Big Army
Wienies build a wienie NCO Corps
The big benefit to the Army of a decade of war is the experience those back-to-back deployments gave those junior NCOs. They led troops in the most difficult times, they dealt with leadership problems that soldiers who never deployed will never understand. So, let’s just devalue that experience, shall we? From the Army Times; The […]
Carter fires aide
Joining a long list of flag officers who have been fired in the last few years is Lieutenant General Ron Lewis, an aide to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, an air cavalry officer who came up through the ranks from Chicago streets has been accused of “allegations of misconduct”; “I expect the highest possible standards of […]
McHugh warns of “thinly stretched” Army
John McHugh, the outgoing Secretary of the Army, warned the assemblage at the annual conference of the Association of the United States Army that the Army is “thinly stretched” and “on a ragged edge”. From TribLive; “BCT readiness levels right now are at 32 percent,” he said. “Our standard? Sixty to 70 percent. We are […]
Politicians and warriors
Back in June, we talked about Sergeant First Class Earl D. Plumlee’s Medal of Honor nomination which made it easily through the military side of the Pentagon, but was shot down once the civilian politicians on the other side of the Puzzle Palace got their grubby paws on the paperwork. The civvies decided that a […]
Because those fat retirement checks just aren’t enough sometimes
The Army Times reports that the Army has created new award “to recognize “the demonstrated superior accomplishments and leadership that contributed to the efficiency, efficacy and overall improvement in the operations of the Army or its elements””. It’s just for the wienies at the Pentagon – you know those guys for whom the fat paycheck […]
Doesn’t Pass the “Smell Test”
Well, the Army’s drawdown is underway. And even decorated heroes aren’t immune. It seems that at least one 11-year Special Forces Sergeant First Class and bona fide decorated hero is being forced out. His name is SFC Charles Martland. He’s been described by former teammates as “the finest soldier they have ever served alongside”. He […]
Army may miss recruiting goals for 2015
USAToday reports that the Army is looking at missing it’s recruiting goal for the first time in six years, for the third time in the last 20 years. “It is a challenging mission, and we’re not going to get around that,” [Major General Jeffrey Snow, USAREC commander] said. “And there are indications that the economy […]
Odierno: “frustrating” to watch ISIS in Iraq
The Army Chief of Staff, General Ray Odierno, did a final interview with Fox News as he heads out the door into retirement. During that interview, he candidly told Jennifer Griffin that he is frustrated that conditions in Iraq are what they’ve become and that it was completely preventable; “It’s frustrating to watch it,” Odierno […]
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