The Department of Defense track record with undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

We need to send huge amounts of cash to avoid a national security crisis Re: Ukraine.

We will let you know if we need to make adjustments in fees you pay, limitations on future TRICARE services, etc.

 

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

 

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.

 

Recommendation for budget savings:

Phase out undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

 

Sound of Freedom

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?

General Thomas,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis

General Thomas,

We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.

Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

Some may have become skeptical along the way.

 

Political parties and personalities are not as interesting as what stays the same no matter who is elected to office.

Related:

Over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Uniparty No Good For Confidence in US Armed Forces?

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Cultural Honesty

Operation Macho Swagger

 

Possibly of interest:

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

Veterans Day Nonsense

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo- Plt 3049 MCRD SD September, 1979

 

Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?

-Oak Bay Starfish

Photo above:

Platoon 3049, MCRD San Diego

Jun-Sep 1979

 

US Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

 

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.

 

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

 

Not here to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Pick a decade anytime after the war in Vietnam. No matter what political party or personality is in the White House, Uncle Sam struggles to get veterans health care to work properly. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and young people have access to this info.

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.

Football games are also used to honor veterans:

0:12 the man is barely conscious when greeted by team owner Jerry Jones:

Where are the veterans who are OK with less wars?

Everyone seems to love it. When the made for TV event is over, veteran’s benefits may be up for grabs again.

Recommendation:

Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.

Some will say that this has already been done, and that you will see it if you read the fine print. I say take it out of fine print and make it read like the warnings on a pack of cigarettes.

Recommendation for budget savings:

Phase out undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

Sound of Freedom

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?

General Thomas,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis

General Thomas,

We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.

Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

Some may have become skeptical along the way.

 

Political parties and personalities are not as interesting as what stays the same no matter who is elected to office.

 

Militarized Opening Day

The Dept. of Defense is the very best at militarized pageantry for pro sports events.

They are able to get some members of the press to play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

TV newspeople perform like paid actors reading a script.

Weak News Reporting

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

We’ve been told for decades that DOD sends the troops to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”


Thank You For Our Freedom?

Thanks

Thanks for sending The Troops to distant lands to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things. If not for decades of undeclared/unwon wars, (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949) hostile forces may have come to North America to do away with the free enterprise system and tell us what kind of shower head we must install in our home, what type of gas can we must buy for our generator, or that our push mower does not meet federal EPA regulations.

If not for decades of undeclared/unwon wars, drug trafficking cartels might be able to move product into all 50 states.

Feb. 24, 2023 TEMPE, Ariz. (3TV/CBS 5/Gray News)

4.5 million fentanyl pills, 3,000 pounds of meth seized during joint drug bust

“The Tempe Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Arizona Attorney General’s Office shared details on Thursday about a major bust that took three years to pull off.”

Three years to pull off this bust?

“An estimated 4.5 million fentanyl pills were seized in addition to 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine and large amounts of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl powder, according to authorities.”

Wonder what was happening at border crossing inspections during the 3 years these folks were under investigation. Do the good guys who made the Tempe bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?

Love to see newspeople ask:

Were federal authorities at the border notified of this ongoing investigation?

Did the drug traffickers get fast track screening at the border so as not to disrupt this ongoing investigation?

If the drug traffickers were given a pass at the border- would that have tipped them off as to the investigation- or would that have been seen as standard protocol?

Imagine that LE authorities observe a shoplifter or bank robber in action. Instead of going in to make an arrest they back off and conduct an investigation that goes on for 3 years. What if they applied the same tactic Re: crimes involving arson, terrorism, child abuse, DUI, etc.

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

Cartel drug busts that happen in Hometown, USA involve drugs that were not stopped at the border.

 

If The Troops defend our freedoms, should we ask the Joint Chiefs of Staff to bring back the Free Enterprise System?

Goodbye Free Enterprise System

 

National Guard

The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

 

A Draft?

Before making any plans to start up a draft, let’s ask if newspeople can do something totally different. Have newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Have newspeople find out:

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

A Military Draft?

Potential applicants on the way to comply with the next draft:

Jan 13, 2023 Military.com

Brawls, Disorder Mar National Guard Boot Camp for Teens

“A massive brawl broke out on a parade ground at Fort Gordon in Augusta one afternoon last fall, when about 70 teenage recruits of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy slugged it out. Some used homemade weapons, including metal shanks, crudely sharpened toothbrushes and tube socks filled with metal padlocks.”

More here:

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

Last time there was a draft that involved an undeclared war, things did not go well.

 

Related:

Will No Longer Accept New TRICARE Families? – Recruiting Crisis

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

See You Next Year

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

 

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

What would be your role be in all this?

 

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

 

Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?

-Oak Bay Starfish

Pick a decade anytime after the war in Vietnam. No matter what political party or personality is in the White House, Uncle Sam struggles to get veterans health care to work properly. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and young people have access to this info.

In the news:

April 10, 2023 Kitsap Sun

TRICARE administrator floats pay cuts to health care providers

“In a letter to the company that Campbell provided to the Kitsap Sun, she pointed to rising costs at her practice in Silverdale, noted that she doesn’t take a salary personally and has had to dip into savings to make ends meet.”

Any reduction from the current rate will simply make it impossible to meet our expenses,” she wrote.

If this goes through for me, I will no longer accept new TRICARE families, and I really don’t like doing that, because that’s not fair,” she said. “I want the TRICARE families to know why, I want them to understand, this is not a decision that I take lightly or that anyone else takes lightly, but we do have to still pay staff, I have retirement for them and vacation pay, those things are important to keep staff members and to support their families.”

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Recruiters, generals, elected officials, political think tanks and TV newspeople are A-OK with a list of excuses for difficulties in recruiting. Low unemployment, overweight young people, COVID, young people on meds, illegal drug use, etc.

They will avoid news reporting and discussion on reasons for the crisis that reflect poorly on elected officials, DOD and news reporting.

The military recruiting crisis was earned by the politicians, generals, and high ranking civilians who have been running the Pentagon over the past 30 years or so. The crisis is also upon us due to newspeople not asking questions going back to the time the Cold War ended.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this. Any news reporting and discussion?

Weak News Reporting

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

We’ve been told for decades that DOD sends the troops to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

Claims about freedoms that cry out for questioning:

Two major political parties promote the idea that The Troops are sent to distant lands to fight for American rights and freedoms.

School teachers and newspeople are OK with promoting this urban legend.

 

Local press:

Hometown pride running high. High enough to stop asking questions?

“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”

Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?

Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?

Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?

The US Armed Forces – A Giant Civil Rights Organization?

 

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

National Guard

The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

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.

 

Love to see TV newspeople ask:

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

 

Related:

Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

A Military Draft?

Cultural Honesty

 

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

What would be your role be in all this?

 

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

 

In the news:

Mar 27, 2023 Military.com

Experts Question Military Recruiting Fixes Such as Pre-Boot Camp Courses

“The number one reason we’re struggling with recruiting right now is complacency — complacency because the military assumed that people would want to continue buying VHS tapes, compact discs, and riding Peloton bikes at home,” Thomas Spoehr, a retired three-star general and now director of the Center for National Defense at the Heritage Foundation, told attendees.

Read Next: Army Finds Mold in 2,100 Buildings Following Service-Wide Inspection

Random thoughts:

Currently active, and retired generals living today, have been associated with what wars won by the US?

Interesting that a link to mold in Army buildings is inserted into the page just before the retired general tells us that the problem is marketing.

“For Spoehr, one of the key issues is the type of leaders the services put in charge of recruiting policy.”

“The Army routinely puts people in charge of its recruiting enterprise who have never recruited or marketed a thing before in their lives,” he said. However, all the branches operate under similar policies.

Newspeople avoid any questioning or discussion:

General Spoehr, the officers available to lead in recruiting assignments have been part of a US Dept. of Defense that has a truly poor track record with undeclared wars. This record goes back to 1949, the year DOD was established.

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

It feels like DOD specializes in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Recruiters, generals, elected officials, political think tanks and TV newspeople are A-OK with a list of excuses for difficulties in recruiting. Low unemployment, overweight young people, COVID, young people on meds, illegal drug use, etc.

