Support the troops ... yeah right.

[The Traveler]

Begin :rant:

I'm so fuckin' tired of hearing that crap. This administration is all about using and abusing the troops to meet the requirements of their blind ambitions. I have just run into another example of how these assclowns "support the troops", and I am just begging God for a chance to meet the assclown-in-chief in the ring for just three rounds. Just three rounds.

Seriously, if anyone has any inside track connections to congressional types, put a bug in their ear about this thing.

My kid is in the Army Reserve ... has been for 10 years. Was deployed to a hot zone once before. Well, he's been having trouble finding work around here (he's a mechanic and supply exceeds demand) and he was thinking about going Active Guard Reserve, which is a full time job.

He was on the verge of doing this when one of his friends, who had done the same thing, told him that he just found out he had lost credit for his previous 12 years in the reserves by doing so.

In other words, if he goes full time into the service, he loses the accrued benefits for a decade of previous service.

Now could someone please explain to me how the hell this "supports the troops"? Where the hell is the justice in this? And how the hell can a recruiter lead a soldier into this kind of deal without explaining that aspect of things? Why is it these people cannot come up to a solution to a problem that doesn't involved cutting taxes for the rich, ripping off the middle class, and screwing the soldier without even taking them to dinner first??????

End :rant:

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. I just spoke with a friend yesterday, an Air Force officer w/ 14 years experience,

and she was laid off a couple months ago because the Air Force had, quote, "too many officers".

I don't get that, either - the mliitary is desperate for people, and they're laying people off.

But then, of course, the people they are need aren't smart, educated, officer-trained types - what they need is cannon fodder that is cheap to produce and easily expendable.

[sanskritwarrior]

2. The Air force

has hundreds if not thousands of officers untrained for ground force work. Some are in MOS's deemed un-retrainable. Those officers are let go. And the only units I am aware of being desperate for people are the Army reserve and certain National Guard regions. I'm an active duty guy and while the quality of recruits has slightly dipped, I can't say the numbers have......

[tabasco]

3. Infantry battalions are desperate for troops.

Many rifle companies are down to two platoons.

The shortfall from last year was NOT made up and units are hurting for people.

Not sure where you're getting your info but it's not from infantry commanders.

[sanskritwarrior]

4. I'm in an infantry batt......

Can you please give me some examples. My battalion is at 86% strength, we aren't due to go back to Iraq until 2008, therefore we are exactly where we need to be.

I'm not calling you a liar but I'm in an Infantry Battalion, I'm an E-7 waiting on a guy to retire so I can take his platoon. Just would like some info.

That being said Air Force officers would make lousy Infantry Platoon leaders.