Posted on Feb 24, 2014

Shrinking the Military, is Hagel the man for the job?

SGT James Elphick

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So far Defense Secretary Hagel has acted like the soldiers' soldier we all expected him to be but does he have the military wherewithal to properly realign our forces?

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Posted 11 y ago

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SGT James Elphick

Posted 11 y ago

His budget also proposes to do away with the A-10. I guess he thinks an F-35 with 5 mins loiter time and 170 rounds is sufficient air cover in a prolonged firefight.

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SGT(P) (Join to see)

11 y

The F-35, isn't that a prototype jet that hasn't even been fielded that costs double what the A-10 does with no guarantee that it will actually work?

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SGT James Elphick

11 y

That is exactly what it is. Double might be an understatement though

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SFC (Join to see)

Posted 11 y ago

I was in during the 1990's and what it did to the Army, then a war started and they had to activate nearly every NG and Reserve unit because there weren't enough active forces.

China, Russia and Iran are all breathing down our necks! Mark my words there is going to be another war.

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SFC Michael Hasbun

11 y

Lets hope so, war is job security..

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SFC James Baber

Posted 11 y ago

I truly believe he is becoming the political pawn that many felt he would become before his nomination had been approved and his name first came up for the job. While he is a the 1st former enlisted to ever hold the post, he has a history of being a yes man in many positions he has held during his civilian career after the military of the Vietnam era.

I think this is just another politician that is more concerned with keeping the political status quo happy than taking care of the troops and the military as a SECDEF is supposed to do, he is supposed to fight DC on our behalf not join them in dismantling the military and taking more and more benefits away that have been earned through blood, sweat and tears, not to mention the lives sacrificed for them to have the ability to take the benefits away.

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SGT James Elphick

11 y

I was waiting to respond because I wanted to see how things were playing out but it looks like you were pretty much spot on. He's cutting troops and keep military contracts to keep the political status quo happy

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Shrinking the Military, is Hagel the man for the job?

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