They have a blind spot.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Another article with zero questions from newspeople on a US Dept. of Defense with a decades long tradition of not being able to stay out of or win undeclared wars in distant lands:

Mar 22, 2023 13News Now

Report: ‘Worst recruiting crisis since creation of the all-volunteer force’

Many interesting comments are posted below this video:

Alternative media is OK with asking questions:

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up:

Love to see the think tank ask:

Major General Davis,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

55 minute think tank video avoids any questions on how the American people react to decades of undeclared/unwon wars, any need to validate US foreign policy, etc.

Also, no discussion related to the National Guard.

National Guard

The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

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.

Related:

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

A Military Draft?

Cultural Honesty

 

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

What would be your role be in all this?

 

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

A symbol of newspeople not asking questions, and a federal government that is OK with undeclared/unwon wars and telling lies about freedom, then blaming young people and their families when they lose interest in showing up.

Or, a symbol of federal government credibility and followers of both major parties, elected officials, newspeople and school teachers not asking questions.

 

Not here to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

March 24, 2023 Kitsap Sun

Why changes to military insurance may affect all healthcare consumers in Kitsap

“…TRICARE attributes a “glitch in the system” as the reason they owe my practice more than $50,000 for services rendered more than three months ago. I cannot imagine how much they owe the clinics which are busier than mine.”

“The company overseeing TRICARE, Health Net Federal Services (HNFS), plans to slash payments to community practitioners by 15-25% as part of a six-phase payment reduction plan being rolled out over the next year.”

 

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Recruiters, generals, elected officials, political think tanks and TV newspeople are A-OK with a list of excuses for difficulties in recruiting. Low unemployment, overweight young people, COVID, young people on meds, illegal drug use, etc.

Pick a decade anytime after the war in Vietnam. No matter what political party or personality is in the White House, Uncle Sam struggles to get veterans health care to work properly. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and young people have access to this info.

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

The military recruiting crisis was earned by the politicians, generals, and high ranking civilians who have been running the Pentagon over the past 30 years or so. The crisis is also upon us due to newspeople not asking questions going back to the time the Cold War ended.

Related:

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

A Military Draft?

 

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

 

Not here to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

The US Armed Forces recruiting crisis was earned by the politicians, generals, and high ranking civilians who have been running the Pentagon over the past 30 years or so. The crisis is also upon us due to newspeople not asking questions going back to the time the Cold War ended.

Not enough undeclared/unwon wars to get it right:

March 5, 2023 Great Falls Tribune

Tester discusses ‘alarming number of issues’ with military healthcare

“Montana Senator Jon Tester heard a chorus of complaints about a military health care system that has become increasingly inefficient, unresponsive, and difficult to navigate, both for patients and their providers.”

“I’ve heard from far too many Montanans that TriCare isn’t working for them, and I’m concerned about the alarming number of issues with the program.”

We’ve got 17 veterans a day as of the last census that are committing suicide, and Montana’s suicide rate is the highest in the nation. There’s not enough people out there to take care of the problem, so that when somebody is in crisis, they have no help. We don’t have enough providers that are available to get on board and when they do, they’re libel not to work because it takes 45 to 60 days or longer to get paid. This is insane.”

Welcome Home Troops

 

Related:

See You Next Year

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

Roaring Sports Fans – Military Jet Flyover

GWOT/Super Bowl Security Update 2023

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Bad Attitude?

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Winter on the Washington Coast

 

I went to the Doctor the other day. It’s a mechanical process, like an auto factory assembly line. I know there are good doctors out there. I have moved around a lot and I am still looking.

My feeling is that many work in a clinic or facility where they make money ordering up testing, drugs and surgery.

Every other ad on TV is for meds that come with quality of life threatening side effects. These advertisements are not a good look for the medical profession.

How about legal anti-depression meds that may bring on thoughts of suicide (0:34)

I am the sort of person who would rather hear the truth about where I need to improve my health through my own behaviors. I question the idea that my life is missing pills.

The other day, the doctor reviewed blood labs and presented me with a prescription for two medications.

No discussion about have I been on any similar meds before and had that worked out OK, did I experience side effects, etc. No medical opinion offered about where I am at. Just pills.

I asked if I had an option on the meds. I said I would like to go home and study before starting new prescriptions. At this point the Dr. became huffy with me. Asking questions was a disruption to the assembly line mandated by insurance protocols.

The Dr. seems to function as an employee in all this.

The original reason I went to see the Dr. In mid-November was to get a referral for skin cancer. I had surgery to remove facial skin cancer several years ago. The Dr. was ready to conclude his time with me. He told me to study away. He told me to have a nice spring. I reminded him that my original reason for being seen in November was to get a referral for a skin cancer evaluation.

90 days later, the referral had not been properly processed.

Several superstar performers work at this facility. Staff who are on top of their jobs and have people skills, communication skills, and cheerful attitudes. These people were the highlight of my visit to the facility. Unfortunately, you will not get out of the building without interacting with someone who will make and leave an impression that could suck the life out of you.

Related:

FDA Approved

 

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

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

 

The Dept. of Defense is the very best at militarized pageantry for pro sports events.

They are able to get some members of the press to play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

TV newspeople perform like paid actors reading a script.

Sorry, no time for newspeople to ask:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

Away from the giant flag rituals at sports events

A Dept. of Defense that struggles with recruiting.

After the lessons of Vietnam, decades of undeclared/unwon wars and people losing interest in showing up:

Feb 12, 2023 The Associated Press

Army sees safety, not ‘wokeness,’ as top recruiting obstacle

People who ask questions:

Feb 13, 2023 by wjastore Bracing Views

The Militarized Super Bowl

Public Relations Opportunity

Youth Challenge Academy Update:

Jan 13, 2023 Military.com

Brawls, Disorder Mar National Guard Boot Camp for Teens

“A massive brawl broke out on a parade ground at Fort Gordon in Augusta one afternoon last fall, when about 70 teenage recruits of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy slugged it out. Some used homemade weapons, including metal shanks, crudely sharpened toothbrushes and tube socks filled with metal padlocks.”

When the press shows up to ask questions instead of play along with a press release handed down by authorities.

Soviet style press relations update:

Feb 9, 2023 Joseph A. Wulfsohn | Fox News

East Palestine police defend arrest of NewsNation correspondent covering Ohio train derailment presser

From comments:

Only one problem with this story…the videos and body cams don’t support the police’s account. He was not being loud and certainly not disorderly…he was just doing his job….these people especially Adjutant Major General Harris from the National Guard are an embarrassment.”

Also:

Someone admits to physically pushing the reporter, and the police try to “de-escalate” by forcing the reporter to leave??? Shouldn’t the person who admitted to laying hands on someone else been asked to leave?”

Feb 10, 2023 CBS News video

Body-camera shows Ohio National Guard leader confront NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert before arrest

Feb 12, 2023 Task & Purpose

Ohio National Guard leader filmed shoving a journalist

Feb 10, 2023 Military.com

Bodycam Footage Appears to Show National Guard General Shoving Journalist During News Conference

“The Ohio National Guard currently has many of its troops deployed to the Middle East supporting operations in Iraq and Syria, its largest mobilization since its mission in Afghanistan in 2011 during which three of its soldiers were killed.”

If TV newspeople showed up to ask why the people of Ohio needed National Guard services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war, would they be asked to leave the news conference?

Feb 13, 2023 James Bovard

Supporting “Defend the Guard” Legislation in Maryland

“More than 600,000 Guard members have been deployed abroad since 2001 in undeclared wars or conflicts. Maryland Guard members fought in Fallujah and were sent to the notorious Abu Ghraib prison. This had nothing to do with defending the residents of Maryland against any threat for which the Guard was originally created. The risk that the U.S. government could become entangled in warfare in Ukraine is another urgent reason for safeguarding the Maryland Guard.”

A Military Draft?

Nov 19, 2019 Military Times

Rising costs, dwindling recruit numbers, increasing demands may bring back the military draft

Undeclared wars and a draft? Last time the two were mixed, it did not go well.

After the lessons of Vietnam, decades of undeclared/unwon wars. Has the DOD brand been damaged?

People are not interested in showing up.

A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment.

Since that time, both major parties have taken turns in power and have squandered credibility that would help in the current situation.

We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.

Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

Some may have become skeptical along the way.

