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.
Shopping On Base & Staying At Base Lodging Locations
CNBC
From comments:
“I’m a veteran myself and I’m not going to spend money at AAFES especially when I can get it cheaper at another retailer. Trust me the government has plenty of money to take care of active duty members if they really wanted to.”
“Bottom line is the Nex/BX is not cheaper than Walmart, Dollar General or Amazon!
Even with the “tax free” savings it’s still not cheaper than most retail stores! Even billing on base is higher than local hotels.”
“The brands at the px are often too premium for the active service member. Need a strainer for your spaghetti? The only option is Cuisinart, which is very nice, but also 40 dollars. A tv or other electronics? The only choice is samsung, sony, or apple. The prices for the merchandise is competitive but there are absolutely no low or mid tier brands for anything”
“It’s not just the Navy Exchange, AAFES is military wide. Nobody shops at the Exchange anymore. It was Supposed to be Cheaper than civilian stores but it’s Not. The only advantage is no tax, but items are often More expensive than at Walmart.”
“They overcharge you to thank you for your service . I know for a fact the little daypacks are twice what amazon charges for the same thing .”
“My personal opinion – the military has gone SOFT. Military stores. Military hotels. Military marinas, tennis courts, golf courses, loans, time off… so much bureaucracy and unnecessary overhead and waste.”
“Guys have to fight in Iran, so let it provide goods to their family in low price!”
If you are great at retail, why would you work for the federal government?
Recent Experience
NEXCOM Hospitality Group
For several years now, we have been happy Navy Lodge customers.
We are happy with the local staff. Good people are on the job. We know that local people are not forcing the changes we see.
Change should be in the form of obvious improvements (If NEXCOM is bragging) not setbacks.
Random changes we have seen:
Handsome tall ship logo is being replaced with sterile branding that shows nothing in the way of artistic design.
Towel rack by the sink that worked well in our room was removed and placed below sink level at the front of the counter. You may not stand upright and make use of the new towel rack.
Leave the rack in place if there is a reason for it and add the original rack again so people have an option.
Old style luggage carts that work well have been replaced with small, cramped aluminum frame carts that hold less and are difficult to use. What happened to the old carts? They were built to last.
The old Navy Lodge had decent coffee in the morning. New, NEXCOM Hospitality Group coffee is served from a compact vending machine and is some of the worst coffee I have ever tasted.
Do NEXCOM Hospitality Group executives drink this coffee?
A slick, photo magazine has been placed in the room to market NEXCOM.
We went to the NEX to buy a coffee pot. We wanted a basic/inexpensive model. We found high end pricey models. The original intent of shopping on base was to provide basic needs for people on a budget?
The troops would never be seen shopping at Costco, Walmart, or WinCo if prices on base were the better deal. No slick promotional photo-ad marketing magazine required.
If cutbacks must be made, I’d rather just hear the truth, not:
“NEXCOM Hospitality Group is rebranding its portfolio of Navy Lodge and Navy Gateway Inns and Suites (NGIS) properties to reflect best commercial practices, elevate the guest experience, work more efficiently…”
“As we embark on this journey to modernize our brand, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality to our service members, their families and all who serve our country…”
“…a strategic decision to align our services with modern hospitality standards, ensuring that we continue to provide unparalleled comfort and support to our military community…”
“We are confident that this focus will help enhance guest satisfaction and brand loyalty…”
Turn the clock back 45 years. It’s 1981. The base commissary is well thought of and is a solid benefit to those who did 20 years in uniform. Go there to shop and you will see WWII veterans, Korean War veterans, Vietnam War veterans and anyone else who stayed for 20 years.
This benefit is an incentive for active duty people to show up for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.
People who did time in uniform during the last century will remember Base Auto Hobby Shops. I used them on various US bases from the early 80s until the shop at NAS Whidbey was shut down a few years back.
It appears that all Navy base shops in the Puget Sound area are now shut down.
I will agree with the idea that modern cars require less work under the hood to keep them on the road.
In some cases, people used base auto hobby shops to restore or fix up old cars. It was a good way to chill out.
Maybe less veteran suicides back then. Maybe no recruiting crisis and no need to raise the enlistment age limit to 42. Maybe no need to put automatic draft registration in place.
In the old days, registering for the draft was like the old version of voting. You had to take certain steps to make it work.
Old Man Blog category:
Thoughts on changes in American culture relating to those born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s.
The guilt doesn’t seem to work towards staying out of undeclared/unwon wars, maintaining the barracks or managing federal contracts related to TRICARE.
