This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Military issues

  • You folks are so GQ

    Army.mil says that Gentleman’s Quarterly is impressed with your sense of style, or rather the sense of style at Natick Labs that outfits you. So, then, why is the Army trying to stealing Marpats?

    In an article entitled “Natick, Massachusetts: America’s Fashion Capital,” the venerable men’s fashion and style magazine states its case for the home of everything U.S. service members wear.

    “If America has made any lasting contribution to men’s style, its (sic) utility: functional clothing,” GQ wrote in a story posted to its website, Sept. 18. “And no one issues a louder clarion call for ‘function’ than the five-pointed Department of Defense.”

    From GQ:

    From that brassy, hierarchical order of military men and women, we’ve inherited the combat boot, the fatigue shirt, the camouflage print and the campaign desk–all items worthy of veneration. We also got the T-shirt, popularized after the Spanish American War (1898).

    The Army.mil article says;

    Annette LaFleur, team leader of the Design, Pattern & Prototype Team at Natick, Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, said that military clothing should be functional first but also have that ‘cool factor.’

    Yeah, “cool factor” that’s what keeps us in uniform.

    I’ll admit, I wore Multicam shorts everyday this summer, but just because the Army said the rest of y’all couldn’t wear Multicam in CONUS (I have a problem with authority, if you haven’t noticed). I wear some Converse desert combat boots because, for some reason, they’re the only shoes that I can wear without a brace to compensate for my “drop foot” which makes me trip over my toes. I haven’t, however, felt the need to get a Multicam blouse, parka or field jacket. I guess my “cool” threshold is lower than most.

  • Co-ed Israeli unit accounts well for itself in latest skirmish

    I know one of you are going to send me this link soon, so I figured I’d better get in front of you.

    According to Associated Press, the Israeli Army’s Caracal Battalion, an infantry unit that consists of at least 60% female soldiers, faced off against some heavily armed Palestinians along the Egypt frontier Friday and accounted for itself very well, according to reports;

    In the most recent attack, a shootout on the Israel-Egypt border left one Israeli soldier and three assailants dead. The military said the militants were heavily armed and wearing explosive belts when they crossed into Israeli territory and opened fire on soldiers guarding a team of workers who were building a border fence meant to protect against just such attacks.

    An Israeli forces spokeswoman said the troops quickly returned fire, killing the militants and preventing a major attack – a coup for the women and men of Caracal. The battalion fought on Friday alongside soldiers from Israel’s Artillery Corps. In line with its policy not to discuss troop deployment, the military declined to provide the battalion’s size.

    Of course, proponents of women serving in US units in the same capacity will wave this banner incessantly, like they did for the female MP, CPT Linda Bray, who earned a Silver Star in Operation Just Cause. And although I don’t want to detract from this successful defense of Israel, it’s really only one operation and certainly not a measure by which we can judge all women in every combat situation, although that’s the way we’ll hear it from the people who think it’s absolutely necessary that we get more female soldiers killed in combat so they can be equal to the men in every possible way.

  • Well, the Afghanistan Surge Is Officially Over. Now What?

    The Army Times is reporting that the surge in Afghanistan is over.

    U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced on Friday the troops had come out, declaring the surge had accomplished its mission.

    Over?  Yes.  But I’d take issue with that “accomplished its mission” part, Mr. SECDEF.

    From day one, the surge in Afghanistan – unlike the surge in Iraq – was smaller than those on the ground felt necessary.   And the results were predictable for anyone who knows a damn thing about military history.

    There’s an old military proverb.   If you’re facing a dug-in enemy company, you can take your objective with a battalion – but you’ll suffer heavy casualties.  Attack with a brigade, and you’ll suffer light casualties while annihilating the enemy.  Attack with a division, and you’ll likely prevail without firing a shot.

    In short:  using too small a force ends up being as costly as hell.  Mass has a quality all its own.

    We forgot all of that when it came time for the Afghanistan surge.

    I agree with the SECDEF that there will be difficult days ahead in Afghanistan.   That’s obvious, since we botched the surge by bringing too little.

    So, pray tell, Mr. SECDEF:   now what?

  • One Way to Finance Retirement

    Unless, of course, you get caught.

    Seems as if a recently-retired Army Master Sergeant decided his retired pay would be less than he and his wife desired.  So starting in 2004, for about 6 years he and his wife took measures to ensure a better retirement.

    Unfortunately, those measures weren’t legal.  He was making illicit requisitions, ripping off the incoming property, and selling it.  She was helping him launder the money.

    They got caught.  And about three weeks ago they pleaded guilty in Federal criminal court.

    He got 40 months in prison, plus was required to forfeit $861,000 and four properties.  She pleaded guilty to money laundering, but only got 5 years probation.

    I kinda wish James H. “Bigamist” Johnson III had had the same judge and jury.