The military recruiting crisis was earned by the politicians, generals, and high ranking civilians who have been running the Pentagon over the past 30 years or so. The crisis is also upon us due to newspeople not asking questions going back to the time the Cold War ended.

Related:

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

Roaring Sports Fans – Military Jet Flyover

GWOT/Super Bowl Security Update 2023

Thank You For Our Freedom?

Cultural Honesty

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

December 7, 2022 Crosscut

Yet again, turnout was lowest among WA’s young voters. Why?
Less than 40% of people aged 18-24 voted in the 2022 midterm election. Some say it’s because of disempowerment rather than apathy.

 

Elementary School Teachers

Some families avoid discussing politics.

What about school teachers? Do they have a part in teaching students about government structure and the honest role of the US Armed Forces?

Each November, school teachers across America host Veterans Day assemblies– and promote the idea to children that The Troops are in distant lands-fighting for American rights and freedoms-as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.

In Washington State, these assemblies are mandatory.

The VA tells teachers that The Troops are Defending Liberty and Freedom.

 

Possible reasons for low turnout:

Elementary students grow up and enter the adult world to find out that both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

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.

Growing up in the 60s & 70s- veterans were all around- church, school, Boy Scout leaders, family, the neighborhood, etc. It was all just an average thing. These folks weren’t seen as a separate part of American society.

People weren’t stepping over to say “Thanks for your service” to my Dad- who did time in the Navy in the 50s- but looked just like anyone else out in public.

These guys weren’t lining up for free dinner promotions marketed by major restaurant chains.

They weren’t looking for head of the line parking spots over at the grocery store.

In the 60s & 70s I never attended a Veterans Day assembly at school.

There were none.

Probably enough veterans around to remove most of the mystique, or maybe those veterans thought it was all just an average thing and did not want to be seen as a separate part of American society, or get priority parking spots over at the grocery store.

Love to see a student ask: If The Troops fight for your right to sit, stand, kneel, etc.-why were black people still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory?

Love to see a student ask: If the wars aren’t won-how can they protect our freedom?

Love to see a student ask: Whatever happened to lessons about Armistice Day?

Hey school teachers,

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

Not here to say that most of what the Dept. of Defense touches turns to crap, but, 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.

Related: A Formal Congressional Declaration of War

 

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Top generals and politicians have a recruiting crisis on their hands. They will blame young people who are overweight. They will not blame a DOD brand that is known for decades of undeclared/unwon wars.

When do we get to vote our way out of undeclared/unwon wars?

 

Marketing Partnership Update

We are the very best at militarized pageantry for pro sports events.

TV newspeople perform like paid actors reading a script.

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

Sorry, no time for newspeople to ask:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

 

More here:

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Veterans Day Nonsense – 2022

Cultural Honesty

Leaving Afghanistan – Lies About American Rights And Freedoms

Because We Said So

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Welcome Home Troops

2022 – Armed Forces Recruiting Culture

 

Sorry guys- Veterans Day is over for another year. Sorry for the bait & switch on the pharmacy deal. See us in November 2023 for your free meal at participating major restaurant chains. We’ll also offer up some sort of militarized pageantry at major sports events.

Welcome Home Troops – Penn Valley, California

Not enough undeclared/unwon wars to get it right. Plenty of cash to ship to other countries. Plenty of cash for DOD to go and nibble around the edges of distant countries that may be potential enemies.

Not here to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

The guys who did time in the Vietnam War may have grown up in a family where Dad was a WWII veteran.

The guys who did time in the Vietnam War may have been WWII veterans.

 

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon have made a career of undeclared/unwon wars. It is understandable that people would not want to take part in this.

After squandering DOD credibility for decades in distant lands, top generals are now hurting for people to sign up.

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

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Related:

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Health Care

Cultural Honesty

Leaving Afghanistan – Lies About American Rights And Freedoms

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Unsustainable Military Spending

Veterans Day Nonsense – 2022

 

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

The US Armed Forces have attracted many good people over the years.

Americans do not live in a free and honest society. In a free and honest society, messages related to public policy stand up to questioning and discussion.

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

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Do Americans have an honest relationship with the US Armed Forces?

 

Fred Reed – September 5, 2012

Since 1945 the Pentagon has never fought a war it had to win. Nor will it.”

 

The Troops are often sent to distant lands to fight people who:

“…had never attacked the United States or even threatened to do so.”

May 27, 2021 Jacob G. Hornberger

The Lies of the National-Security State

 

Veterans Day

One of the very most meaningful federal holidays for some. Stolen from Armistice Day in the 1950s. At that time, the US Dept. of Defense had started a decades-long tradition of not being able to stay out of or win undeclared wars in distant lands.

Today, Armistice Day is free chow day.

Meet a veteran who isn’t shy about going out & grabbing a couple free meals-it’s a proud thing:

Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays

 

The Fake War On Terror

A weak-minded culture avoids asking questions.

Americans were told that they faced a life and death situation after 911. If certain actions were not taken, terrorists could come to America to disrupt our way of life and attempt another 911.

Hey newspeople, if all this was a life and death situation that required sending the troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, wouldn’t it be important to ask a few public policy questions about what was going on?

American Rights and Freedoms?

Love to see the press, school teachers, sports announcers and politicians come clean on how any of this was linked to American rights and freedoms or defending the constitution.

Several federal holidays feature a theme related to the idea that the troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

Cultural Honesty

Leaving Afghanistan – Lies About American Rights And Freedoms

Because We Said So

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system, voting rights, bump stock baninterracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.

American freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

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.

Hey school teachers, are the Joint Chiefs of Staff sending The Troops to fix any of this?

 

Why do we speak of the US Armed Forces as if they function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?

Freedom Comes And Goes – Joint Chiefs of Staff Play No Part

 

Love to see the press find out from elected officials how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Podcast 9 Defending The Constitution?

 

World’s Most Powerful Military Force

Podcast 10 NORAD Santa Tracker Allows Insult To President Biden Live On Air

My audio commentary – duration 3:30

 

 

Both major parties are OK with a glorification of military service and this total nonsense:

WA Secretary of State

Our right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.”

If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?

Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?

If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?

Men Died For the Right to Vote?

Right To Vote Linked To Military Operations/US Troops in Distant Lands?

 

Thanks

Thanks for sending The Troops to distant lands to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things. If not for decades of undeclared/unwon wars, (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949) hostile forces may have come to North America to do away with the free enterprise system and tell us what kind of shower head we must install in our home, what type of gas can we must buy for our generator, what type of gas we must place in the can, or that our push mower does not meet federal EPA regulations.

If not for decades of undeclared/unwon wars, drug trafficking cartels might be able to move product into all 50 states.

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

Cartel drug busts that happen in Hometown, USA involve drugs that were not stopped at the border.

 

If The Troops defend our freedoms, should we ask the Joint Chiefs of Staff to bring back the Free Enterprise System?

0:20

Probably designed by some bureaucrat that never mowed a yard:

 

Elementary School Teachers

Some families avoid discussing politics.

What about school teachers? Do they have a part in teaching students about government structure and the honest role of the US Armed Forces?

Each November, school teachers across America host Veterans Day assemblies– and promote the idea to children that The Troops are in distant lands-fighting for American rights and freedoms-as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.

In Washington State, these assemblies are mandatory.

The VA tells teachers that The Troops are Defending Liberty and Freedom.

 

Growing up in the 60s & 70s- veterans were all around- church, school, Boy Scout leaders, family, the neighborhood, etc. It was all just an average thing. These folks weren’t seen as a separate part of American society.

People weren’t stepping over to say “Thanks for your service” to my Dad- who did time in the Navy in the 50s- but looked just like anyone else out in public.

These guys weren’t lining up for free dinner promotions marketed by major restaurant chains.

In the 60s & 70s I never attended a Veterans Day assembly at school.

There were none.

Probably enough veterans around to remove most of the mystique, or maybe those veterans thought it was all just an average thing and did not want to be seen as a separate part of American society, or get head of the line parking spots over at the grocery store.

Love to see a student ask: If The Troops fight for your right to sit, stand, kneel, etc.-why were black people still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory?

Love to see a student ask: If the wars aren’t won-how can they protect our freedom?