A giant flag ritual at the next ball game will make it all good.
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.
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.
Random Stuff
What has changed for the US Armed Forces since the 1980s?
During the 80s there was a period of Cold War era peacetime stability. This has been replaced with undeclared/unwon wars that seem to come along more frequently now.
I went into the Marines in 1979. No war. No controversy. No thanks for your service (a good thing).
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. Maybe the concept of Armistice Day had not gone completely extinct.
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.
2025
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, the Pentagon seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. Understandable why young people & their parents & grandparents would take a dim view on all this.
If you did your homework back in May of 2024, you remember:
“We are committed to keeping all of our military families informed about your health plan, your choices, and ensuring a seamless transition to new contractors,” said Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland, director of the DHA.
My memory is that the National Guard was more about 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.
Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
Please help us now by encouraging your own kids, grandkids and a younger generation to go see a recruiter and sign up because right now we are dealing with an ongoing recruiting crisis.
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.
If you did your homework back in May of 2024, you remember:
“We are committed to keeping all of our military families informed about your health plan, your choices, and ensuring a seamless transition to new contractors,” said Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland, director of the DHA.
US Armed Forces 2025 Recruiting Crisis Public Relations Release:
Know that extending the deadline for customers to set up payments is not done to for the convenience of The Troops and their families. It’s done because the system has failed to work in 2025. As a last resort, customers call to speak to a human at the understaffed call center. Broken web protocols at TRICARE drive up the number of people who want to call and speak to a human. Months later- tortuous web protocols and long call center wait times are still holding things up?
“Tricare officials said that if beneficiaries don’t update their payment information or any fees before April 30, they will be disenrolled, retroactive to Jan. 1.”
“So it’s either find another office that will take TRICARE, pay out of pocket, or go on base and wait forever,” Brassard said.
“I find this whole thing repulsive,” she continued, after learning that other military families around the country were experiencing similar issues. Two weeks after receiving that letter of warning, Brassard learned she was dropped from another provider as well.
“The extension for setting up payments applies to certain beneficiaries in the West Region who pay fees for their Tricare Prime or Tricare Select plans and those who are enrolled in a premium-based plan, including Tricare Young Adult, Tricare Reserve Select and Tricare Retired Reserve.”
“Defense Health Agency officials, who have extended this deadline several times, warn beneficiaries could be disenrolled from Tricare, retroactive to Jan. 1, if they fail to set up their payments by April 30.”
Stop kissing veteran ass on Armistice Day and every other chance you get. Stop with the “Thanks for your service” nonsense.
People volunteered to go to far away places and maybe never come back again.
Go to work to smooth out the process they face when they need to call and manage whatever benefits they earned.
Older veterans have influence with kids, grandkids and younger members of the community. Do right by them if you ever hope to dig out of your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
This whole thing should be no more tricky to use than an Amazon account.
My TRICARE Concerns:
Make it easy to pay the annual fee.
Allow people to opt in for a mailed statement if requested.
Make a TRICARE account just as easy to use as my local PUD account.
I always want the option to see a written statement.
No money should change hands/go to TRICARE without a written or emailed invoice.
TRICARE does not send out a bill. TRICARE wants you to set up an automatic payroll allotment. No, thank you.
I have been paying bills for decades. I have never used a payroll allotment or a credit card subscription to pay recurring bills-still don’t want to. This ongoing clusterfuck with TRICARE is a very good example of why.
My local PUD mails out a statement each month. I could call them if I need to, but I never have a need. The PUD offers multiple payment options. Pick whatever one is best for you.
The PUD does not care about my user name and password. I need none of that to happily use their services for years on end.
TRICARE:
Want to see an updated statement of your payment history?
TRICARE has a customer portal page on the web. Tried to use this in the past. It is a tortuous process. Tricky to set up and update passwords over and again. They will treat you like a hacker, even if you have done nothing wrong. Super complicated.
TRICARE requires you to create a user name and password. Whatever password you like will only be temporary, because it must be changed on schedule and it is required to be complicated.
Did you forget your password? No problem, just provide answers to a few simple questions:
What was the house number across the street from where your best childhood friend grew up?
Way too complicated. Why should this be any more tricky to use than an Amazon account?
As a last resort, you call to speak to a human at the understaffed call center. Broken web protocols at TRICARE drive up the number of people who want to call and speak to a human. You may be passed around to several different call operators.
All layers of questions to verify every possible means to ID customer are repeated again prior to speaking to each human.
Add in some call wait times too.
