RESERVE 'BROKEN' BY ITS BURDEN

[rodeodance]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usrese054104615jan05,0,2496236.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-headlines


RESERVE 'BROKEN' BY ITS BURDEN

In a memo to Army brass, its leader says overseas demands, dysfunctional policies pose a 'grave danger'

BY TOM BOWMAN
THE BALTIMORE SUN

January 5, 2005

WASHINGTON - The Army Reserve, a force of some 200,000 part-time soldiers who provide key support in Iraq and Afghanistan with medics, engineers and truck drivers, "is rapidly degenerating into a 'broken' force," its top general has told senior Army leaders.

Lt. Gen. James R. "Ron" Helmly, the chief of the Army Reserve, in a blunt and detailed memo, cited the demands of overseas commitments and the unwillingness of Army and Pentagon officials to change "dysfunctional" policies that are hampering the Army Reserve on issues ranging from training and extension of service time to the mobilization of his soldiers.

The Dec. 20 memo, obtained by The Sun, said that in meeting "current demands" of Iraq and Afghanistan, the Reserve is in "grave danger" of being unable to meet other missions in Pentagon contingency plans or help with domestic emergencies "and is rapidly degenerating into a 'broken force.'"

"The purpose of this memorandum is to inform you of the Army Reserve's inability to meet mission requirements" in Iraq and Afghanistan "and to reset and regenerate its forces for follow-on and future missions," Helmly wrote in the eight-page memo sent through Army channels for the Army's chief of staff, Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker. "I do not wish to sound alarmist. I do wish to send a clear, distinctive signal of deepening concern.".......

[imenja]

1. Why would anyone join the reserves now?

You know you'll be going to Iraq, only you have substandard equipment and lesser training. You also have to deal with a long term commitment beyond the regular enlisted soldier's. Anyone who wants to enter the military today will join the regular forces.

[flygal]

2. This won't phase * a bit

He had to have know going into Iraq would have been a burden, and he's not solving that problem. Instead he's working on Iran.

[Leilani]

3. The Bush Administration is wrecking our military.

God help us if we need them.

[LandOLincoln]

5. I agree, except I think they're doing it

deliberately. I think this is all part of the Neocon scheme to privatize everything, and their corporatist, (literally) Fascist ideal is to have highly trained and paid private armies in the service of stateless multinational corporations.

OTOH, maybe I'm just paranoid, there is no overarching plan, and this is simply the usual monumental incompentence of this cabal of idiots.

[imenja]

12. I've been wondering when they'd get around to that

They are already contracting out military services to private companies at great expense to the tax payer. If there is a buck for corporate America, this White House will make it happen.

[aquart]

14. Six of one.....

[annabanana]

25. no tin foil required here!

They have been consistant.

[TahitiNut]

30. When the military became "all volunteer," privatization became inevitable.

This was the handwriting on the wall that separated the literate from the illiterate. At that time (70s), everything in the Department of Defense budget except personnel was already privatized, which meant that about 15-20% of those taxpayer dollars went to the enrichment of the wealthy. When you're talking about a pig trough of over $400 billion a year, it's insane to think the privateering pigs are going to leave any.

The immediate aftermath of making the military "all volunteer" saw rapid increases in all manner of personnel compensation, from health care to lodging to bonuses to monthly pay. This was, of course, necessary to "attract" qualified personnel. (Patriotism is never enough when it comes to militaristic hegemonies.) Coincident with these increases were a plethora of "outsourcing" arrangements, from equipment maintenance to administrative staffing to KP - all designed, of course, to relieve the troops of duties that weren't "mission critical."

We're looking at a force in Iraq/Afghanistan that includes (by published estimates) over 40,000 "private contractors." These were once called "privateers" - people who make a profit on acts of war. So, there's nothing new in this. It's an abuse that's been well-known.


It should be noted that pirates/privateers were deployed solely to attack 'merchant' shipping. However, in that day the "Crown" was the predominant 'merchant' - and international trade was an aristocratic endeavor. The difference between government owning global enterprise (as was the case in monarchical days) and global enterprise owning government (as is the case under fascism) is largely cosmetic - they're anti-democratic and tyrannical.

[insane_cratic_gal]

28. Rummy

Has said since the get go he wanted to reduce the military. Slim it down to some mean clean fighting machine. "you go to war with the army that you have, no the always the army you want."

His plan included getting rid of the Navy Air craft carriers, he considered a big suck up of funds. I guess he forgot those no Bid contracts from his buddy Chenney.

They have cut 30 percent of the Navy already. It's recruitment goals are less then any other military.

