42? Join the Army

[tedrbr]

Originally posted by Gunslinger
I can't speak for the other services but I can honestly say the Air Force's programs arent getting easier, they are in fact getting harder.  For example, they just gave us a new tool to use on trainees by the name of "squat thrusts".  Before such an exercise wasn't on the "approved list" and therefor strictly verboden but now to instructor's delite and the trainee's horror it is highly effective at ridding of "rolling of the eyes" and such.  

The USAF is still waiting on funding but there are plans to actually make basic military training longer by 2 weeks.

But IIRC, the Air Force end strength is actually going for a smaller total figure as many support jobs go toward civilian contractors.  This allows a larger portion of the budget to go toward new toys (in what passes for fiscal smoke and mirrors between the Pentagon and Congress).

US Air Force Academy has twice graduated a large portion of their classes, only to send them to the Air Guard, IRR, or honorably discharge them from active duty because there were no slots for them.   (At least they graduated them, otherwise they would have to pay back college expenses.... USAFA is over $200,000 to $250,000 IIRC.)

So, it makes sense for the USAF to be able to ask for a higher standard in those it keeps.


Quite the opposite when trying to add 97K troops to the ranks in 5 years.

[tedrbr]

Originally posted by culero
Not only does Snopes (READ ME!!!) say its a myth, the US Department of Defense website confirms Snopes' account of the origin of the myth in this ARTICLE (CLICK ME!):

 

The Department of Defense and the Department of the Army also claim they have not reduced standards in the military to meet the ever growing end strength requirements or recruiting goals.

Those of us on the receiving end of new recruits from Basic and AIT (or whatever they call it now) would tend to disagree in some cases.

[cpxxx]

Well done that man! So what is the age limit now for joining the US Army? Many years ago, age 29 I was told by a US army recruiter that I was too old.  I have to say I was seriously disappointed. I could be General cpxxx by now.
Mind you, I could be on my umpteenth tour of Baghdad, at this stage.

[bj229r]

How many divisions were shaved in the '90's, and how many guys are IN a division (I'm thinking 10k or so?)...and how vast a project IS it to re-create them?

[tedrbr]

Originally posted by bj229r
How many divisions were shaved in the '90's, and how many guys are IN a division (I'm thinking 10k or so?)...and how vast a project IS it to re-create them?

Division?  That is SOooo last century.... now it's Units of Action.... plug and play units of about Brigade Size..... sometimes Battalion.  Integration-baby!  

And it's just not the manpower you need to build up.  There is their housing, uniforms, issued equipment, the support structure for them......  

Roughly, as stated above, with high sign-up bonuses, high re-enlistment bonuses, pay raises, and other perks, we can grow the force at roughly 10,000 bodies in a year's time, from recent history.  That means recruiting 10,000 more than you are losing in the ranks, not just recruitment goals.

The State of the Union plan is twice that......  so how do you manage that?  What steps must be taken to grow the total numbers by nearly 20,000 pairs of boots per year?  Will any of those steps at recruitment have a negative impact on retention?

[AWMac]

Stress Card???

Pffft  The nearest thing I had to a Stress Card in the Army started out like this.....

"Our Father who art in Heaven...."

Maybe I missed it when the Stress Card was passed out... It didn't exist between '75 ~ '95.

I call "BS" , it's a myth.

Mac

[rpm]

We had sort of a stress card in the CG. It was called "High Porting". You ran doubletime with a 4 foot piece of 3 inch lead pipe extending it full arms legnth in front of you, bring it to your chest then lift it over your head. Up, down, out, in. Repeat.

[Brenjen]

Haven't you guys heard? Forty is the new twenty. I think a more mature military force would do the nation good. You don't need nineteen year old kids with gang backgrounds running around with automatic weapons representing the U.S.A. Of course it's just my opinion.

[AWMac]

Tried to rejoin the Day after 9/11.... Requested Reinstablishment into Active Duty under my last Pay Grade (SFC/E7).  DA got back to me the next Month of May , 8 Months later, and sent me a nice letter / framable bunch of crap saying how I was a Great American willing to give up my Retirement for the Defense of the United States of America.  Basically Thanks, we have it under control.

A year later they were wanting Retirees willing to return to Active Duty... Sorry but you had your chance.  Blow me off once and it's yer bag from then on.

I'm a Hard Right Republican, Old Reagan Years.  Last year when I got laid off, mortgage company wanted my house and property that I got under the GI Bill, Educational loans for my Daughter, and all the wolves at the door.... The Republican Commitee had the gall to call me wanting a donation for the Party....imagine that.

After an extreme tirade of why I wouldn't donate and why they didn't call me to help ME!!!! They hung up, haven't heard from them since.

I feel for the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Fly Boys that are now caught in the middle of Political squablling...  It shouldn't be like this.