Love to see a student ask: Whatever happened to lessons about Armistice Day?

 

As I have mentioned before, I think it is strange that modern American culture sees veterans as separate & different from the rest of society.

Where are the veterans who don’t want free meals, discounts, head of the line privileges at the airport, etc.

I think little old ladies should get the best parking spots over at the grocery store. There is no possibility that I would use one of these spots:

Militarized Parking Lots

 

Hey school teachers,

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

Not here to say that most of what the Dept. of Defense touches turns to crap, but, 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.

Related: A Formal Congressional Declaration of War

 

Marketing Partnership Update

We are the very best at militarized pageantry for pro sports events.

TV newspeople perform like paid actors reading a script.

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

Sorry, no time for newspeople to ask:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

Marketing Partnership Update

 

Homeland Security is a scam

Federal DEA agents swing into action after federal US Dept. of Homeland Security agents fail to keep 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine from moving past strict post 911/GWOT security protocols at border crossings and ports of entry, then showing up in Norco, California:

Oct 5, 2022 CBS LOS ANGELES

DEA agents make historic drug bust; seize 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine

 

United States Department Of Homeland Security Annual Budget

Every 12 months:

$51.672 billion (FY 2020)

 

If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

 

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

Sorry guys- Veterans Day is over for another year. Sorry for the bait & switch on the pharmacy deal. See us in November 2023 for your free meal at participating major restaurant chains. We’ll also offer up some sort of militarized pageantry at major sports events.

 

Oct. 21, 2022 The Wall Street Journal

OPINIONLETTERS
What Are We Doing to Support Our Military?
Amid a recruiting crisis, the community must step up.

Many comments here. The general tone of those is that young people need to get their act together and maybe some sort of mandatory service is in order.

My take:

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon have made a career of undeclared/unwon wars. It is understandable that people would not want to take part in this.

After squandering DOD credibility for decades in distant lands, top generals are now hurting for people to sign up.

 

December 25, 2013 Laurence M. Vance

The Cult of the Uniform

All military personnel are now heroes. Sporting events have turned into military worship services. Discounts galore are now offered to military personnel. Show up in a military uniform (but not a bus driver, plumber, or auto mechanic uniform) at many restaurants on Veterans Day and you can get a free meal. At many airlines, military personnel board the planes first along with the first class passengers. There are announcements in airports welcoming home military personnel and thanking them for all they do to keep us safe. Parents put bumper stickers on their cars that mention that their son (or daughter) is serving in the military. Businesses proclaim their support for the troops on their signs and in their advertisements. Military personnel who wear their uniforms out in public are stopped and thanked for their service. Patriotism is now equated with admiration for the military. And, of course, the big lie that the troops are defending our freedoms is repeated morning, noon, and night.”

“Every veteran is a hero, no matter where he fought or what he did or didn’t do there.”

 

Related:

Welcome Home Troops

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Veterans Day Nonsense

Schmoozy TV Freedom Nonsense – Leaving Afghanistan

Americans have a much more honest relationship with sports teams than they do with the US Armed Forces

Misinformation and Militarized Freedom Nonsense

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

Never Forget

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

The US Armed Forces – A Giant Civil Rights Organization?

Veterans Protect Rights?

Port Townsend and the Sound of Freedom

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Bad Habits

 

If this is an emergency, please hang up and dial 911.

If this is not an emergency, please stay on the line to participate in our tortuous, routine protocols.

TRICARE

You have earned health care benefits with your career/job. You have made subscription/dues payments during the year to keep your health care turned on.

It almost seems like they hire people to make it difficult and confusing to use the benefits you have already earned and paid for.

This whole thing should be no more tricky to use than an Amazon account.

High level politicians from both major parties have been talking for decades about fixing/supporting veterans health care benefits.

Somebody shared from the web:

Possibly related:

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

 


The crisis was earned by the politicians, generals, and high ranking civilians who have been running the Pentagon over the past 30 years or so. The crisis is also upon us due to newspeople not asking questions going back to the time the Cold War ended.

National Guard

Jun 30, 2022 WCCO – CBS Minnesota

1:41 Reporters interviewing reporters from within their TV studios.

Back in the 1960s, TV newspeople had a different style of reporting and working to keep the public informed.

At 3:49 an interview with Maj. Sgt. Kor. Rank insignia on uniform does not match rank description in WCCO TV news video. Weeks later, title remains uncorrected.

The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

Regular Active Duty

Jul 26, 2022 CBS Evening News

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.

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

The press heads out to ask top generals and recruiters what is going on. No interviews with National Guard people who have done multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, etc. No interviews with Moms and Dads who have raised physically fit children but will not recommend the US Armed Forces to them.

Zero questions from newspeople on why the Moms and Dads of America wouldn’t recommend the US Armed Forces to their kids.

Love to see TV newspeople interview some of the veterans commenting here:

From comments Re: above video:

I joined the Navy at 17, 7/71. 2 tours to Vietnam. I joined to Win a War that wasn’t ours to fight. We lost it with 58,000 lost and thousands wounded. The money was shit but I didn’t join for the money. Now at 68 my Country has been at War with someone my entire lifetime. My Son served 5 years in the Marine Corps, Grunt Infantry Iraq and Afghanistan. No way would I serve today. My Son feels the same way. No more members of my Family will serve, Volunteer or the Draft. Take off your Suits and Ties and do it yourselves. Good luck……..

The parents and grandparents of today may have a tricky time recommending an enlistment to a younger generation. This would be true even in families who are proud of having a history of military service.

Some of these folks are commenting on the video below. Look for TV newspeople to seek out and do zero interviews with the veterans commenting here:

TV newspeople perform like paid actors reading a script.

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

Sorry, no time for newspeople to ask:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

Related:

Marketing Partnership Update

 

For your freedoms

No time for the press to look into the fading idea that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system,
voting rights, bump stock baninterracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.

Freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion. Don’t look for any of this discussion to be prompted by newspeople showing initiative or curiosity in asking questions. 

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”


May 13, 2022 Military.com Network

Military Throwing Cash at Recruiting Crisis as Troops Head for the Exits

“Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee personnel panel, says the military is on the cusp of a recruiting crisis.”

Questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:

Senator Tillis,

The Dept. of Defense has a truly poor track record with undeclared wars. This record goes back to 1949, the year DOD was established. Has this record damaged the brand?

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. Whatever they touch turns to crap.

Senator Tillis,

Is there any talk of going back to a draft in order to deal with your recruiting crisis?

Before making any plans to start up a draft, let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Senator Tillis,

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

Senator Tillis,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

Senator Tillis,

Did the US Army revert to WWII uniforms to remind us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up?

Did this change have any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

Senator Tillis,

Not here to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.

Senator Tillis,

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

The guys who did time in the Vietnam War may have grown up in a family where Dad was a WWII veteran.

The guys who did time in the Vietnam War may have been WWII veterans.

 

NATO

May 21, 2022 By Ryan McMaken
Mises.org

NATO Plans to Rip Off Americans Even More as Sweden and Finland Set to Join

NATO membership has nothing to do with enhancing the defense of ordinary Americans. The American elites love NATO, of course, because it expands regime spending and influence in Europe. But when it comes down to actual military defense, expanding NATO only increases the odds that Americans will be pulled into a major conflict while offering Americans nothing in return.”

“…the US taxpayer overwhelmingly covers the costs of NATO.”

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

When the US Armed Forces are sent to Lebanon, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Vietnam, etc.-how is that defending the US Constitution-or our rights and freedoms, or our physical security?

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

 

A significant article here:

July 28, 2022 The Heritage Foundation

The Administration and Congress Must Act Now to Counter the Worsening Military Recruiting Crisis

Not seeing any recommendation for phasing out undeclared/unwon wars.

Not seeing any recommendation to stop sending the National Guard to distant lands on missions completely unrelated to their home state.

 

Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity

Falling Military Recruitment Is Another Sign of Waning Faith in the Regime
written by Ryan mcmaken friday august 26, 2022

“The good news, however, is that the military’s recruiting woes are likely yet another signal of declining support for the federal government and its institutions.”

 

Conclusion:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since. Has anyone been fired over this?