Paid annual fee in Dec, 2024 on the phone, with a credit card. Never received any payment confirmation or invoice from TRICARE.
Filled out recurring credit card TRICARE payment authorization form in Dec, 2024. Placed form in the mail. Never received any payment confirmation or invoice from TRICARE. No verification of payment authorization from any source. It’s all a mystery.
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 disruptions impact nearly ten million people, including those at Fort Leonard Wood, who should receive secure medical, mental, and behavioral services.”
If you did your homework back in May of 2024, you remember:
“We are committed to keeping all of our military families informed about your health plan, your choices, and ensuring a seamless transition to new contractors,” said Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland, director of the DHA.
Stop kissing veteran ass on Armistice Day and every other chance you get. Stop with the “Thanks for your service” nonsense.
People volunteered to go to far away places and maybe never come back again.
Go to work to smooth out the process they face when they need to call and manage whatever benefits they earned.
Older veterans have influence with kids, grandkids and younger members of the community. Do right by them if you ever hope to dig out of your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
This whole thing should be no more tricky to use than an Amazon account.
Maybe the new administration will get this all cleared up soon, but we’re not there yet.
I expected a mailed statement in December that still has not arrived. Recently I have called twice to speak to a human at DFAS. I spoke with a different person on each call.
On both occasions, the person I spoke with was professional. It is clear that customer service staff in the call center have been downsized probably to save money.
Long hold times, frustrated callers, difficult web protocols. I feel for the few call center people available who must deal with unhappy customers.
Plenty of cash for Ukraine. Plenty of cash for decades of undeclared/unwon DOD wars.
Recommendation: Staff up the call centers at DFAS and at TRICARE.
Tortuous web protocols at TRICARE and DFAS contribute to the number of people who want to call and speak to a human.
Treat your call center people well by hiring adequate numbers of staff to share the load.
Elected officials:
Stop kissing veteran ass on Armistice Day and every other chance you get. Stop with the “Thanks for your service” nonsense.
People volunteered to go to far away places and maybe never come back again.
Go to work to smooth out the process they face when they need to call and manage whatever benefits they earned.
Older veterans have influence with kids, grandkids and younger members of the community. Do right by them if you ever hope to dig out of your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
This whole thing should be no more tricky to use than an Amazon account.
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.
Turn the clock back 40 years. It’s 1984. The base commissary is well thought of and is a solid benefit to those who did 20 years in uniform. Go there to shop and you will see WWII veterans. Korean War veterans, Vietnam War veterans and anyone else who stayed for 20 years.
This benefit is an incentive for active duty people to show up for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.
It’s the early 80s.
People do time in uniform. No controversy. No thanks for your service (a good thing). This was a period of Cold War era peacetime stability.
The US Armed Forces were on the back burner, right where they are meant to be.
No US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
Things will change.
2018
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911.
“At the same time, the department has set annual targets DeCA must hit to lower its appropriation from $1.4 billion in 2017 to $400 million by 2021. Military leaders have testified they want that that billion dollars in savings to applied to more critical readiness needs.”
It is expensive to manage these wars that drag on for years. Where to cut costs? How about a benefit earned by people who already did 20 years in uniform?
Commissaries are defunded. The benefit has now been altered and is not as good a deal as it once was. Smart shoppers go elsewhere. Uncle Sam says “Why fund the commissary if less people want to shop there?”
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.
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.
The traditional/pre-2018 group who would shop at the commissary:
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.
2024 – That didn’t fix it
At one time: An incentive for people to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan/go to far away places and maybe never come back again.
Please help us now by encouraging your own kids and grandkids to go see a recruiter and sign up because right now we are dealing with an ongoing recruiting crisis.
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.
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.
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:
“Comments are turned off.”
PBS News Video – Experts Deliver Their Report
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, the Pentagon seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. Understandable why young people & their parents & grandparents would take a dim view on all this.
The 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.
Flag officers and high level DOD civilians built careers made of undeclared/unwon wars. Now they must mastermind ways to recruit a new generation.
They are going to tell us how all this works.
Oct 30, 2024 PBS News
WATCH: U.S. military leaders hold briefing on recruitment goals and challenges for 2025
“Comments are turned off.”
If comments were open:
Some will say obese teens and young adults are to blame for the big recruiting crisis. Thousands of young, intelligent and athletic Americans participate in college athletics each year. Certainly, they would qualify to enlist- no rehab/prep program required.
Why are these people not showing up at the recruiting office?
US press plays along by not asking questions and shutting down or suppressing comment sections.
