How many have made it to a rank where it doesn't matter?
Retention and Recruitment Crisis
- Thread starter RackMaster
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How many have made it to a rank where it doesn't matter?
Devildoc
Verified Military
There was a time recently that some Marine GOs floated the idea of requiring Marines < E5 to be unmarried, for a variety of good reasons.
My first company command was in the 2nd ID in Korea. My First Sergeant and I did a walk through the barracks on a regular basis. I think it was every Monday morning after motor stables. (It was like 23 years ago, I don’t remember exactly.)
Not an inspection per se, just general tidiness. We just looked in the rooms and in the common areas. Gave everyone a reason to clean up after the weekend debauch and also let us know if any issues in the infrastructure or living conditions.
We also walked through the officers’ quarters and he and I would walk through each others’ spaces. From time to time we brought along one of the platoon leaders.
I was considerably less involved in the barracks when I commanded in 5th Group, I think we may have inspected only on pay day activities, if even that often.
When I commanded in JSOC, no one lived in the barracks and I was never the type to visit people’s off post quarters unless there was some kind of issue.
My point is, barracks conditions are leader business. If leaders aren’t the ones knowing about and brining these issues up, then there is a bigger problem than the conditions themselves. I think too many leaders are too scared to get into the lives of their junior enlisted, when those are the ones who need it the most.
Not an inspection per se, just general tidiness. We just looked in the rooms and in the common areas. Gave everyone a reason to clean up after the weekend debauch and also let us know if any issues in the infrastructure or living conditions.
We also walked through the officers’ quarters and he and I would walk through each others’ spaces. From time to time we brought along one of the platoon leaders.
I was considerably less involved in the barracks when I commanded in 5th Group, I think we may have inspected only on pay day activities, if even that often.
When I commanded in JSOC, no one lived in the barracks and I was never the type to visit people’s off post quarters unless there was some kind of issue.
My point is, barracks conditions are leader business. If leaders aren’t the ones knowing about and brining these issues up, then there is a bigger problem than the conditions themselves. I think too many leaders are too scared to get into the lives of their junior enlisted, when those are the ones who need it the most.
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Topkick
Verified Military
Yep, Ima be the old dude who says "back in my day."
Leaders want to be cool with their subordinates these days. My NCOs were not "cool." But they were respected because they held us to a standard and took care of their soldiers.
Devildoc
Verified Military
It extends beyond barracks, it also goes to family housing. The family housing I grew up in was abysmal (The fact that my cancer might be related to the water at Camp Lejeune is just a bonus). I guarantee you officers did not come to Tarawa Terrace and look at housing.
100%. Our barracks are run by the installation so that limited our leverage over them but I was all over them to fix discrepancies. It turns out that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, at least in my experience. If your command didn't care, then you formed at the end of the line for repairs, if they were addressed at all.
Blizzard
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Maybe I'm misunderstanding, and I admittedly didn't read the GAO report in detail, but can someone explain the reference to squatters? Who/how is anyone squatting in a barracks/dorm -- on post/base?!
Some facilities may temporarily be used by other agencies, but they're still on post/base (ar least the ones I'm familiar with are) and no one would refer to that as squatting. So, what are they talking about?
Some facilities may temporarily be used by other agencies, but they're still on post/base (ar least the ones I'm familiar with are) and no one would refer to that as squatting. So, what are they talking about?
The one I saw, maybe there are others, but the one case I saw in the report was an already discharged servicemember who kept living in the barracks.
That's insane. How does that happen? Poor leadership, maybe? Couldn't be, GEN Milley (Ret., thank fucking deity of your choice) said our military has great leadership.
Vaguely remember that at one time, quite some time ago. That a homeless dude had somehow managed to "fake" being SF. He actually lived in a closed compound on Bragg if memory serves. Came to find out the guy was a complete civilian. Who managed to learn all he needed to accomplish this. By ingratiating himself with active duty troops in the area.
In thinking about it now. I wonder what the reasons were for him. To not simply just join and follow the correct path to SF.
I dunno
Edited for corrections
His buddies had to know what was going on.
Box
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I'm not sure that "his buddies knowing" would have made much difference. Doesn't it stand to reason that his circle of friends were like-thinking individuals that behaved just like he did ??
On a related note - for those that have ties to the 101st...
Is it common practice for the leadership out there to put people on terminal leave before giving them orders - and then leave them to their own accord to clear while burning up their terminal leave?
It sounds like (from several stories I heard during a month long TDY trip to Fort Campbell) that the 101st has turned into a shit show that is actively fucking the taste of military service right out of the mouths of their younger enlisted and junior/mid career NCOs.