<<<<~~~~ Throwin my hat in...

Vote Mac!!!   Free America.

Here's my proposal:

I'm voted in on a third Party ticket.. called: American.

1.  We safeguard our borders, North and South, East and West.

2.  Total ellimination of Corporate outsourcing..If you depend upon 3rd World Countries to do American work then you move to that dam Country...yer not American.

3.  The UN is outta the USA... send these corrupt bassturds to France or where ever...just get them out, after they pay all their parking tickets.

4.  American Education.  College is open to all. No tuitions.  If you make the grade you made it!

5.  We are no longer the Worlds police force.  Collect the funds due to the USA from Germany, France and everyone else and pay back to China.  There is no longer a Favorite trade Nation.  You want to trade with us it's straight across the board!

6.  NAFTA is out.

7.  All ExPresidents are just that... Ex Presidents. So STFU.

8. We rebuild America. Starting with the Farmers, Teachers, Firemen and the Police.  

9.  If you can walk, talk, spell there is a job out there for you. Revamp of the Welfare System.

10.  In GOD We Trust is just that!  It's Christmas... NOT Xmas, NOT Seasons Greetings.... There is no Seperation from Church and State.  You don't like it? Leave.

11.  All Medical and Dental are paid from the Goverment.  Gotta look good and feel good. This is America.

12.  Freedom.


This is my plan, my Ticket.  I don't see either party with one yet.
I'm not rich, if anything I went from poor to maybe middle class.

I say raise your Country as you would raise your child.  Hug it and Love it and never let go.

Vote for a Free America,

Mac

[VooWho]

Originally posted by tedrbr
or gay for the past three years...  

I heard somewhere they are actually accepting gays into the army. I'm not quite 100% sure. If they want that 95+ in 5 or 10years they probably will allow gays into the army. Nothing wrong with that, I would just hate it if he was on the bunk above me. (Picka BOO, I see you!)

I would like to see more 35+ guys join the Army and other armed forces. They have great knowledge and have done more things then any 18-21 year old has. Young teens 18 and up with an automatic gun is kinda scary. Aren't most war crimes commited by soldiers around these ages?

[AWMac]

Originally posted by VooWho
I heard somewhere they are actually accepting gays into the army. I'm not quite 100% sure. If they want that 95+ in 5 or 10years they probably will allow gays into the army. Nothing wrong with that, I would just hate it if he was on the bunk above me. (Picka BOO, I see you!)

I would like to see more 35+ guys join the Army and other armed forces. They have great knowledge and have done more things then any 18-21 year old has. Young teens 18 and up with an automatic gun is kinda scary. Aren't most war crimes commited by soldiers around these ages?

So when do you go to Boot Camp?

Mac

[Brenjen]

Originally posted by AWMac
Tried to rejoin the Day after 9/11.... Requested Reinstablishment into Active Duty under my last Pay Grade (SFC/E7).  DA got back to me the next Month of May , 8 Months later, and sent me a nice letter / framable bunch of crap saying how I was a Great American willing to give up my Retirement for the Defense of the United States of America.  Basically Thanks, we have it under control.

A year later they were wanting Retirees willing to return to Active Duty... Sorry but you had your chance.  Blow me off once and it's yer bag from then on.

I'm a Hard Right Republican, Old Reagan Years.  Last year when I got laid off, mortgage company wanted my house and property that I got under the GI Bill, Educational loans for my Daughter, and all the wolves at the door.... The Republican Commitee had the gall to call me wanting a donation for the Party....imagine that.

After an extreme tirade of why I wouldn't donate and why they didn't call me to help ME!!!! They hung up, haven't heard from them since.

I feel for the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Fly Boys that are now caught in the middle of Political squablling...  It shouldn't be like this.

<<<<~~~~ Throwin my hat in...

Vote Mac!!!   Free America.

Here's my proposal:

I'm voted in on a third Party ticket.. called: American.

1.  We safeguard our borders, North and South, East and West.

2.  Total ellimination of Corporate outsourcing..If you depend upon 3rd World Countries to do American work then you move to that dam Country...yer not American.

3.  The UN is outta the USA... send these corrupt bassturds to France or where ever...just get them out, after they pay all their parking tickets.

4.  American Education.  College is open to all. No tuitions.  If you make the grade you made it!

5.  We are no longer the Worlds police force.  Collect the funds due to the USA from Germany, France and everyone else and pay back to China.  There is no longer a Favorite trade Nation.  You want to trade with us it's straight across the board!

6.  NAFTA is out.

7.  All ExPresidents are just that... Ex Presidents. So STFU.

8. We rebuild America. Starting with the Farmers, Teachers, Firemen and the Police.  

9.  If you can walk, talk, spell there is a job out there for you. Revamp of the Welfare System.

10.  In GOD We Trust is just that!  It's Christmas... NOT Xmas, NOT Seasons Greetings.... There is no Seperation from Church and State.  You don't like it? Leave.