I guess he forgot if he's going for world domination he better figure out a way to get the troops their. He never had the for-sight to for-see the urban combat was going happen at some point or another.

[lebkuchen]

4. Well, I just don't know

Bush and Rummy say things are fine. Do we really need to be concerned about all these generals sounding the alarm bells if Bush says there is nothing to be worried about? After all, he's the president. He should know.

[shraby]

7. Bush and Rummy lie a lot.

They were telling us everything is peachy keen in Iraq a couple of weeks ago.

[Hekate]

17. Only when their lips move, so we're all right

aren't we?
:evilgrin:

Hekate

[Elwood P Dowd]

6. The Bush Crime Family will just outsource military work

We can hire Mexicans, Chinese, and Indians much cheaper. ;-)

[neweurope]

11. That's right, and they can be sworn in on the person of the LEADER.

------------------

Remember Fallujah!

Bush to The Hague

[leftchick]

8. Was the Reserve used in Vietnam?

If so, for how long?

[orpupilofnature57]

10. I believe they were used mostly to keep order at peace and civil rights

Demonstrations,and for medical assistance at catastrophe sites, we sure SHOULD use them NOW.

[imenja]

13. yes, but in small numbers

Nothing like today. This is unprecedented.

[MADem]

34. VERY FEW

An almost negligable number, in the overall scheme. Those that went died in the same ratios as active forces, but the reserves did not play any sort of compelling role at all during Nam. After all, we had the DRAFT--no need to use the Reserves, which back then was essentially a place to stash the children of the rich, famous, and well connected.

[punpirate]

9. Translation?

Enlistments and re-enlistments are waaaaaay down.

A lot of people saying to recruiters, "I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid."

[Elwood P Dowd]

15. Not according to Hannity callers

They are all willing to enlist and die fighting for Bush. 72 SUVs await them in Bush heaven.

[WoodrowFan]

21. BOL

72 SUVs or 72 Hummers???

[leftchick]

16. Indeed....

which also means a draft shortly after the coronation*.

[trogdor]

26. Got my 20 year letter last year.

I was gone in less than a day. Fuck 'em. I didn't get an end of career medal and I don't give a shit. My official orders dated June 2004 that say I'm retired is enough for me.

[MADem]

35. They can still drag you back

I'm sweating that load, BIG TIME. As should any of us who think we are free of the beast....

[izzie]

18. I wish they would point out that the whole thing----

cuts in the service was started in the first Bush term and not in Clinton's. He just did as Bush was doing. It has been going down since RR almost spent the country dry building it up.

[tsuki]

19. Looks like we'll have one less general soon.

[LevelB]

33. This is what I was looking for...

I'm guessing he will be "spending more time with his family" within 10 working days.

B.

[hadrons]

20. what I remember is all those Reserve officers cheering Dumbya ...

on the campagin trail

[Just Me]

22. A train is coming and people are NOT getting off the tracks.

*sigh*

They'll get rolled over before they even knew what hit them 'cause they're not listening or watching,...they're still deep in their state of denial (deaf & blind) to reality.

[Massachusetts]

23. I Still Feel A Draft

Brrrrrrrrrr. This F&*%#cking administration will make a CRISIS to solve a problem they don't want to be held accountable for.

[Historic NY]

24. Its true most of those in are trying to get out any way they can....

My nieces unit has been overseas since last Feb, they got a 2 week notice they were being deployed. She is expected home again sometime maybe in July. They have already told them they will be going to Afghanistan next Feb. Most of her unit have many years in and a lot of them including the commanding officer are trying to find a way out. These deployments are way too long and from how Fubar things are will continued forever.

[indepat]

27. The reserve is not all that has been broken by dysfunctional and extreme

policies: add the UN, Iraq, alliances, environment, fiscal integrity of the Federal government, social security trust fund, the dollar, the economy, standing in the world, you name it. But so what: we the people ratified it all.

[gratuitous]

29. According to Donald the Incompetent

The reserve soldiers don't add all that much to the equation anyway, so if their force is broken or dysfunctional, it's the commanders' problem, and nothing the Secretary of Defense or his overlord need worry about.

Hitler and his most loyal generals suffered from the same delusional mentality, and as I recall, they didn't fare too well at the end.

[htuttle]

31. "Quinctilius Varus, give me back my legions!"

Too late, Augustus. Too late.

[struggle4progress]

32. kick

[drscm]

36. How long before this guy is asked to retire? Remember, LOYALTY

at all costs, including any number of our men or women in the service.