Former Arkansas Gov., Mike Huckabee says that Americans should not join the military until 2017. Your thoughts?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 02:30:06 -0400

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/huckabee-discourages-us-military-enlistments

Huckabee discourages U.S. military enlistments

When was the last time a presidential candidate suggested, out loud, that Americans should not join the U.S. military?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 2:36 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 02:36:00 -0400

I agree with him. Good idea. Nothing good going on until the next election.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Apr 23 at 2015 7:40 AM

SSG Gerhard S. — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 07:40:26 -0400

I heard LTC Oliver North say the same thing. He was asked if his son or daughter wanted to join the military what would he tell them. He said he'd tell them to wait a few years.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 23 at 2015 2:14 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:14:27 -0400

And he would know what about military service?

Mike Huckabee had not voluntarily signed up for military service and came of age as draft was ending. A brief explanation on why a stint in the army is missing in Huckabee?s resume, states the reason as 'flat feet'.

http://2012.presidential-candidates.org/Huckabee/Military.php

Huckabee and the Military

2012 Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee and the Military

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Apr 23 at 2015 2:49 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:49:11 -0400

It is hard to argue with his logic, but it is certainly not good for our country. We need to maintain the military as the premier fighting force in the world, despite the lack of support of the current administration and, I hate to say it, our senior military leaders.

We have been through hard times before and we have survived. We will survive this one too.

Having a two-year hiatus/time-out on bringing new folks into the military would not be good for the military and would take years to recover from. And, what if we get another President and Administration in 2016/2017 as bad as the current one (Obama in a skirt)?

The military has to hang tough... Our nation depends on it.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 2:56 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:56:42 -0400

Hucksterbee, altho I think he is a good man, I don't think he should be in politics anymore. He was my gov and for a time there he did a decent job, the quality of work and middle of the road moderate-ism creeped up when he lost a lot of weight. Fat huck was great, skinny huck, not so much. One state senator introduced a bill denying foreign invaders(illegal aliens) state benifits, Huck pitched a fit and exclaimed "I dont know what Jesus juice that senator is on but his bill is wrong" he also likes to pal around at LULAC conventions and tell the crowds "yuck yuck some day I will be a minority yuck yuck" One time some foreign invaders got rounded up and deported of course they didnt bother to tell anyone they had kids here, Huck blows gasket about breaking up families...how about the foreign invaders take them with them mr Huck

Response by SGT Richard H. made May 9 at 2015 5:12 PM

SGT Richard H. — Sat, 09 May 2015 17:12:56 -0400

It's mildly entertaining how the author of that article, after lamenting Huckabee for failing to "back up with facts", expends at least half of his pen strokes spouting opinions instead of facts.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made May 9 at 2015 7:10 PM

SSG Leonard Johnson — Sat, 09 May 2015 19:10:15 -0400

I think he got one hell of a good point....However if Hillary gets in there and her hatred of the military.....I would have to go beyond that

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2015 9:07 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2015 21:07:30 -0400

Gov. Huckabee seems to be a genuinely good person, which is more than what can be said of a lot of politicians. With that being said, this statement is ludicrous. Most enlistment contracts extend past the standard 4 year term of a President. While incumbent presidents are typically reelected, it is not unheard of for them to lose. As such most troops will serve under more than one commander in chief. Regardless of whose elected in 2017 I doubt we'll see a measurable difference at the Company level, where most enlistees start out.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 2:39 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 May 2015 14:39:05 -0400

I think that is a HORRIBLE idea. I am about to hit the recruiting trail in a month...
Seriously though, it is much like when Clinton weakened our military so bad that we had to pretty much do everything short of the draft to go to war after the Towers were hit. We were in such disrepair at that time that it took forever to bring us back to a healthy state. We are nearing the small troop size that they want now, what they are NOT counting on is that people will continue to ETS, people will continue to MedBoard, people will continue to get Administratively Separated AFTER that magic number. If we were to go into a dormant wait until a time to start building numbers again, and then someone like Russia pokes at us, well we are going to be in worse trouble than we are already going to be in.

Response by 1LT Timothy Kneisel made May 11 at 2015 1:28 PM

1LT Timothy Kneisel — Mon, 11 May 2015 13:28:22 -0400

Seriously? Anyone in the military right now feel like you are being oppressed because of being a Christian?

Sen Huckabee's comments are rediculous and potentially dangerous.

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made May 11 at 2015 9:32 PM

Cpl Tou Lee Yang — Mon, 11 May 2015 21:32:03 -0400

He's hoping for a Republican victory which seems unlikely. With Presidential Election, Gerrymandering will not help the Republican. The majority of the American citizens are aware of the Republican's belief.

Anyway, why would anyone in their right mind join the military if the Republican wins the White House? Are they/you prepared to go back into a war again? Good thing I don't ever have to go back to war, but I'm damn sure I will do what ever I can to prevent my children from going to war so they can die for the rich.

Response by TSgt David Holman made May 13 at 2015 11:37 AM

TSgt David Holman — Wed, 13 May 2015 11:37:30 -0400

Wow... at one point I might have backed him as a strong candidate, but now... First, as a christian, I have never seen any "punishment" for my religious choices. I don't make a huge show of it, but I often have christian music playing in my office while I work, no one has said a word (and yes, some of it is blatantly christian).

That being said, I don't think it is smart of any candidate to not only bash a current office due to religious beliefs (or impressions there of), and then tell a country not to enlist in the military because of that... just sends all kinds of bad messages. This might have pulled him out of the race.

Response by CPT Barbara Smith made May 13 at 2015 4:57 PM

CPT Barbara Smith — Wed, 13 May 2015 16:57:55 -0400

I respect Governor Huckabee as I was employed in his state during his tenure. Regardless if you like him personally, philosophically, religiously, or any other aspect of his character, he deserves respect because he served his country. We serve our country in many ways, and serving in the military is only one method of service. Thank you.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 9:18 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2015 09:18:17 -0400

It sounds like this guy is delusional. The Obama administration has an open hostility towards Christians? I don't think there has ever been a president in this country more supportive of religious freedom than President Obama.