Since the end of the Cold War:

Both major parties appear to have been OK with undeclared/unwon wars and sending the National Guard to foreign lands on missions completely unrelated to their home state.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Recruiting crisis? You earned it.

Try for less blaming of a new generation and the Moms and Dads of today for any hesitation related to doing time in uniform. Time to take a hard look at what elected officials and the US Dept. of Defense did with the brand after the first Cold War ended in the early 90s and after the lessons of Vietnam were on the table.

Possibly of interest:

June 2, 2022 Do Soldiers Protect Us?
By Laurence M. Vance

Veterans Day Nonsense

Unsustainable Military Spending

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

2022 – Armed Forces Recruiting Culture

 

After the Cold War:

The Cold War had ended. DOD was happy with their all volunteer military.

Look what they did with it.

The Cold War Had Ended

 

Enough time now to look back and ask a few public policy questions. The fact that the press has never been in the habit of questioning the GWOT, by itself, seems a little odd.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Platoon 3049, MCRD San Diego

Jun-Sep 1979

 

I finished my time in the Marines in 1999 with a solid attitude and a patriotic spirit.

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

Much has changed over the past 20 years.

There was a time in the USMC where tents and showers would be set up in a field on base and that would be the end of the story below. I do feel these people should be treated better. If DOD has billions of dollars to move around, why not build new barracks? Where was the planning on this 10 years ago?

May 13, 2022 Military.com Network

Junior Sailors Scrambling for a Place to Live After the Navy Shutters Its Barracks at Key West

More bad news:

May 13, 2022 Military.com Network

Military Throwing Cash at Recruiting Crisis as Troops Head for the Exits

“The aggregate effects of two years of COVID is that is two years of not being in high school classrooms, two years of not having air shows and major public events like being in those public spaces, where our potential applicants or potential recruits are getting personal exposure, face-to-face relationships with military recruiters,” Thomas said.

Only about 40% of Americans who are of prime recruiting age are vaccinated against the virus. Outright refusal to get the shot immediately precludes joining the force and short-circuits any pitch from recruiters.”

Seventeen-to-24-year-olds are not getting vaccinated, and those [are] people we aren’t having a conversation with,” Vereen said.

Blogged about it here:

JBLM – US Armed Forces Vaccine Hesitancy

 

“Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee personnel panel, says the military is on the cusp of a recruiting crisis.”

Questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:

Senator Tillis,

The Dept. of Defense has a truly poor track record with undeclared wars. This record goes back to 1949, the year DOD was established. Has this record damaged the brand?

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. Whatever they touch turns to crap.

Senator Tillis,

Is there any talk of going back to a draft in order to deal with your recruiting crisis?

Before making any plans to start up a draft, let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Senator Tillis,

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

Senator Tillis,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

Senator Tillis,

Not here to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.

Senator Tillis,

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

More here:

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

 

2021

Some people are OK with opting out on COVID vaccines. The government is trying their very best with lottery giveaway events, to pull people in.

June 17, 2021 KING 5 News video

Washington launches COVID-19 vaccine incentive for military members, veterans

“…Washington is launching a new COVID-19 vaccine incentive called “A Heroes Thanks” for the state’s military members and veterans.”

People who do or did time in the US Armed Forces and staff and veterans and their families are assigned the bulk identity of heroes.

Hero?

“Staff Sgt. Chazz Newbill found out about the new lottery game moments after getting his second vaccine at a clinic on Joint Base Lewis-McChord Thursday.”

He found out about the new lottery game moments after getting his second vaccine? 

News cameras were rolling to promote the “A Heroes Thanks” program, but the people being interviewed by KING 5 TV and getting their vaccine didn’t know about the “A Heroes Thanks” program?

Got it.

“I feel pretty good about it,” said Newbill.

“He said one of the reasons he was getting the vaccine to set a good example for the soldiers he supervises.”

Now, it’s a good example to participate in the lotto prize game of chance scenario crafted by Governor Inslee.

Sorry, no time for KING 5 to let us know how many military supervisors were fully vaccinated before the lotto incentives were rolled out.

“Newbill thought the chance at winning cash might convince skeptics in the military to get vaccinated.”

I feel like money can help anybody convince anything,” said Newbill, “My wife is not vaccinated, so this is a convincing point with her too.”

Way to go Newbill.

The value of the meds does not stand on its own. A carnival game will help people to make up their mind.

The press is not available to interview people who still opt out over at the military base? Thanks newspeople.

Blogged about it here:

List of Things the Government is Good At – TV News Avoids Asking Questions

 

NATO

May 21, 2022 By Ryan McMaken
Mises.org

NATO Plans to Rip Off Americans Even More as Sweden and Finland Set to Join

NATO membership has nothing to do with enhancing the defense of ordinary Americans. The American elites love NATO, of course, because it expands regime spending and influence in Europe. But when it comes down to actual military defense, expanding NATO only increases the odds that Americans will be pulled into a major conflict while offering Americans nothing in return.”

“…the US taxpayer overwhelmingly covers the costs of NATO.”

 

National Guard

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

Unlike the active duty US Armed Forces, these guys must maintain a place to live and a regular job back in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with missions completely unrelated to their home state.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Maryland Freedoms Found In The Middle East?

Claims about freedoms that cry out for questioning:

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

Conclusion:

Try for less blaming of a new generation and the Moms and Dads of today for any hesitation related to doing time in uniform. Time to take a hard look at what elected officials and the US Dept. of Defense did with the brand after the first Cold War ended in the early 90s and after the lessons of Vietnam were on the table.

After the Cold War:

The Cold War had ended. DOD was happy with their all volunteer military.

Look what they did with it.

The Cold War Had Ended

 

Possibly of interest:

Enough time now to look back and ask a few public policy questions. The fact that the press has never been in the habit of questioning the GWOT, by itself, seems a little odd.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

March 9, 2021 Whidbey News-Times

First lady Jill Biden talks to families at NAS Whidbey

The press was not permitted to attend that portion of her visit or ask the first lady any questions.”

Did the press attempt to ask questions at a more appropriate time?

If I was a member of the press I would ask public policy related questions at an appropriate time. If questions were not answered, that would become the story.

“During a visit to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Tuesday, first lady Dr. Jill Biden asked Oak Harbor military families how the U.S. government can better support them.”

My answer:

Just Be Honest.

My questions appear in bold type. To be fair, the issues of concern have been in place no mater what political party of personality has occupied the White House and no matter who the First Lady has been.

If I was a member of the press, I would ask, at an appropriate time:

What can we expect in terms of undeclared/unwon wars that never end?

Nov 14, 2019 Stars and Stripes

Post-9/11 Wars Have Cost American Taxpayers $6.4 trillion, Study Finds

President Biden is the sixth US President to order airstrikes in the region:

Six US Presidents have now had their hands on the wheel in Iraq

 

Joining Forces Initiative – Thanksgiving, 2011:

Here is a hand selected lady who was surprised (1:12) to get a phone call of support from The First Lady-even though cameras were rolling in her home when the phone rang. At 2:33 Dr. Jill Biden is thanked.

“Comments are turned off.”

Military Benefits

Political parties and personalities are not as interesting as what stays the same no matter who is elected to office.

I’ve never been one to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were used to entice people to stay for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.

Maybe go ahead and skip the VIP photo ops and cross-country visits where the press is kept at a distance.

 

Recommendation for budget savings:

Phase out ongoing undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

 

Recommendation:

Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.

Some will say that this has already been done, and that you will see if you read the fine print. I say take it out of fine print and make it read like the warnings on a pack of cigarettes.

 

If I was a member of the press, I would ask, at an appropriate time:

What can be done in terms of public policy/congressional action to ensure people keep the benefits they thought they were earning by doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Recommendation for budget savings:

Phase out ongoing undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

 

Bait and Switch:

Unsustainable Military Spending

We often hear that Jill Biden is a Doctor/PhD. Should she be able to answer basic public policy questions related to military life?

What is the purpose of her flying 3000 miles for a visit if no questions are to be asked?

Thank You First Lady Dr. Jill Biden

 

Possibly of interest:

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

When I was 18, the WWII generation was in charge

Podcast 9 Defending The Constitution?

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Proud Tradition – The People of WA Need Services In The Middle East

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

Press might need less bailout cash if it was more in the habit of asking questions

Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Just north of Perego’s Lagoon, looking north towards Fort Ebey.

