Continuing his long stream of apologies for being an incompetent leader, Eric Shinseki apologized that he’s been unable to influence his subordinates to begin paying out to caregivers who treat the troops, according to the Stars & Stripes;
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki apologized Thursday for delays in the new caregivers benefits plan, pledging that families of wounded troops remain a top priority for the department.
Under legislation passed last year, the VA was mandated to begin awarding caregiver benefits — living stipends, medical training, and counseling support — to select families of wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans by Jan. 31. However, that deadline passed without officials even presenting basic details of how the program would be administered.
When those details were released last week, veterans groups criticized the department’s narrow interpretation of the rules, which as written now would not cover many families caring for troops with traumatic brain injuries.
Yeah, he’s a real leader.
It seems to me that this administration is real good at signing ceremonies for veterans’ programs, but absolutely retarded when it come to delivering the benefits of the programs to veterans, and I hold Mr Black Beret personally responsible.
If you wonder why I despise Shinseki so much, the story goes back about 11 years when the Army Times quoted an open letter I published on paratrooper.net in regards to the black beret issue. Reportedly, the Army Chief of Staff, Eric Shinseki expressed to his staff his surprise that an infantry platoon sergeant knew how to use the internet.
Now who’s the fucking retard, Eric?
You meant the money he spent on worthless headgear that could have gone to vets without penis envy?
I said it then and I’ll say it now: Get bent, asshole.
Is it just me or are most vets not happy with Shinseki and his tenure in the military?
#2, that would be putting it mildly.
At least from the perspective of those of us who actually had to do something (volunteer, maintain higher standards of physical fitness and performance of duty, perhaps be assessed and selected, etc) in order to be earn the privilege of wearing a maroon, green or (back then) black beret (since converted to tan as the Regiment was not going to wear the same headgear as a bunch of legs).
Yeah, you could say that, Stonewall.
Doofus is as doofus does…
While I am aware of Shinseki’s service record, I never served in any of his commands. Think he may have been the CO US Army Pacific, Hawaii, soooo….guess I was a lucky dog.
Oops! Forgot to add “Which doesn’t mean I care for his performance and leadership at the VA”…
I guess I’m just old school but a black beret always said “Ranger” to me and was something you earned much like my Maroon Beret or the Green Special Forces one. Giving everyone a black one is equivalent to those stupid stickers on mini-vans that say “My child is an exceptional student” ie. My kid is a retard that hasn’t done anything to earn a special sticker so I put this one on so he wouldnt feel bad.
ok, I feel better now.
in 2004 he came to the 2nd BDE 25th ID Ball. I was honored to meet him, and his speech was well received. I was not around before the Beret. When I finally got to wear one, I felt proud (you couldn’t wear it until you actually got to a unit). I wish I had been a Ranger.
As for the VA, there is so much in that rat trap, that it would take a herculean effort to clean it out. Sadly Shinseki wasn’t up to the job. Neither were the myriad of the secretaries before him doubtless after him.
Shinseki is a lot of things but incompetent isn’t one of them. I know there’s still a lot of butthurt in the Army of the whole Beret bellyflop and conservatives have been pissed since he told off the Bush administration over it’s politicking of military planning leading up to the Iraq war but he’s got a stellar track record, including at VA. I remember when the GI Bill was totally screwed and vets couldn’t make rent he said “screw it” and told everyone who had put in a claim form to come down and collect a check, on the spot, until it could get sorted. That dude torn down a lot of red tape and did a lot of good over there.
Haha, I’m reading this article and was going to make a comment about the beret but seems that avenue has been covered!
No one mentioned the 8 wheeled “off ramp capable” interim combat vehicle, that is no such thing, that became the stryker. How he was accused of interferring in the bidding debates, by allowing it to be known he favored a wheel chassis. Its not even off road capable(ask the Canadians in Afghanistan). Its only saving grace was that it was the only vehicle origionally that didn’t have a flat hull(IED weak spot). A capability since made redundant with the MRAPs. A vehicle that now fills the same niche, developed faster, cheaper, and whos chassis is much more mallible. The entire Stryker concept is a dud.
Our armored cavalry regiments should have been stripped of their 70 ton M1s and Bradleys. Then the Army should have bought the Buford, the light tank that was supposed to replace the Sheridan. Equipped the 2nd and 3rd ACRs with Bufords and M113(or something similar) and we would have had a nice medium capability. All of that would have easily fit on our c-130s making them off ramp capable.
NotSoOldMarine, have no idea about Shinseki at the VA, but Jamie Mcintyre, formly of CNN, used to have a good objective article about what he actually said, and how its become exagerated over time by both sides. Look it up.
As for my take, Shinseki is a mediocrity. He was a technocrat who did nothing of any positive substance as CSA. He attempted gimmicks(the Beret) and matieral solutions(Stryker, force XXI, Future Combat systems), at was was essentially tactical problems(the Army’s lack of any kind of policing abilties which are the foundation of both COIN and peacekeeping). Though he did right by helping to stop Rumsfeld from cutting a Division before 9/11, and his measured response on possible Iraq troop number should be commended.
I wanted to post you that very little word to finally give thanks again with your pleasing opinions you have featured on this site. It has been certainly extremely open-handed with people like you to offer unhampered what a number of us would have made available as an e-book to end up making some profit for themselves, and in particular considering the fact that you could have tried it in the event you desired. The secrets additionally served to be the easy way to be aware that many people have a similar desire just like my very own to realize more concerning this issue. I believe there are a lot more pleasurable sessions up front for folks who go through your website.