For every Snowden there is a Manning. I don’t think properly-vetted contractors are inherently any less-trustworthy than .mil types, and they may be cheaper in the long run.
Hot take. I think @amlove21 is actually Chief Colon-Lopez.
“Beards don’t help us be more lethal.”
I disagree. Do beards make us more lethal? Not necessarily. Do they make us safer? Possibly. Currently, a large portion of our population is running around with longer hair and facial hair. Being able to more closely resemble the people we serve allows us to be less of a target. Spend ten minutes in an airport, and you can tell exactly who is military.
Additionally, when you have some units or personnel running around with relaxed grooming standards, it now draws them out as different, and puts them on the radar. This is only amplified while deployed if they are known as military but now have non regulation grooming. What makes them special? What are they doing that justifies the hair and beard?
Beards in the Military Don't Help with 'Kicking the Enemy's Ass,' Top Enlisted Adviser Says
Colon-Lopez also said he "was opposed to the religion exemption for beards" because there should be an "expectation of people to put their personality aside for the betterment of the team."
SEAC really said “fuck your religion” huh?
That’s a bold move cotton, let’s see how it affects morale.
Yeah, the exemptions were not there in the past and we were fine. But, the toothpaste has left the tube on that issue and I don't think you can put it back in. Especially with recruiting woes. The population has changed and probably gotta change with it.
I think a Sikh should be able to grow a beard. I think anyone willing to go kill for their country should be able to follow their religion as best they can.Yeah, the exemptions were not there in the past and we were fine. But, the toothpaste has left the tube on that issue and I don't think you can put it back in. Especially with recruiting woes. The population has changed and probably gotta change with it.
Anyone who still gets riled up about haircuts and beards in 2023 is immediately suspect to me, because your priorities are not aligned correctly.
I just don't think he's looking at the bigger picture. He's the one who probably needs to put his personal feelings aside and evolve with the changing times.think the bigger issue of what he implied was linking personality to religion. That tells me he really doesn't value me or what I can bring to 'the team' as long as I keep my mouth shut and look like him.
I agree. One of the reasons I retired when I did. The Army Sergeants Major Academy is fantastic at lobotomy. Not all CSMs buy it but the majority go all in.it's more so about how these senior enlisted positions inevitably get suckered into the bullshit of issues like this.
I think a Sikh should be able to grow a beard. I think anyone willing to go kill for their country should be able to follow their religion as best they can.
Do we get rid of Halal and Kosher MREs? I mean isn’t it easier to have everyone eat the same meals?
Anyone who still gets riled up about haircuts and beards in 2023 is immediately suspect to me, because your priorities are not aligned correctly.
You have to stop. Minus 2 internet points.Hot take. I think @amlove21 is actually Chief Colon-Lopez.
...snip...
Beards in the Military Don't Help with 'Kicking the Enemy's Ass,' Top Enlisted Adviser Says
Well, I did like the cowboy boot thing the Navy allowed during the 1970s. I still have fantasies about this cute Navy Flight Surgeon at NAS Keflavik Iceland who wore cowboy boots with her uniform. I was 18 years old and she had the looks. Unfortunately, I was a nobody enlisted aircrew, so I have nothing else to add to this.We pushed hair and mustache regs to the limit in the fleet post-nam...because we felt we'd have better luck getting laid if we didn't look like drug-addled, baby-killing war-monger Nazis.
It didn't help.
Lots of interesting perspectives given in this thread, very few, if any, I totally disagree with.
However, pertinent to assertion of SEAC "So, if you want to look cute with your skinny jeans and your beard, by all means do it someplace else. But quit wasting our time on something that doesn't have anything to do with kicking the enemy's ass," My perspective interpretation is the comment was more about attitude of being military more focused on looking cool than readiness to perform duties. If so, I would have presented the concern slightly differently.
As far as difficulties of military to acquire sufficient numbers of people into active (regular) military service and retain sufficient numbers in active (regular) military service, this has been problematic since 1950 which corresponds with conceptual policy implementation of the Total Force. This concept is an appropriate mix of active (regular) military force structure, reserve components force structure, supplemented with a civilian work force and contracted work force is the most cost effective and efficient mean to have a military force capable of winning the next war.
Concurrently, the technology of weaponry and armaments introduced concepts of mutual self-destruction and push button warfare of using missiles, UAVs, tactical nuclear weapons. This means those in power can hide away safely in their bunkers and push buttons rather than actually having to confront enemy forces in direct close combat.
Just finished listened to a bunch of talking heads discussing the military difficulty in obtaining volunteers for military service and decreasing numbers of ships and aircraft in the fleet and numbers and size of combat units. The assertion was buildup of military forces wasn't necessary as our weaponry and armaments are more effective and efficient than what our enemies have. Presuming this is both correct and accurate and with the Chinese in particular increasing their conventional military force structure the next war will not be won through conventional means as we are not building up our conventional force structure to counter their buildup.
Considering recent political decision to deplete our oil reserves combined with the industrial and manufacturing capability driven overseas, the retention and recruitment crisis is just a distracting inconvenience to distract the public from how much our politicians have sold out those who are not members of the political elite for their own personal gain.