Watched the entire video above. Zero questions on how flag officers and high level DOD civilians allowed for this:
These areas had small, local newspapers and those papers featured active, online comment sections. Paying for a newspaper subscription was OK with me. There were basic rules for commenting, but it did not seem to matter what name people went by. I never cared.
Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.
Suppressing comments, getting away from asking questions related to public policy and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.
Got it.
After local newspapers shut down comments, people could still go to Twitter and take a look at what people were posting for comments. Some papers have since shut down posting of their news articles on what is now called X.
YouTube can be a very good place to view active comment sections, but it may be tricky to find a video that relates to a news story/public policy update you are looking for.
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.
A new email arrived advising:
“Your DS Logon (DSL) account will be deactivated in 30 calendar days due to inactivity.”
You must go and set up a new user name and password every so often. Or do I have this wrong?
A tortuous process awaits.
This whole thing should be no more tricky to use than an Amazon account.
People have been using the web at home for 25 years. Any changes during this time should have been for the purpose of making things more simple, faster, easier, etc.
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 create steps to make it difficult and confusing to use the benefits you have already earned and paid for.
We have run into this several times over the years. Providers we like will say they left or are leaving TRICARE because the paperwork requirements are too big for the money they get paid from TRICARE.
Recruiting Crisis/Reality Check
Thousands of American families have had a loved one in the regular or reserve US Armed Forces who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. National Guard too.
If we can just get the veterans, parents and grandparents of the USA to recommend an enlistment to the young family members in their life, things will be looking up.
The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Four-star officers, high level DOD civilians, policy think tanks and the press will avoid being honest about how DOD has been used over the past 30 years. They tend to avoid discussing a track record that is not attractive to the parents, grandparents, young people and veterans of America.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the Pentagon specializes in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
Uncle Sam is having a hell of a time finding people to sign up for the US Armed Forces. Pretending that decades of undeclared/unwon wars are linked in any way with American freedoms is the kind of dishonesty that will snuff out the energy American families once had for encouraging young people to enlist.
Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
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.
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.
There has been a big stir over a blocked senior military promotion system. TV newspeople will avoid interviewing people who offer up a voice of dissent. Stalling the administrative steps to promote top level officers might lead to what? Decades of undeclared/unwon wars? A giant Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed military families in need to come up short on over 1.1 million meals while relying on their normal paycheck instead of accepting charity?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed The Troops to live in the barracks described below?
We have run into this several times over the years. Providers we like will say they left or are leaving TRICARE because the paperwork requirements are too big for the money they get paid from TRICARE.
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
The US Armed Forces have attracted many good people over the years.
A few random thoughts here:
Americans do not live in a free and honest society. Veterans Day is a day where some pretend that the US Dept. of Defense (established after WWII) and overseas military operations under The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (The post of a statutory and permanent Joint Chiefs of Staff chair was created by the 1949 amendments to the National Security Act of 1947.) are linked in some way to American rights and freedoms.
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.
Most people do no time in the military- they don’t want to.
There seems to be a quiet guilt about this, so American popular and political culture almost worships those who do.
You don’t have to look too far to find comments that refer to the troops as “heroes.”
Some are.
No one who has done time in an average military unit would be comfortable with everyone present being called a hero. Some units would be the exception, but for most people who have done time over the years, calling everyone a hero would have no connection to reality.
Reality, and an honest understanding of why we send The Troops to far away places isn’t what we’re about though.
Reaching for an honest understanding of US foreign policy makes more sense than “Thanks for your service.”
For those ready to take a break from the social media/emoji version of the internet, there is more here from this 2012 blog:
It’s good for elementary school Veterans Day assemblies and teaching young children that The Troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms, as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of 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. Maybe the concept of Armistice Day had not gone completely extinct.
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.
Hey VA, can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here:
In addition to freedoms possibly enjoyed by all adults, those adults who are 18-20 years old are placed in a land of the free holding pattern.
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.
Both major political parties are OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.
Don’t look for newspeople or school teachers at Veterans Day assemblies to question any of this. Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
Maybe a few more decades of undeclared/unwon wars and the freedoms will get better. Ask the speakers at your Veterans Day assembly.
In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
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.
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 schoolteachers, here’s a lesson idea for you:
1967
Did the Joint Chiefs of Staff send The Troops to safeguard American freedoms?
Was it the Viet Cong that set up laws in 16 US states to prohibit interracial marriage?
Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?
Be sure to ask the speakers and teachers at your elementary school Veterans Day assembly.