11.  All Medical and Dental are paid from the Goverment.  Gotta look good and feel good. This is America.

12.  Freedom.


This is my plan, my Ticket.  I don't see either party with one yet.
I'm not rich, if anything I went from poor to maybe middle class.

I say raise your Country as you would raise your child.  Hug it and Love it and never let go.

Vote for a Free America,

Mac

 Do you need a running mate? I'm all for your platform & I suggest we ad in college tuition vouchers & forced removal of illegal immigrants. (I suggest we get together on the welfare reform over a couple beers, maybe we could increase the social security payments to the elderly & eliminate Welfare completely)

[lasersailor184]

Originally posted by AWMac
Tried to rejoin the Day after 9/11.... Requested Reinstablishment into Active Duty under my last Pay Grade (SFC/E7).  DA got back to me the next Month of May , 8 Months later, and sent me a nice letter / framable bunch of crap saying how I was a Great American willing to give up my Retirement for the Defense of the United States of America.  Basically Thanks, we have it under control.

A year later they were wanting Retirees willing to return to Active Duty... Sorry but you had your chance.  Blow me off once and it's yer bag from then on.

I'm a Hard Right Republican, Old Reagan Years.  Last year when I got laid off, mortgage company wanted my house and property that I got under the GI Bill, Educational loans for my Daughter, and all the wolves at the door.... The Republican Commitee had the gall to call me wanting a donation for the Party....imagine that.

After an extreme tirade of why I wouldn't donate and why they didn't call me to help ME!!!! They hung up, haven't heard from them since.

I feel for the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Fly Boys that are now caught in the middle of Political squablling...  It shouldn't be like this.

<<<<~~~~ Throwin my hat in...

Vote Mac!!!   Free America.

Here's my proposal:

I'm voted in on a third Party ticket.. called: American.

1.  We safeguard our borders, North and South, East and West.

2.  Total ellimination of Corporate outsourcing..If you depend upon 3rd World Countries to do American work then you move to that dam Country...yer not American.

3.  The UN is outta the USA... send these corrupt bassturds to France or where ever...just get them out, after they pay all their parking tickets.

4.  American Education.  College is open to all. No tuitions.  If you make the grade you made it!

5.  We are no longer the Worlds police force.  Collect the funds due to the USA from Germany, France and everyone else and pay back to China.  There is no longer a Favorite trade Nation.  You want to trade with us it's straight across the board!

6.  NAFTA is out.

7.  All ExPresidents are just that... Ex Presidents. So STFU.

8. We rebuild America. Starting with the Farmers, Teachers, Firemen and the Police.  

9.  If you can walk, talk, spell there is a job out there for you. Revamp of the Welfare System.

10.  In GOD We Trust is just that!  It's Christmas... NOT Xmas, NOT Seasons Greetings.... There is no Seperation from Church and State.  You don't like it? Leave.

11.  All Medical and Dental are paid from the Goverment.  Gotta look good and feel good. This is America.

12.  Freedom.


This is my plan, my Ticket.  I don't see either party with one yet.
I'm not rich, if anything I went from poor to maybe middle class.

I say raise your Country as you would raise your child.  Hug it and Love it and never let go.

Vote for a Free America,

Mac

The following numbers will ruin the country:  2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11.  The following numbers are ironic, based on the previous list of numbers: 12.

Vote for a democrat before a vote for a Mac.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by tedrbr
But IIRC, the Air Force end strength is actually going for a smaller total figure as many support jobs go toward civilian contractors.  This allows a larger portion of the budget to go toward new toys (in what passes for fiscal smoke and mirrors between the Pentagon and Congress).

US Air Force Academy has twice graduated a large portion of their classes, only to send them to the Air Guard, IRR, or honorably discharge them from active duty because there were no slots for them.   (At least they graduated them, otherwise they would have to pay back college expenses.... USAFA is over $200,000 to $250,000 IIRC.)

So, it makes sense for the USAF to be able to ask for a higher standard in those it keeps.


Quite the opposite when trying to add 97K troops to the ranks in 5 years.

Yes they are cutting officers, alot of personel types are being "Force Shaped" out

We still add nearly 40,000 young airman every year and with manning the way it is it's tough to do.  The USAF used to have all the money, now it's do more with less.

My Marine Corps boot camp platoon had 5 DIs assinged to it.  The Army has similar numbers as well.  Currently the last 5 flights I've pushed have all be 1 instructor (me) per flight.

[VooWho]

Originally posted by AWMac
So when do you go to Boot Camp?

Mac

I'm not joining the army, I'm joining the USAF after high school.