 

Joining Forces Initiative – Thanksgiving, 2011:

Here is a hand selected lady who was surprised (1:12) to get a phone call of support from The First Lady-even though cameras were rolling in her home when the phone rang. At 2:33 Dr. Jill Biden is thanked.

Dr. Biden will visit Puget Sound area military installations:

March 5, 2021 KOMO News

First Lady Jill Biden to visit Washington military bases next week

“White House officials say she is planning on relaunching Joining Forces later this year. The First Lady founded the initiative in 2011 with former First Lady Michelle Obama to support U.S. services members, veterans, and their families.”

Here at Oak Bay Starfish, we extend a Puget Sound area welcome to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

Will the First Lady bring any news of plans to phase out undeclared/unwon wars that never end?

Will newspeople interview The First Lady and ask similar questions?

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

Nov 14, 2019 Stars and Stripes

Post-9/11 Wars Have Cost American Taxpayers $6.4 trillion, Study Finds

Related:

Unsustainable Military Spending

When I was 18, the WWII generation was in charge

Podcast 9 Defending The Constitution?

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Proud Tradition – The People of WA Need Services In The Middle East

Six US Presidents have now had their hands on the wheel in Iraq

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

Press might need less bailout cash if it was more in the habit of asking questions

Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

I try to think of myself and others as individuals rather than as members of a group.

I listened to a podcast the other day. At 19:30 a discussion of the Baby Boomer generation develops and some harsh criticism is offered up:

My generation did have a turn in power and several chunks of life in our modern society have become worse.

What has changed since I was 18?

Today, people can be haunted by healthcare concerns.

People can be haunted by student loan debt.

Homelessness and drug addiction have taken hold to the extent that people are living in tents on city sidewalks.

The school lunch and breakfast program has taken hold to an extent that children might go hungry when school is out?

March 13, 2020 CNN

The coronavirus pandemic is closing schools. How will kids eat?

“But as other schools deliberate shutting their doors to slow the spread of the coronavirus, some parents may be left to wonder: If schools close, how will my child eat?

Newspeople have moved away from asking questions since I was 18.

School breakfast & lunch program? More discussion and news coverage please.

 

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911.

We haven’t won a war since.

The Dept. of Defense has a truly poor track record for winning wars since DOD was established way back in 1949.

 

Any lessons learned from the Vietnam War?

Instead of putting those lessons to work, the idea that the troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms seems to be the primary theme today.

Americans Are OK With Lies

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

Someday, when US troops leave Africa, what will become of American rights and freedoms?

Someday, when US troops leave Afghanistan, what will become of American rights and freedoms?

 

Sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution?

What becomes of American rights and freedoms and the constitution when the US returns from distant lands without a victory?

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

Podcast 9 Defending The Constitution?

 

Claims about freedoms that cry out for questioning:

Two major political parties that continue to promote the idea that The Troops are sent to distant lands to fight for American rights and freedoms.

School teachers and newspeople who are OK with promoting this urban legend.

Local press:

Hometown pride running high. High enough to stop asking questions?

“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”

Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?

Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?

Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?

The US Armed Forces – A Giant Civil Rights Organization?

 

In the 60s & 70s I never attended a Veterans Day assembly at school.

There were none.

Probably enough veterans around to remove most of the mystique, or maybe those veterans thought it was all just an average thing and did not want to be seen as a separate part of American society, or get head of the line parking spots over at the grocery store.

 

Each November, school teachers across America host Veterans Day assemblies– and promote the idea to children that The Troops are in distant lands-fighting for American rights and freedoms-as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.

In Washington State, these assemblies are mandatory.

The VA tells teachers that The Troops are Defending Liberty and Freedom.

Love to see a student ask: If The Troops fight for your right to sit, stand, kneel, etc.-why were black people still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory?

Love to see a student ask: If the wars aren’t won-how can they protect our freedom?

Love to see a student ask: Whatever happened to lessons about Armistice Day?

 

Congressman Derek Kilmer:

Wars are for freedom and democracy.

 

WA Secretary of State:

Our right to vote is protected by the extraordinary men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.”

Page 7 of the Washington State Elections Voters Pamphlet for the November 5th, 2019 General Election:

Our right to vote is protected by the members of the U.S. Armed Forces.”

 

One of the nation’s largest, oldest and most respected veterans organizations:

Veterans, not politicians, ‘give us the right to vote,’ observers at Amherst Veterans Day ceremonies told

 

Any newspeople available to ask:

Congressman Kilmer,

If wars are fought for democracy-how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?

Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?

 

Veterans give rights?

It turns out The Troops were in no hurry to enable all adults to act on their right to vote.

US Military operations conducted in the 1940s, 50s & 60s didn’t get the job done.

It wasn’t until July of 1971 that 18 year old adults could take delivery on one of the freedoms we hear so much about.

 

Wasteful Homeland Security Spending

No such thing when I was 18. There was no US Dept. of Homeland Security.

What We Have Now

A $49.8 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security that fails to keep cartel product from showing up all over the US.

March 2, 2021 KTVZ

DEA’s drug threat report: Mexican cartel flooding Northwest with fentanyl

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

When news/social media posts are created by federal employees, there’s no need to deal with any awkward/real questions from the press.

Major takedown at 1:20

“We arrested two individuals who attempted to sell six counterfeit NFL Super Bowl 54 T-shirts…”

“Comments are turned off”

Billions of dollars spent every 12 months to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.

Newspeople ask zero questions in this area.

The press release style of news reporting means that a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest drug bust/federal grant money award, etc. Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

 

I’ve never been one to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Recommendation for budget savings:

Phase out ongoing undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

Unsustainable Military Spending

 

Related:

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Proud Tradition – The People of WA Need Services In The Middle East

Six US Presidents have now had their hands on the wheel in Iraq

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

Press might need less bailout cash if it was more in the habit of asking questions

Federal Agents Swing Into Action – Zero Questions From Newspeople

Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

 

Photo- Extinct ferry at Kingston

 

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

The guys who did time in the Vietnam War may have grown up in a family where Dad was a WWII veteran.

The guys who did time in the Vietnam War may have been WWII veterans.

A Draft?

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.

Before making any plans to start up a draft, let’s get the press to find out from elected officials how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

 

Disinformation Governance Board?

Stop telling lies about freedom.

The effort to stamp out misinformation in social media does not apply to major TV networks promoting the idea that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

Misinformation and Militarized Freedom Nonsense

1:55

“Fought for freedom on foreign battlefields”

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

 

Safer Now?

Puget Sound Ferry Security Theater

April 7, 2022 My Edmonds News

Scene in Edmonds: Ferry escort

“These escorts are routine and randomly assigned to deter, respond to and prevent terrorism and illicit activity in the Port of Seattle and our area of responsibility throughout the Puget Sound,” Wright said, “specifically in protection of the WSF system and waterside facilities.”

Zero questions from newspeople.

Never really understood the concept of having gunboat escorts for ferries on Puget Sound.

I do not advocate for increased security on Washington State Ferries. I am simply trying to make sense of ongoing war on terror/security theater mixed messages. Love to see more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

Washington State ferry passengers are advised via PA system not to leave backpacks or packages unattended during ferry crossings.

Meanwhile-on the car deck-cars, trucks, vans, commercial vehicles, etc. are left unattended during ferry crossings.

I have made dozens of round trip ferry crossings over the past 20 years. In many cases, there has been no security screening at either terminal.

On occasion, the press will do a story about a ferry security drill.

Maybe security personnel are present at some specific terminals each day. Over the past 20 years, dozens of round trip crossings from various terminals indicate that in many cases- no security screening takes place prior to boarding ferries.

What is the point in having gunboats escorting ferries if terrorists are free to put their boat on a trailer and drive it onto the ferry?

If the Oklahoma City bomber rolls onto the ferry- how does the SWAT team help out an hour later?

Love to see newspeople show some initiative and curiosity in asking questions.

What we get now is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

More here:

Mixed Messages On Transportation Security/Firing Gun From the Ferry Update

If You See Something, Say Something?

Washington State Ferry Ride

Washington State Ferries Security – Looking for Clarification

 

Out at the airport

Show up early to wait in line and squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube at the airport?

