I finished my time in the Marines in 1999 with a solid attitude and a patriotic spirit.
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
Much has changed over the past 20 years.
There was a time in the USMC where tents and showers would be set up in a field on base and that would be the end of the story below. I do feel these people should be treated better. If DOD has billions of dollars to move around, why not build new barracks? Where was the planning on this 10 years ago?
May 13, 2022 Military.com Network
Junior Sailors Scrambling for a Place to Live After the Navy Shutters Its Barracks at Key West
More bad news:
May 13, 2022 Military.com Network
Military Throwing Cash at Recruiting Crisis as Troops Head for the Exits
“The aggregate effects of two years of COVID is that is two years of not being in high school classrooms, two years of not having air shows and major public events like being in those public spaces, where our potential applicants or potential recruits are getting personal exposure, face-to-face relationships with military recruiters,” Thomas said.
“Seventeen-to-24-year-olds are not getting vaccinated, and those [are] people we aren’t having a conversation with,” Vereen said.
Blogged about it here:
JBLM – US Armed Forces Vaccine Hesitancy
“Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee personnel panel, says the military is on the cusp of a recruiting crisis.”
Questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:
Senator Tillis,
The Dept. of Defense has a truly poor track record with undeclared wars. This record goes back to 1949, the year DOD was established. Has this record damaged the brand?
If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since. Whatever they touch turns to crap.
Senator Tillis,
Is there any talk of going back to a draft in order to deal with your recruiting crisis?
Before making any plans to start up a draft, let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
Senator Tillis,
Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?
This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.
Senator Tillis,
Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?
Senator Tillis,
Not here to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.
Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.
The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.
Senator Tillis,
Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?
More here:
How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?
2021
Some people are OK with opting out on COVID vaccines. The government is trying their very best with lottery giveaway events, to pull people in.
June 17, 2021 KING 5 News video
Washington launches COVID-19 vaccine incentive for military members, veterans
“…Washington is launching a new COVID-19 vaccine incentive called “A Heroes Thanks” for the state’s military members and veterans.”
People who do or did time in the US Armed Forces and staff and veterans and their families are assigned the bulk identity of heroes.
“Staff Sgt. Chazz Newbill found out about the new lottery game moments after getting his second vaccine at a clinic on Joint Base Lewis-McChord Thursday.”
He found out about the new lottery game moments after getting his second vaccine?
News cameras were rolling to promote the “A Heroes Thanks” program, but the people being interviewed by KING 5 TV and getting their vaccine didn’t know about the “A Heroes Thanks” program?
Got it.
“I feel pretty good about it,” said Newbill.
“He said one of the reasons he was getting the vaccine to set a good example for the soldiers he supervises.”
Now, it’s a good example to participate in the lotto prize game of chance scenario crafted by Governor Inslee.
Sorry, no time for KING 5 to let us know how many military supervisors were fully vaccinated before the lotto incentives were rolled out.
“Newbill thought the chance at winning cash might convince skeptics in the military to get vaccinated.”
”I feel like money can help anybody convince anything,” said Newbill, “My wife is not vaccinated, so this is a convincing point with her too.”
Way to go Newbill.
The value of the meds does not stand on its own. A carnival game will help people to make up their mind.
The press is not available to interview people who still opt out over at the military base? Thanks newspeople.
Blogged about it here:
List of Things the Government is Good At – TV News Avoids Asking Questions
NATO
May 21, 2022 By Ryan McMaken
Mises.org
NATO Plans to Rip Off Americans Even More as Sweden and Finland Set to Join
“NATO membership has nothing to do with enhancing the defense of ordinary Americans. The American elites love NATO, of course, because it expands regime spending and influence in Europe. But when it comes down to actual military defense, expanding NATO only increases the odds that Americans will be pulled into a major conflict while offering Americans nothing in return.”
“…the US taxpayer overwhelmingly covers the costs of NATO.”
National Guard
A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.
In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
Unlike the active duty US Armed Forces, these guys must maintain a place to live and a regular job back in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with missions completely unrelated to their home state.
Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Maryland Freedoms Found In The Middle East?
Claims about freedoms that cry out for questioning:
May 28, 2020 WMAR
Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
December 21st 2019 KOMO News
Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide
“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”
Conclusion:
Try for less blaming of a new generation and the Moms and Dads of today for any hesitation related to doing time in uniform. Time to take a hard look at what elected officials and the US Dept. of Defense did with the brand after the first Cold War ended in the early 90s and after the lessons of Vietnam were on the table.
After the Cold War:
The Cold War had ended. DOD was happy with their all volunteer military.
Look what they did with it.
Possibly of interest:
Enough time now to look back and ask a few public policy questions. The fact that the press has never been in the habit of questioning the GWOT, by itself, seems a little odd.
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