How will the Delay of the Drawdown in Afghanistan affect the Morale of our Men and Women in Uniform?

SPC Andrew Griffin — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 09:38:05 -0400

Where there ever be a time that our Men and Women in Uniform will SERVE strictly in Garrison?

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2015 9:40 AM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 09:40:28 -0400

SPC Andrew Griffin I believe it has the ability to be very destructive to moral. We fought, bled and cried there and now we are going to stay in order to help save some jack balls. Enough is enough there. But the mission goes on.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Oct 17 at 2015 10:47 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 10:47:41 -0400

SPC Andrew Griffin here is my answer to your question about a garrison Army. My son has been for about 2 years. IMO if he would would retire at 20 years, he might have five years of a peace time Army.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2015 11:15 AM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 11:15:47 -0400

Intriguing question coming from an E-4 (not bashing). It's our duty to stay until the mission is complete. Unfortunately, we don't decide that. This is an all volunteer force.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Oct 17 at 2015 12:30 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 12:30:23 -0400

SPC Andrew Griffin Sooner or later we will withdraw, but the "Long War" doesn't seem like it will end anytime soon.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 17 at 2015 2:39 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 14:39:02 -0400

Some aren't going to be happy with it, and I might be one of them, BUT my job is to do what is asked of me by those appointed over me. I might not understand or agree with the task or mission, but I will complete the mission and afterwards ask why. The troops need this mentality ingrained in them or they'll look for reasons to question orders and not complete the mission fully which will only hurt them and the cause. In time historians will make the call of whether or not this was the right call... no one still serving has that right yet. Do your job; protect your left and rights, and those inside of that. Bring your troops and yourself home and the rest will sort itself out.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 17 at 2015 2:50 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 14:50:09 -0400

It's a good thing. Without war, the drawdowns will get worse...

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2015 3:49 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 15:49:52 -0400

I actually don't think this will decrease morale. Morale of a lot of people who have served in Afghanistan has previously been low because they felt we were abandoning the cause they fought for. I think this is the right move, and hopefully will help stabilization, especially long-term.

Response by Col Kyle Taylor made Oct 17 at 2015 6:16 PM

Col Kyle Taylor — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 18:16:59 -0400

I think what really needs to be looked at it how we approach conflict in the first place. If our objective is clear, executing the mission and leaving is fine but when ambiguous then it will take longer. We never left Germany or Japan after WWII but our intent was to defeat them and ensure that it didn't happen again. If our sole purpose is a punishment strategy, them we punish and depart. Morale? If the fight is just and understood, then morale probably isn't and won't be an issue.

Response by SGT Andrew Morrison made Oct 18 at 2015 11:45 AM

SGT Andrew Morrison — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 11:45:56 -0400

Sadly, in an asymmetrical world I don't see how it would be possible. As far as morale..."Charlie mike".

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Oct 18 at 2015 1:03 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 13:03:15 -0400

I served 22 years in the Navy and never saw combat. I served during multiple combat missions, but was never deployed to them, just through luck of the draw.

Regarding Afghanistan, we should have been out of there after the first year. Our mission won't succeed any more than the Soviet's did...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 19 at 2015 11:07 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 11:07:49 -0400

Leaving Afghanistan with the Taliban combat effective will be the one of the downfalls for the country. This will hurt morale.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2015 1:46 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 13:46:34 -0400

The drawdowns are making life worse on morale. Meaning things like involuntarily extending enlistments. I can see why enlisted troops and officers even, are not happy. Or a VA that shreds applications or throws them in dumpsters.

I know most want to be around families but the draw-down had less to do with morale and more to do with peace activists and partisan politics.

Response by MSgt Dave Burke made Oct 20 at 2015 12:37 PM

MSgt Dave Burke — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:37:18 -0400

I believe that Obummer just has not killed or crippled enough of our best yet. His campaign to destroy the nation must be fueled by more blood.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 1:35 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:35:08 -0400

I have Soldiers who are choosing to ETS because of a lack of deployments. I think the end of the GWOT will decrease morale if anything.

As far as a strictly Garrison environment goes, I doubt there will be any prolonged period without conflict of some sort. Let's look at the last 75 years.

WWII 1941-45
Korean War 1951-53
Viet Nam War 1955-75
Grenada 1983
Panama 1989-1990
Operation Desert Storm/Shield 1991
Bosnia Intervention 1992-2004
Kosovo Intervention 1998-1999
OEF 2001
OEF 2003

Chances are this pattern will continue into the foreseeable future. The world is probably the least stable its been in the last 25 years.

Response by SrA Joe Henderson made Oct 21 at 2015 12:51 PM

SrA Joe Henderson — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 12:51:06 -0400

The delay in drawdown In Afghanistan will effect the moral of the troops negatively. As much as troops are to follow orders at what point does their trust in the benefits of their sacrifice come to fruition, and with no end it sight that can put a huge psychological stressor on the troops. SPC Andrew Grffin I would be interested in the negative effects this moral of the immediate family of the men and woman in the uniform.