May 5, 2021 KOMO News

Wash. lab develops scanner that may eliminate need to remove shoes at airport

“This new technology could speed up the screening process by about 20% and eliminate the hassle of taking off shoes and putting them back on, researchers say.”

What keeps the terrorists of the GWOT from creating a disruption at the back end of the screening line?

Has anyone ever seen any member of the press ask questions on this?

If sending US troops to Iraq and Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

All 50 states.

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

 

For your freedoms.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system,
voting rights, bump stock baninterracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.

Freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.

If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.

Just Be Honest.

Stop with the glorification of undeclared/unwon wars in distant lands.

 

Jan 25, 2021 The New York Times

Guard soldier in the Capitol flips double-birds at a plaque bearing Speaker Pelosi’s name as his buddies take photos. He is now under investigation

The Dept. of Defense has a truly poor track record for winning undeclared wars since DOD was established way back in 1949.

How does the USA plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

 

Military Benefits – Bait and Switch

I’ve never been one to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.

Football games are also used to honor veterans:

0:12 the man is barely conscious when greeted by team owner Jerry Jones:

Everyone seems to love it. When the made for TV event is over, veteran’s benefits may be up for grabs again.

Recommendation:

Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.

Some will say that this has already been done, and that you will see it if you read the fine print. I say take it out of fine print and make it read like the warnings on a pack of cigarettes.

Recommendation for budget savings:

Phase out undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

Some of what has changed in recent years:

Unsustainable Military Spending

More here:

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

 

The Cold War had ended. DOD was happy with their all volunteer military.

Look what they did with it.

The Cold War Had Ended

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

When the US Armed Forces are sent to Lebanon, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Vietnam, etc.-how is that defending the US Constitution-or our rights and freedoms, or our physical security?

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

Veterans Day Nonsense

 

Related:

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

2022 – Armed Forces Recruiting Culture

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

A symbol of federal government credibility and followers of both major parties, elected officials, newspeople and school teachers not asking questions.

 

Political parties and personalities are not as interesting as what stays the same no matter who is elected to office.

I’ve never been one to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were used to entice people to stay for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.

Football games are also used to honor veterans:

0:12 the man is barely conscious when greeted by team owner Jerry Jones:

Everyone seems to love it. When the made for TV event is over, veteran’s benefits may be up for grabs again.

Medical

Feb 7, 2020 Military.com

More Than 3 Dozen Military Hospitals to Stop Treating Retirees, Families, Memo Shows

“That means that some of those facilities may stop offering pharmacy support for users not on active duty. On-base pharmacies are currently the only way for all Tricare beneficiaries, including elderly Tricare for Life enrollees, to receive no-cost, same-day medications.”

“Some military retirees and their families will also see increased out-of-pocket costs, the memo notes, since care received off-base by those users require copays.”

“With a challenging array of threats around the world, we need our military medical facilities to keep combat forces healthy and prepare our medical personnel to support them.”

A number of interesting comments have been posted following the above article.

From comments:

Over the last twenty years the DOD has been constricting Tricare Prime users to having to be closer and closer to military installations. Now that you have to be within 30 miles driving distance to a military medical treatment facility to keep on Tricare Prime, the DOD is going to cut retirees medical benefits on military installation. It is only a matter of time before the DOD forces enough Tricare Prime users out of the network for them to determine Prime not be a cost effective program to maintain.”

 

Traditional Commissary Benefit

Unfortunately, the commissary has gone downhill in recent years. They still hire good people, but the shelves are not consistently stocked. Some of the products that were routinely available have been completely phased out.

What has changed?

DoD wants to sharply cut commissary budget as overall defense budget increases

“For a number of years, some within the Defense Department have floated proposals to reduce the commissary budget.”

Commissary funding has been cut. The benefit has been reduced and people are less inclined to shop on base for this reason.

We can’t have poor sales numbers. We will not put the benefit back to the way it was when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We will open up eligibility and get more people to show up to shop on base.

 

Military Exchanges

Oct 21, 2020 Military Times

Approval expected soon for DoD civilians to shop in military exchanges

 

Lowering the bar

It really is genius.

Commissary sales are down. To increase sales, people who formerly did not qualify to shop there will now become eligible:

Commissary employees to get shopping benefits

No need to volunteer to go to far away places and maybe never come back again. If you work at the facility-you now qualify for this traditional benefit.

0 percent disability

Out there in the world, somewhere, there are people who believe military benefits are too generous. Wait until they find out that their neighbor now gets a lifetime shopping on base privilege after doing 4 years in uniform and coming away with a 0 percent disability. Wait until the average person learns what it takes to qualify for a 0 percent disability.

The idea that military benefits are too generous will catch on as time goes on.

If the general public begins to believe the benefits are too generous, it will be easier to make moves to downsize benefits earned in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service and save more DOD cash later on.

Once an incentive to stay for 20, now maybe an incentive to qualify for a 0 percent disability:

Department of Defense Expanding Access to Military Commissaries, Exchanges and Recreation Facilities

Who is eligible?

“…veterans with VA- documented service-connected disability ratings of 0-90 percent…”

What is a zero-percent disability rating?

Claims agents are standing by:

“So what about zero-percent ratings? A veteran may be rated at zero percent, which means that a service-connected condition exists, but that it does not affect his or her ability to function.”

San Diego area military bases to open gates to thousands more veterans in 2020

“Starting New Year’s Day, more than 3 million veterans nationwide, including tens of thousands of local veterans, will be able to shop at exchanges and commissaries on military bases and utilize their recreation facilities.”

Until now only active duty military, retirees, Medal of Honor recipients and veterans who were 100 percent disabled could shop on base…”

“The change is expected to boost sales at base grocery stores, shops and restaurants, which have suffered years of declines…”

More here:

New Incentive To Qualify For Zero-Percent Disability Rating

Recommendation:

Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.

Some will say that this has already been done, and that you will see if you read the fine print. I say take it out of fine print and make it read like the warnings on a pack of cigarettes.

 

Recommendation for budget savings:

Phase out ongoing undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

 

Big Spending

Need more cash for undeclared/unwon wars that never end:

Feb 7, 2020 Military.com

Esper Presses Congress to Bulk Up Next Military Budget

“…more funding for the military to confront China and Russia…”

 

Nov 14, 2019 Stars and Stripes

Post-9/11 Wars Have Cost American Taxpayers $6.4 trillion, Study Finds

 

April 22, 2019 TIME

F-35 Fighters Will Cost $22 Billion More Than Expected, Pentagon Says

Oct 29, 2019 CNBC

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter program gets $34 billion Pentagon contract, its biggest yet

“The laundry list of setbacks includes faulty ejection seats, software delays and significant helmet-display issues. The program had an initial acquisition cost of $406.5 billion.”

Dec 6, 2019 Military.com

Under Pressure, Navy’s Top official Pledges to Solve New Carrier’s Problems

The advanced $13 billion carrier has been plagued by problems including glitches with its 11 new weapons elevators, which bring ammunition to the flight deck. The failure to solve many of the issues with the 23 new technologies introduced on the carrier have led to countless delays and still threaten its maiden deployment, which is planned for 2021.”

“There is a trail of tears as to why we are where we are, but we need to fix that ship and make sure that it works, Modly said.”

 

Did the advantage of US air and sea power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

Photo-looking forward to another season

 

Political parties and personalities are not as interesting as what stays the same no matter who is elected to office.

I’ve never been one to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

 

Traditional Commissary Benefit

Unfortunately, the commissary has gone downhill in recent years. They still hire good people, but the shelves are not consistently stocked. Some of the products that were routinely available have been completely phased out.

The commissary has introduced their own store brand, which in some cases works out fine. In other cases, is the store brand an inferior replacement for an item that has been eliminated from the inventory? Not against store brands, but some items we have been able to get at the commissary over & again are no longer stocked. Not sure if this is because of store brands and limited shelf space, or really what the reason is. The folks who run the commissary system seem to be more about taking a promotional approach and less about delivering bad news or admitting that things are different and not better as time goes on.

June 1, 2018 Stars and Stripes

DECA chief hears you: Commissary shelves will be better stocked

“There seems to be a total lack of concern on the part of the commissary management to keep shelves stocked.”