  • “Bigamist” Johnson Pays Fine, Avoides Doing Time

    Well, it looks like it’s official. Per the Army Times, that philandering former bigamist Brigade Commander, James H. Johnson III, won’t be doing any time. Looks like he came up with the $300,000 he was fined, and has apparently paid up. Full details are behind a pay wall, but the story’s “teaser” tells enough – well, assuming the Army Times got the facts right this time.

    Yeah, this was a travesty. IMO Johnson should be doing at least a couple of years at the Leavenworth crossbar hotel, followed by dismissal, along with that fine. But the courts-martial panel turned candy-ass and didn’t slam him like it should have, probably out of sympathy for his first wife.

    However, Johnson’s now a convicted felon – which likely rather severely limits his post-service employment prospects. In many states that also means voting and firearms ownership could be problematic.  I’m guessing his Army career will end fairly soon, too. And I’d also guess the judge at his civil divorce trial will look at all of this when he decides division of property and future alimony his first wife is owed.

    I hope that Johnson had to cash out 100% of any savings/retirement accounts and/or investments he owned to pay that fine. And I hope the judge in his divorce trial awards his first wife all community property, plus a big chunk of his retirement pay – say, 75% or so – as alimony.

    Have a nice rest of your life, Johnson. Good riddance, and don’t let the door hit you on the ass as you outprocess – hopefully very soon.

  • Asking Senator John McCain A Question on Afghanistan

    Senator John McCain came to my school yesterday (University of Tampa) for a visit with ROTC Cadets and Veterans. It was a good event, non-partisan, just “The Maverick” talking about the world and what is going on in the Middle East.

    He certainly knows his stuff — especially with such seniority in the Senate — but I certainly disagree with him on some issues. One is Afghanistan. He kept mentioning the surge strategy in Iraq and applying it to Afghanistan. I couldn’t help but ask him the following:

    “Senator McCain, it’s an honor to be see you here today. I have a question in regards to the war in Afghanistan.

    You keep mentioning the surge strategy in Iraq. That surge was instrumental in the war and initially increased the number of attacks on troops but eventually they leveled off and then the number of attacks drastically fell.

    Unlike that surge, the Afghan surge of 30,000 troops has seen attacks increase each month, according to open source intelligence. Our rules of engagement for troops in contact mean increasingly that our soldiers and Marines are not getting the artillery and close air support that they need. Further, our own Afghan security forces are continuing to shoot our troops on our own bases.

    We have given a pullout date of 2014. My question is, why are we waiting until then?”

    Unfortunately, he did like most politicians do when they don’t want to answer a question. They answer a completely different one. I don’t think he understood what I was asking so he answered as if my point was that we need to end the war now, get troops come home immediately, etc.

    What I was trying to say was that the war strategy right now is not working, we are not effective in the job (due to ROEs/Politicians), and we should either change strategy or leave immediately.

    He started talking about how the terrorists would continue to use it, we’re fighting the guys from where 9/11 originated, etc.

    After I came home from the event, I looked around for news coverage. I found some, but interestingly enough, I found a story on Rep. C.W. Young, a staunch supporter of the war, who has just come out in favor of immediate withdrawal. The story says the following:

    The congressman said he came to his new position after talking with veterans over the past three months and hearing about what a “real mess” Afghanistan is in.

    I know John McCain often visits troops overseas and gets their opinions. I wonder what he’s hearing on his trips?

    And finally, here’s a news story where I am mentioned, although I’m only referred to as student.

     

  • Here’s the Thanks We Get from the Syrian Opposition

    I’ve written a few times before (here, here, and here) on events in Syria.  BLUF:  I think we’re making a serious mistake in supporting the Syrian rebels.  We don’t seem to know – or, alternatively, don’t seem to care – who they are or what they represent.  And our recent track record in Egypt and Libya doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the current Administration’s ability to manage such crises.

    Well today we have this.  The folks who we’re supporting in Syria (the Syrian rebels) are apparently giving the US the finger by publicly burning the US flag.

    Yeah, that’s from Infowars.  But I don’t think Alex Jones and crew fabricated the video clip.

    As I’ve said before:  tell me again why we’re supporting these folks?

  • Doubling Down on “Teh Clueless” About the Military

    Remember the recent controversy over naval photos at the Democratic National Convention?  You know, where they used file photos of Soviet Navy ships during a speech purporting to show support for US armed forces?

    Well, it appears as if they doubled down,  most likely inadvertently, on “teh clueless” when it comes to the military.  Because in the same speech, they apparently also used photos  of the Turkish Air Force’s precision flying team – instead of photos of USAF or USN aircraft.

    Geez.  Are they so strapped for funds they can’t even find someone competent to procure file footage?  Or do they just not give a damn?