Posted on Sep 27, 2013
What's the most important thing the military should do while going through this downsizing period?
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As the military enters a significant downsizing period, it's important to talk through relevant issues and solutions. Enter your response below, and if it gets the most Up votes, you win a free iPad Mini and we will personally deliver your thoughts to our Advisory Board, which includes retired Generals George Casey and Norton Schwartz, the recent Chiefs of Staff of the Army and Air Force, respectively.<div><br></div><div>Tip: Get all your friends to vote Up your response by the end of the contest on Oct 7, 2013.</div>
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Downsizing
Downsizing
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 502
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Remove the sales of Alcohol and Tobacco from all installations and implement prohibition against these substances! This will improve health reduce medical costs, improve the amount of work that gets done. Substantially reduce the amount of alcohol related incidents! Ready to work now not ready to work after sleeping of a hangover!
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We need to find new ways to improve the existing technologies that we are able to employ on the battlefield. Every command needs to have a R&D team to analyze each piece of equipment used to max out and improve the capabilities of that piece. We also need to incorporate more cross training.
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Regroup & redefine our mission. Nothing remains the same in this world, change is constant. The choices we make now predict the life we will have tomorrow. We need "think tanks," better intellligence & planners of "experts" in their respective fields to advise & guide us for tomorrow. Most important we need the people that are & have been on the line as part of such a group. To be up to date the group could have some rotated to bring in fresh ideas, dynamic. Good luck
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Downsize very carefully- remember what has happened before, when the military downsized and then was caught off guard. 9-11, Korean War...
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The most important thing for the military to do at this downsizing period is to remember that they are professionals and that the majority of Americans support them and what they are doing. It is important to remember that the military works for us and it is up to us to support them always. One other thing the military can do is through proper channels, let their elected officials, including the commander in chief know that they do not support cutbacks to defense spending.
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The most important thing is my eyes, keep the standard. Don't lose sight of the goal. I really think that people are so up in arms over the military and the government "losing control" that they forget how to keep control of thier own lives.
Other than that, understand that everyone in the Army is different, we're not all cut from the same cloth. Know that not everyone is going to take what "Big Army" lays out like a lollipop at the dentists office. It's our profession, we chose this, stop trying to be a "mom" and start being a force.
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Not allow systems of accountability to break down...things tend to go missing when we start to have way more stuff than people to use it.
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In my time in the military, the two biggest problems were Congress cutting funding on equipment and development. If the service wanted it, Congress was sure to reduce funding, or scrap the program. When the budget passed it was found to contain mandatory purchase of equipment we neither ordered or wanted. This was a Congressman's way of paying for the votes in his district.
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My solution for downsizing is not to hand out "pink slips" to officers serving on deployments, but to look at soldiers that have had no progression. The soldiers that have failed APFTs for years, with out any improvement, and the soldiers that have been not been promoted in over 10 years. I have ran into so many soldiers who were SPC when I joined, and still are. Their main excuse is that the points are to high, or for the guard "there is no slots for SGT". After a few years stuck at one rank instead of doing something for career progression, they just sit in that slot and deal with it. That to me is a no go. I would have re classed, or do more to up my points, like college and ACCP. Soldiers who have no qualified on a weapon since basic, they should also be looked at for a chapter. Soldiers are performance based, look at NCOERs/OERs. Look at the soldiers constantly marked "needs improvement", see if any progression has been made from rating period to rating period. Retain your good leadership, your Officers that have been amazing role models for your junior soldiers. The SFC that has motivated his soldiers and leadership to "be all they can be". Keep the soldiers that truly have shown they want to be and are proud to be a Soldier.
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SSG Mike Angelo
SSG Julie,
I hear ya on the pink slips and looking for those that just sit and deal with it syndrome.
The DoD wide is in a situation where rotation could also mean ETSing, because where will SMs go after their deployment is up?...Send them home and let society deal with them?
We need to look at what is good for the service and good for American society. In some demographic areas, society labels or categorizes new veterans from these wars juxtaposition to felony convicted people. There needs to be a plan to uplift this stigma toward our vets and provide a pathway for change.
What is your plan? Or solution set?
I hear ya on the pink slips and looking for those that just sit and deal with it syndrome.
The DoD wide is in a situation where rotation could also mean ETSing, because where will SMs go after their deployment is up?...Send them home and let society deal with them?
We need to look at what is good for the service and good for American society. In some demographic areas, society labels or categorizes new veterans from these wars juxtaposition to felony convicted people. There needs to be a plan to uplift this stigma toward our vets and provide a pathway for change.
What is your plan? Or solution set?
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SFC Gary Fox
I know a Major who received his "pink slip" a week after he arrived in Afghanistan. He has 14 years time in service and was promoted last March. He had committed one indiscretion while a Captain, but that was apparently overlooked as he was promoted afterward. He's a damn good officer and I would have no problem serving with him again if possible. With this downsizing, the Army has to come up with a better way of weeding out personnel.
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