The formal congressional declaration of war 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.
“And although you, John Doe civilian, did not personally authorize our military to enter Iraq and Afghanistan, as the citizen of a democracy, you share the burden of our wars.”
If it is a democracy, when do we vote on undeclared/unwon wars?
The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the politicians, four-star officers and high level DOD civilians who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
Group Identities are Tricky/What others are saying:
“Most Americans would say we should celebrate veterans for
keeping us safe
protecting America
defending our freedoms
fighting over there so we don’t have to fight over here
protecting and defending the Constitution
But since veterans do none of these things, I ask again: Why should we celebrate veterans?”
Respect for The 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.
Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like 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, top Pentagon Generals and the press earned it.
For those who are ready to take a break from the social media/emoji version of the internet:
Small children are taught that The Troops are sent to distant lands to defend American freedoms at 0:40
They forgot The National Guard:
More propaganda for kids:
They forgot The National Guard again. At 1:03 kids are told that this is all about defending our freedoms.
It’s all happy and good. No need to consider the true meaning of Armistice Day or call for less in the way of undeclared/unwon wars.
School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their generator.
Wait until they find out (at age 18) that adults in the USA are divided into groups of first and second class citizens. Uncle Sam says you are not old enough to buy a six pack of beer. Gee whiz- it wasn’t like that when the WWII generation came home from the war.
“…be prepared to show a military ID.” Trivia update: Many guys and gals who did time in the US Armed Forces, left and moved on, have no military ID of any kind.
Meet a veteran who isn’t shy about going out & grabbing a couple free meals-it’s a proud thing:
Is there a perception that people who did time in uniform are needy or disadvantaged? This news report gives us no hint as to how these veterans were selected. Was this a publicity stunt for the local NFL team? Newspeople play along by not asking questions.
Another story with zero information or reporting on how these families were selected:
“This person who wrote this note on my car was given that right to be able to do that because of what I did.”
People in uniform give rights? This idea calls for more discussion.
Know that some who did time in uniform do not want head of the line privileges of any kind. They do not want discounts/freebies, and would refuse to appear in a TV news broadcast to have their ass kissed by some giant grocery store chain because of their You did time in uniform, so here’s your special parking spot scenario. Some veterans wouldn’t even use the parking spot to begin with. They might believe little old ladies should get the better parking.
Many veterans claim to have served to protect American rights & freedoms.
How does this work?
Do the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?
Glorification of military service / total nonsense:
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?
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 elected officials of any party or any member of the press help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
Thousands of American families have had a loved one in the regular or reserve US Armed Forces who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. National Guard too.
If we can just get the veterans, parents and grandparents of the USA to recommend an enlistment to the young family members in their life, things will be looking up.
Again- The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
Some Americans may be asking:
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?
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
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.
Again- Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the politicians, four-star officers and high level DOD civilians who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
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.
There has been a big stir over a blocked senior military promotion system. TV newspeople will avoid interviewing people who offer up a voice of dissent. Stalling the administrative steps to promote top level officers might lead to what? Decades of undeclared/unwon wars? A giant Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed The Troops to live in the barracks described below?
“The U.S. military’s Tricare insurance is no longer covering services at Poulsbo’s True North Birth Center, effectively immediately in Kitsap County, where there is a critical shortage of birthing centers.”
“The reason for the change is still unclear…”
“We are licensed by the State Department of Health. This is the strictest state to become a licensed midwife in. Our education and clinical experience that are needed to become licensed is equivalent to certified nurse midwives,” Jones argued.
“She said military families will now have to apply for Medicaid or pay out of pocket. 40% of the babies born at her clinic are from military families, and moms may bear the brunt of Tricare’s decision.”
“Requests for comment to Tricare have not yet been returned.”
Reality Check
Thousands of American families have had a loved one in the regular or reserve US Armed Forces who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. National Guard too.
If we can just get the veterans, parents and grandparents of the USA to recommend an enlistment to the young family members in their life, things will be looking up.
The US Dept of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
Some Americans may be asking:
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?
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
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.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the politicians, four-star officers and high level DOD civilians who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
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.
There has been a big stir over a blocked senior military promotion system. TV newspeople will avoid interviewing people who offer up a voice of dissent. Stalling the administrative steps to promote top level officers might lead to what? Decades of undeclared/unwon wars? A giant Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed The Troops to live in the barracks described below?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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 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.”
“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.”
“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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
“…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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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:
“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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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 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.
“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.”
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.
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:
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:
“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.”
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.
