What are your thoughts on military transportation failing service members?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 14:14:31 -0400

I for one am being told that I could see a month delay in my redeployment date due to rotator issues and am not exactly thrilled about it all.

While I have no issues with continuing my mission and doing it to the best of my abilities while i'm still out here, there is also the issue of not being able to rely on military transportation. While this is the first time that I have been seriously delayed I know of countless other stories about how the military transportation system failed other soldiers, arimen, sailors, and marines.

What are some of your thoughts and experiences with the military transit system?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 2:23 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 14:23:10 -0400

I'm not sure where you're going with this but I'll take a stab. Are you referring to the lack of flights going out of wherever you are at in order to get home? If so, there are plenty of flights that do go out just sometimes they get filled up or planes break down (like the notorious C-17).

The transit system does work but there are going to be plenty of hiccups every now and then.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 3:40 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 15:40:06 -0400

I really don't think airflow and MX issues should be considered "failing service members." Things happen. Planes break. That's life in the military, especially in the AF. Budget cuts from Washington make it so older planes need to stay in service longer, which means more frequent maintenance. And if it's government contracted civilian carriers, odds are a more important mission took priority. Bottom line, it isn't "failing" you, because it's not there for your convenience in the first place. That's the military answer.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 3:49 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 15:49:50 -0400

Just happened to me as well. I am stuck in the beautiful limbo of CRC at Fort Bliss because we were not projected for a rotator that left last week and the next one is full. This mean that we had two options: get our command to fly us commercially or wait until November for the next rotator. Fortunately, our command is used to flying people commercially into theater. I think that the projections could have been done better to accomidate this considering how far out our CRC reservations were, but it is what it is. I am just thankful that I will not have to wait until November.

I am learning that the rotators are apparently a much more complex system that I had originally thought and there are many players with their hands in the mix. I hope that as things slow down and deployments shift to the variety of other theaters that they will be able to adjust the system to accomidate these servicemembers so that they are not needlessly stranded or heldover when they do not need to be.

If I were coming home, I probably would not have the same sense of humor about it all.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Oct 16 at 2014 7:19 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 07:19:24 -0400

Not a new situation. We experienced the same types of issues when I was in and deployed. It's a difficult balancing act between available equipment/personnel (which is in constant flux) and priorities (which are also in constant flux). I know that doesn't make it any easier, but I believe that is the crux of the issue.