I can see why the military is having a difficult time keeping people

[IAM Rand]

My son is serving in Germany. He is getting out because of probably the same problem he is having getting home, stupidity.

He is getting a flight paid for by the military to get back but, to his residence of record. He lives in Colorado but, was in Job Corp in Montana, which is where he was recruited. Even though he lives in Colorado they will only send him back to Montana or Utah where the regional recruiting office is. He then went to try and change his residence of record but, the computers are down.

Without trying to be too political, can someone tell me why they think that the government can run things better than private companies? Jeeeezzzz, this is ridiculous.

To add to the misery, he and his wife decided to adopt 2 dogs over there. Now he has to hope that they make it back safely.

 

[biku324]

My first overseas job was with a huge corporation and they did precisely the same thing to me - the closest major airport was El Paso, although a regional airport with an American Airlines flight was a few miles away. When I left employ with them, they would only fly me to El Paso, as that's where I came from.

Major corporations are just different-flavored bureacracies, and I've now worked for three. And no similar (to .gov) employee benefits, as the new game is to hire 'independent contractors.'

If I was a young E5 or O3, I'd do 20.

 

[Kevin J.]

It's always been messed up. When my father was discharged after returning from Korea in 1953 they gave him a train ticket to Plainview TX, rather than his home in Plainview MN. Even though he was processed in at FT. Snelling MN.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I think the reasons the military can't get, or keep, good soldiers is more about the mindset of the youth of today, than all the age-old issues that have persisted for years. Today's pool of potential enlistees are woke and self-absorbed and entitled, and expect the military to change to suit them, instead of the other way around.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The woke and PC culture of the military is what is alienating potential recruits and why good people leave.

 

[sigp220.45]

The service guys I meet these days are good folks, the same as the ones I supervised from 83 - 91. Including one son, a nephew, and two nephew-in-laws (married to my nieces). They complain now, they complained then.

As for the travel thing, its always been the policy to return you to your Home Of Record. I'm not sure if you could even change it back then.

My HOR was Decatur, IL, and that was the only place they cared about.

 

[SMSgt]

My son is serving in Germany. He is getting out because of probably the same problem he is having getting home, stupidity.

He is getting a flight paid for by the military to get back but, to his residence of record. He lives in Colorado but, was in Job Corp in Montana, which is where he was recruited. Even though he lives in Colorado they will only send him back to Montana or Utah where the regional recruiting office is. He then went to try and change his residence of record but, the computers are down.

Without trying to be too political, can someone tell me why they think that the government can run things better than private companies? Jeeeezzzz, this is ridiculous.

To add to the misery, he and his wife decided to adopt 2 dogs over there. Now he has to hope that they make it back safely.

Transportation to Home of Record is the way it's always been. The location was his choice at the time of enlistment. Home of Record can be changed whenever the member chooses. I've done it. He's had every opportunity to change his home of record throughout his career. Don't blame the government for his failure to understand the basics of the system. If he didn't figure it out, it's not about the needs of the one; it's about the needs of the service.

 

[SMSgt]

I think the reasons the military can't get, or keep, good soldiers is more about the mindset of the youth of today, than all the age-old issues that have persisted for years. Today's pool of potential enlistees are woke and self-absorbed and entitled, and expect the military to change to suit them, instead of the other way around.

The reason I tossed in the towel and retired in '91 was the awareness that the "Me" generation had infiltrated, and the upper echelons were afraid to stand up to them and support tradition and service needs.

 

[biku324]

The woke and PC culture of the military is what is alienating potential recruits and why good people leave.

I'll be sure to pass that on to those in CJTF-HOA who are eyeball-to-eyeball with Al-Shabaab. CJTF - HOA

Americans used to support their military.

 

[johngalt]

The woke and PC culture of the military is what is alienating potential recruits and why good people leave.

My nephew is currently in the Air Force Academy. Good luck trying to find as high quality education and opportunities in the private sector that he will have in the Air Force.

His experience has been an eye opener for me. I grew up with a family that constantly bad mouthed any thought of government service, so I never considered it. They were completely wrong.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The Army fell about 25% short-some sources say 40%-of its recruiting goals, the other services barely made theirs. They kicked out thousands of people who refused the jab, they get home, tell their family and friends...
I have talked to a couple of Navy types who left-at 8 and 12 years respectively,both got fed up with the favoritism shown to women.
The big selling point of the service academies is:
1. They're free
2. You join an alumni association.