Many commissary patrons echoed this complaint in reacting to our recent news column on base stores, and it’s not news to the interim director of the Defense Commissary Agency, retired Navy Rear Adm. Robert Bianchi.”

 

What has changed?

DoD wants to sharply cut commissary budget as overall defense budget increases

“For a number of years, some within the Defense Department have floated proposals to reduce the commissary budget.”

Blogged about it here:

Killing the Commissaries

 

My take:

The plan is to save money by defunding the commissaries. Less people will want to shop there after the transition, then we’ll have the numbers to show that it makes no sense to continue to support funding for the commissaries.

 

Cries of Desperation

Commissary sales are down. To increase sales, people who formerly did not qualify to shop there will now become eligible:

Commissary employees to get shopping benefits

No need to volunteer to go to far away places and maybe never come back again. If you work at the facility-you now qualify for this traditional benefit.

 

Once an incentive to stay for 20, now maybe an incentive to qualify for a 0 percent disability:

Department of Defense Expanding Access to Military Commissaries, Exchanges and Recreation Facilities

Who is eligible?

“…veterans with VA- documented service-connected disability ratings of 0-90 percent…”

What is a zero-percent disability rating?

Claims agents are standing by:

“So what about zero-percent ratings? A veteran may be rated at zero percent, which means that a service-connected condition exists, but that it does not affect his or her ability to function.”

San Diego area military bases to open gates to thousands more veterans in 2020

“Starting New Year’s Day, more than 3 million veterans nationwide, including tens of thousands of local veterans, will be able to shop at exchanges and commissaries on military bases and utilize their recreation facilities.”

Until now only active duty military, retirees, Medal of Honor recipients and veterans who were 100 percent disabled could shop on base…”

“The change is expected to boost sales at base grocery stores, shops and restaurants, which have suffered years of declines…”

 

Summary

Commissary funding has been cut. The benefit has been reduced and people are less inclined to shop on base for this reason.

We can’t have poor sales numbers. We will not put the benefit back to the way it was when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We will open up eligibility and get more people to show up to shop on base.

The folks who lied about progress in Afghanistan and those who promote giant flag rituals at sporting events are running the show. Look for more in the way of marketing spin. The traditional benefit isn’t coming back.

 

Recommendations

Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.

Did these guys sign up for benefits?

No. They stayed for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and kept reenlisting until they had 20 years in for benefits.

They could have left the armed forces to stabilize their lives Re: children in school, home ownership, a chance at decent local jobs for a two income household, family separation, getting shot at, etc.

They stayed in based on what they thought was an honest understanding of the benefits they were earning.

For budget savings:

Phase out ongoing undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

Photo-

A message sent by DeCA to The Troops that is no longer seen at the commissary.

Not seeing any “this offer expires on” date here.

 

In the news:

Jan 14th, 2019 Military.com

CBO Suggests Raising Tricare Fees, Cutting Veteran Benefits to Slash Deficit

No matter what political party or personality is in power, there are ongoing moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

I’ve never been one to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

 

Recommendations

Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.

For budget savings:

Phase out ongoing undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

 

Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

Photo- A symbol of Support The Troops Nonsense & federal government credibility

 

Took a ferry ride and went to see my sister yesterday. At the end of our visit she pointed out the new flag she had placed at the front of her home and asked why she didn’t see one when she came to visit us on July 4th. I was able to provide her with some answers.

Bait and switch on incentives used to get people to stay for 20 years in the US Armed Forces

No matter what political party or personality is in power, there are ongoing moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

I’ve never been one to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

 

Undeclared/Unwon Wars That Never End

No matter what political party or personality is in power, the wars roll on.

Recommendation for budget savings:

Phase out ongoing undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

 

The Meth/Heroin Racket

We’re told that we are in a life and death struggle in the War on Terror. Bad people will come here to destroy our American way of life if we don’t send The Troops to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since 2009, we need a special ID to go have lunch in Canada and then return home.

Seems like strict post-911 security protocols, the War on Terror, and a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security would be a drug cartel’s worst nightmare.

No matter what political party or personality is in power there is no shortage of cartel-sourced meth or heroin anywhere in the US.

July 26, 2018 Seattle Times:

Opioid overdoses jump in Snohomish County after tightening of prescription rules

“The health district said the dramatic increase in reported overdoses may be due to doctors observing tighter guidelines on opioid prescriptions, leading their patients to turn to heroin or to illegal opioid vendors.”

Old news- local LE agencies may benefit when the US Dept. of Homeland Security fails to keep heroin out of the US:

Heroin busts could finance police construction in Snohomish

Welcome Home Troops

 

Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

I’ve never been one to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Defense Commissary Agency – trying to explain themselves:

Where did my coffee go?

A large number of comments have been posted in response on the Defense Commissary Agency Facebook page. Real people who aren’t paid by the federal government to post articles and comments aren’t having it.

Many comments about Cooper cheese and why it’s gone. The article posted by DeCA says items are removed if they are slow to sell?

View comments here.

The plan is to save money by defunding the commissaries. Less people will want to shop there after the transition, then we’ll have the numbers to show that it makes no sense to continue to support funding for the commissaries.

 

Recommendation for budget savings:

Phase out ongoing undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

 

 

Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

Photo- A symbol of Support The Troops Nonsense & federal government credibility

 

DSC_0002_005DOD-

“All military retirements are protected from inflation by annual Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs), based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as measured by the Deparment of Labor.”

 

“Under the proposal, a sergeant first class in the Army who qualifies for retirement at 20 years of service at age 40, and who has most likely deployed multiple times to war, could lose approximately $72,000 between retirement and turning age 62.”

These are the traditional DOD military benefits that were used to entice people to stay for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for your service

 

Recommendation-

Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.

Stop spending federal money on meaningless support the troops promotions, campaigns and VIP photo ops that are not connected in any way with public policy.

 

Here is a hand selected lady who was surprised (1:12) to get a phone call of support from The First Lady- even though cameras were rolling in her home when the phone rang:

Recommendations for saving:

Phase out decades of ongoing, undeclared wars overseas. Phase out the Drug War, allow U.S. farmers to answer the global demand for Industrial Hemp.

Discuss on facebook here.

 

 

Photo- A symbol of freedom & federal government credibility

 

oki“The White House also proposed an increase to the current enrollment fee for working age retirees in the Tricare Prime program phased in over the next four years.”

These are the traditional DOD military healthcare benefits that were used to entice people to stay for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

In every discussion forum I take a look at- someone makes the point that the TRICARE program is much more generous than any civilian plan.

Most Americans never do a day in the Armed Forces, fewer still are interested in doing 20 years.

The country does not support a draft, but is OK with decades of ongoing, undeclared wars overseas. The wear & tear required during 20 years in the crotch is not similar to most civilian jobs.

 

Room for savings-

Google:

$60 billion in DOD contracting fraud

& see where savings are available to pay fees for healthcare earned by people who volunteered to go to far away places and maybe never come back again.

 

Many Americans may associate free medical care with people who stay for 20 years in the US Armed Forces.

Recommendation-

Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.

Stop spending federal money on meaningless support the troops promotions, campaigns and VIP photo ops that are not connected in any way with public policy.

Here is a hand selected lady who was surprised (1:12) to get a phone call of support from The First Lady- even though cameras were rolling in her home when the phone rang:

My concerns are not specific to any political party or personality.

Here’s the Republican position Re: making good on healthcare benefits for The Troops:

“Pulling the TRICARE Prime idea from a recent Congressional Budget Office report, McCain said forcing retirees under 65 to use TRICARE Standard, the fee-for-service option, or health insurance from civilian employers, or space-available care at base clinics or hospitals, could save DoD medical accounts up to $111 billion over the next decade.”

Senator McCain,

There was a time when Moms & Dads, friends, relatives, folks at church and school and people with years of military experience encouraged a younger generation to take a favorable look at making a career of the US Armed Forces.

Even if there was another draft- people would be drafted for an enlistment- not a career.

Good luck with your all-volunteer military.

Recommendations for saving:

Phase out decades of ongoing, undeclared wars overseas. Phase out the Drug War, allow U.S. farmers to answer the global demand for Industrial Hemp.

Discuss on facebook here.

 

 

Photo- USMC Okinawa 1980