I did a trip out to colorado a while back and it sounds like the 4th ID has a similar habit of butt fucking their troops and then wondering why retention rates are so low.
What in the actual fuck is going on in my Army ??
On a related note - for those that have ties to the 101st...
Is it common practice for the leadership out there to put people on terminal leave before giving them orders - and then leave them to their own accord to clear while burning up their terminal leave?
It sounds like (from several stories I heard during a month long TDY trip to Fort Campbell) that the 101st has turned into a shit show that is actively fucking the taste of military service right out of the mouths of their younger enlisted and junior/mid career NCOs.
I did a trip out to colorado a while back and it sounds like the 4th ID has a similar habit of butt fucking their troops and then wondering why retention rates are so low.
What in the actual fuck is going on in my Army ??
Topkick
Verified Military
I think conventional units have been a shit show for awhile now. There was a period where 3rd ID competed with whatever's at Hood for the murder and gang capital of the Army. Both ACR's haven't seen a good leader since Jesus was a corporal. @racing_kitty Fayettenam is...well, Fayettenam. 1st COSCOM doesn't know it is a dumpster fire. The Army's leadership and culture are in the toilet.
But I lack GEN Milley's information, so I'm probably wrong.
At least 7th Group hasn't had a cocaine and hookers or thieving ass supply sergeant scandal in a bit. That's something.
At least your hookers are hot. 1st Group is in ladyboy heaven...
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So, let's talk about Sen Tuberville.
His actions on holding up promotions (several hundred already on hold with est. 650 by year end) based on Pentagon abortion policy are undoubtedly getting him a lot of hate mail. But, I don't necessarily want to discuss that specific issue. I want to discuss his broader view. He wants to make some fundamental changes to the military and is willing to carry a sledgehammer and take fire to do so -- he's clearly not out to make friends.
These are his latest comments:
Tuberville says military is ‘not an equal opportunity employer’
"U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville said he objected to efforts by a top military official to recruit and promote racial minorities in the armed forces, saying equal opportunity threatens military readiness.
“Let me tell you something. Our military is not an equal opportunity employer,” the Alabama Republican said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s “Balance of Power” Tuesday.
“We’re looking for the best of the best to do whatever. We’re not looking for different groups, social justice groups. We don’t want to single-handedly destroy our military from within,” he said. “We all need to be one. It’s like a football team I coached. You can’t have different groups. Everybody’s got to be together to win. There’s no second place in war.”
Thoughts?
(Yes, I have some but will wait to see a few before sharing)
His actions on holding up promotions (several hundred already on hold with est. 650 by year end) based on Pentagon abortion policy are undoubtedly getting him a lot of hate mail. But, I don't necessarily want to discuss that specific issue. I want to discuss his broader view. He wants to make some fundamental changes to the military and is willing to carry a sledgehammer and take fire to do so -- he's clearly not out to make friends.
These are his latest comments:
Tuberville says military is ‘not an equal opportunity employer’
"U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville said he objected to efforts by a top military official to recruit and promote racial minorities in the armed forces, saying equal opportunity threatens military readiness.
“Let me tell you something. Our military is not an equal opportunity employer,” the Alabama Republican said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s “Balance of Power” Tuesday.
“We’re looking for the best of the best to do whatever. We’re not looking for different groups, social justice groups. We don’t want to single-handedly destroy our military from within,” he said. “We all need to be one. It’s like a football team I coached. You can’t have different groups. Everybody’s got to be together to win. There’s no second place in war.”
Thoughts?
(Yes, I have some but will wait to see a few before sharing)
Devildoc
Verified Military
I have given this some thought. On one hand, we bitch about politicians caving to their values and giving up what they said they were going to do for political expediency. He's sticking to his principals. On the other hand, it comes at a cost which is very personal for people on this forum, military service.
To be fair, contrary to popular opinion in the MSM, he's not holding up anything. All his 'block' has done has forced the senate to vote via a roll call vote. It's a logistic, cumbersome, and burdensome pain in the ass for sure. All of that said, I do see Tuberville moving a bit on a few promotions.
Schumer, et al., have no desire to do anything; they feel they are winning the culture battle over abortion. They have shown no interest in wanting to have the policy discussion. Tuberville had reached out to Austin many times without response until relatively recently, though, so the narrative that Tuberville wasn't interested in dialogue isn't true, either.
His position on the policy and the issue of the promotions aside, I do appreciate that he wants to reorient the DOD.
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