 

[biku324]

The Army fell about 25% short-some sources say 40%-of its recruiting goals, the other services barely made theirs. They kicked out thousands of people who refused the jab, they get home, tell their family and friends...
I have talked to a couple of Navy types who left-at 8 and 12 years respectively,both got fed up with the favoritism shown to women.
The big selling point of the service academies is:
1. They're free
2. You join an alumni association.

Shame.

I worked with DoD partners, usually ODC, JSOTF-P, DAO, and SOFLE units, in conflict and immediate post-conflict regions from 2013 to Oct 2020 and will again in the next few weeks. They are fine, exprerienced, dedicated professionals in each service branch in officer and enlisted ranks regardless of race, gender, political affiliation, or lifestyle preference; none of these four topics were open for discussion.

Ingratitude serves no one.

 

[Rudi]

We are all in grave danger.

 

[Sistema1927]

I enlisted in El Paso, TX.

Four years later, I ETS/DROS from ROK, and out-processed at Oakland Army Base. During out-processing, the SATO office said that the next flight to El Paso (where my wife and kids were, so no problem), was the next day. I asked about Southwest Airlines, having read about new service out of San Francisco in the Pacific Stars & Stripes the week before. They said that they couldn't help me, and that I would have to deal with SWA separately.

Not wanting to spend a night in the barracks at the out-processing center, I decided to try my luck at the airport. Walking out, three guys were trying to convince a cab driver to take them to the San Fran airport off meter. I tossed in an additional $10, and off we went.

Walked up to the SWA counter and asked for next flight to ELP. Departing in 20 minutes through Phoenix. They said it was $80, but then asked if I was military since I was carrying a duffle bag and an AWOL bag. I told them that technically until midnight I was. Price dropped to $60, and I headed to the gate.

Called the wife from Sky Harbor, and she picked me up at the airport. I filed for travel from Oakland to El Paso, and they reimbursed me $600, which was welcome in addition to the 21 days in terminal leave that I was paid. Moved the family to Ft. Worth the following week, and went to work 22 days later, getting ready to start Seminary.

Don't know if one could do this today, but I think that if you make your own travel arrangements they will pay you the book rate for travel to your home of record, even if you go somewhere else. You might be able to do better than what they pay you.

 

[Hair Trigger]

The reason I tossed in the towel and retired in '91 was the awareness that the "Me" generation had infiltrated, and the upper echelons were afraid to stand up to them and support tradition and service needs.

I served from 1987 to 1995 and I got out before the biggest changes started taking place ("me" generation and wokeness, not changes within the AF philosophy). I was medical/nursing, that population has always had a professional standard that resisted the current mindset, apart from its military standards, but even that is changing now, not only military, but the civilian sector too. I retired from Nursing in 2019 after 37 years in the field, and glad to be away from it.

I think the military mindset and philosophy should revert to where it was during the Cold War, but without the political influences on policy. I also think that military service should be compulsory, and full citizenship be conditional on satisfactory service. You need to work hard for something in order to fully appreciate it.

 

[austintexas]

getting out

I served 20 years, 10 months and 13 days. My nephews boy joined the Army right out of Highschool. In fact he was able to join before he graduated. He was gung ho, didn't want a nothing job typing, motor pool, chow hall etc. So he got to be an Aviation Scout. Right on the pointy end. He got assigned to Fort Hood, I told him, Big mistake, I said he would spend his whole career in basic training. He did, he said all he did was train, got to sleep in the mud, in the rain, a little snow. He said his equipment was crappy, he was assigned a Striker, He said always broke. His outfit was assigned 6 strikers and he said on any givin day 2 might be running. He took terminal leave in September and is now out, got lucky every time they were to be deployed something happened and it got canceled. Got out before this thing in Europe blows up.
He is going to college, may go back as a lieutenant in a differed MOS. He said they offered him the moon to stay in.
SWCA 892

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I retired from the Reserves in 1998 as an LTC, IN, 31 years Active/Reserve, enlisted commissioned. So many people who came off Active Duty said they were tired of the "It's just a job" attitude, all the people who enlisted because they got a package of family benefits that no civilian employer offered. The anti-singles bias, the constant harping on DEI, emphasizing certain special groups, giving them special treatment, etc. The lack of camaraderie. People having to pull extra deployments, tours of sea duty because some privileged groups are "non-deployable."

 

[coltle6920]

The reason I tossed in the towel and retired in '91 was the awareness that the "Me" generation had infiltrated, and the upper echelons were afraid to stand up to them and support tradition and service needs.

Tradition... Like saying the Pledge of Allegiance... Standing for the National Anthem.

