As the Services are coming into a peace time military, have you noticed a difference?

2014-11-14T20:05:23-05:00

As "peace" time is coming, have you noticed any differences in your service? Have things that once where ok or common place gone away? Do you notice any difference in leadership or workups? I would like to know how other service members feel during this transition.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 14 at 2014 8:53 PM

2014-11-14T20:53:36-05:00

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member A topic worth thinking about. I came to a COCOM in 2012 and experienced a serious shift in things at that point in terms of focus, culture, schedule, etc. But also because of being in a joint environment at a place like I am, I haven't felt much of the "peacetime" changes.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2014 10:41 PM

2014-11-30T22:41:03-05:00

Rhetoric and mischief come to mind.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2014 8:03 PM

2014-12-01T20:03:23-05:00

I have noticed with the peace time comes the cuts. Cuts to training, cuts to ammo, cuts for uniforms, and cuts to the overall strength of the armed services. I can only speak for what I am seeing on the Guard side. I just recently attended ALC and even the active duty guys are seeing cuts to 'much needed' training money. Not sure if that is what you are referring to...but I wanted to comment, because my training NCO included a blurp in our monthly news letter saying, if you are slated for a school, prepare for the class to be canceled due to budget constraints. I lived through this after Desert Storm, they put out a lot of dead weight in the Corps...non-promotable SSgt's were getting kicked out by the dozens. The biggest impact I can see with this moving forward is SM's not wanting to remain a part of an organization that isn't taking care of its mission requirements. Not good for morale...either.

Response by SSG Leonard J W. made Dec 2 at 2014 3:27 PM

2014-12-02T15:27:45-05:00

This is a great set of questions, Sgt Private RallyPoint Member. The only good thing that I have noticed is that services are being more selective about the quality of recruited personnel. The Army's top commanders are concerned about our readiness. I work in the institutional environment where Initial Military Training is taught, and we can't buy some of the things that we need. That is my objective response, and I'm an optimist.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2014 2:06 PM

2014-12-03T14:06:25-05:00

Although we are moving towards "peace Time" we are already feeling the pains of post war era leadership and congressional response. Our pay raises are minimal and looking at going from 1.8% to 1% before it is approved; we will be paying more out of pocket at the same time for things such as medicine; the BAH will be reduced. Furthermore I feel like training dollars are being cut or not spent in the most effective way. More training is pushed upon us but not training that will make us better at our jobs, only training that will meet the needs of a politicaly correct world. Do i think we need to do something about sexual assault; suicide; motorcycle safety, etc.? Of course I do, and most of that could correct itself with more discipline instilled into the Soldier during Basic / AIT.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2014 4:27 PM

2014-12-03T16:27:13-05:00

I see the services focusing on Soldier and Family Issues. Specifically, SHARP related issues. It is important for the fostering of a safe work environment. In light of the recent NFL domestic violence issues, these kind of situations have to be highlighted and talked about in order for us to avoid repeating the sins of others.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Dec 3 at 2014 4:26 PM

2014-12-03T16:26:29-05:00

I have to say that I am an OLD MAN now that this is a repeat offender for me. I was in the Army in 1992 when the draw down happened post 1991 and the war machine turned into the garrison shuffle the first time. Of course it happened post Vietnam, but I can speak to it actually happening once again from personal experience. The military from my Army fox-hole/cockpit has forgotten training-training and merely does pre and post deployment training for a specific deployment. The budget is shrinking faster than anyone ever expected and over-reaching into what would have been garrison training budgets. The ability for a NCO or Soldier to know how to erect a General Purpose Medium tent is lost and working at being re-invented (they all come with instructions). I have witnessed it many times and then there is the "why do we have to do this" syndrome of the garrison training events. There are so many correlations to expound on, but I wanted to chime in and will read and dip later on others assessments.....thanks for reading this if you have to this point.