Traditions build character,keep families strong and best of all keep this Country strong.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I work on a military installation. I see the wokeness everyday.

The problem starts at the top. From the commander in chief to the the service member. It's not just the young.

Officers and senior NCO's are more-so guilty.

I've had officers and senior NCO's look me in the eye and say……
"Whatever you need"
"I'm on it"
"We'll get you squared away "
"I'm tracking that"

And I never hear from them again. A man can't even keep his word. And I bothers me that a military man would do so.

I work with ten other veterans. We are all concerned about our ability to fight and protect. Very concerned.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Recently the Master Chief of the Navy visited the USS George Washington. It is undergoing a rebuild, serious morale problems among the sailors, crude living conditions-one sailor said "It's like living at a construction site."
What did the Master Chief say to them ? "Be glad you're not Marines living in a [fox]hole." He used a much cruder word. Real inspiring leadership, shows real concern for subordinates.

 

[pantannojack]

Never trust a Govt Arm that is not ACCOUNTABLE.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

The military is not intended to be a social experiment. The services exist so that, when necessary, our nation can break things and hurt people expediently as a means of protecting our national interests.

I will stop now so that the Big Gorilla won't be tempted to slap me into the time out box.

 

[Beemerguy53]

...I grew up with a family that constantly bad mouthed any thought of government service, so I never considered it. They were completely wrong.

The average American has no idea of the caliber and quality of people the US Government employs. Yeah, yeah, I know, there are some people who live down to the worst stereotypes about government employees...but the vast majority of them are good people who work diligently for our country, often at salaries far lower than they could earn in the private sector (especially in the technical or scientific fields).

 

[Golddollar]

It's always been messed up. When my father was discharged after returning from Korea in 1953 they gave him a train ticket to Plainview TX, rather than his home in Plainview MN. Even though he was processed in at FT. Snelling MN
.

Not always. They did manage to get my grandfather back to Punxsutawney, PA after World War I.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Glad I retired in '92.
Too much of a Gung Ho Master Chief in the Navy now.....

 

[IAM Rand]

Transportation to Home of Record is the way it's always been. The location was his choice at the time of enlistment. Home of Record can be changed whenever the member chooses. I've done it. He's had every opportunity to change his home of record throughout his career. Don't blame the government for his failure to understand the basics of the system. If he didn't figure it out, it's not about the needs of the one; it's about the needs of the service.

Granted, he could have changed his home of record and should have. Not sure if he knew about that. Unfortunately his out paperwork was sitting on his CO's desk for longer than it should have. To add insult to injury, on the day his is finishing his paperwork to get out, the housing dept wants to be at his residence. The problem is, all of his stuff is still there. Transportation hasn't gotten his stuff to send back to the states. Transportation can't get his stuff until he finishes his out processing. Round and round it goes.

By the way, he didn't choose his home of record, he was in Job Corp at the time and it was a local recruiter that got him into the Army. I would like to think that it was explained to him but, either it wasn't or he was drowned with information on the way in that he didn't think about it.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

When I left Active Duty in June, 1971, I processed out at Fort Dix with a lot of other guys, my mother drove the 30 miles from home to pick me up.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Never trust a Govt Arm that is not ACCOUNTABLE.

NONE of them are accountable. You know what the difference between government and private industry is? I can sum up the mindset very simply.
In business you use the discounted extra ounce stamps to mail letters over 1 ounce. In government offices that is too much trouble so you just slap on an extra full price first oz stamp. First ounce .60 each additional ounce .24. IT ADDS UP

 

[biku324]

The average American has no idea of the caliber and quality of people the US Government employs. Yeah, yeah, I know, there are some people who live down to the worst stereotypes about government employees...but the vast majority of them are good people who work diligently for our country, often at salaries far lower than they could earn in the private sector (especially in the technical or scientific fields).

Affirmative.

I get really tired of whiny old folks pining about what used to be. The past is done. In the present, we should deal with what is and not denigrate our institutions - the military, juries, schools, civil servants, governmental systems (including state & local governments), even poll workers - those who make our capitalistic success, envied by the world, possible.

My guess is the current working generations will breathe a sigh of relief as we Boomers pass (sniveling) into history.

And I am a proud firearms Fudd.

 

[LVSteve]

It's always been messed up. When my father was discharged after returning from Korea in 1953 they gave him a train ticket to Plainview TX, rather than his home in Plainview MN. Even though he was processed in at FT. Snelling MN.

The US has always had a blindspot for geography. Late wife#1 made me answer all the geography questions when watching Millionaire.