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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fight it drag your feet administratively tie it in knots. Sure remove the drug offenders and other scumbags they had there chance but burn guy because he did pass Ranger school or got anything put a one one your a superstar on his OER / NCOER please. but if you have multiple deployments sought hard assignments you deserve to stay. leaders need to make this an administrative mess.
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Focus on the basics. Remember that an military is nothing without customs , courtesies, and traditions. Bring the lessons back from the current conflict, pass them down, and influence the next generation of leaders to step forward and take charge so that we can shape the military into a leaner, meaner fighting machine and one that will set the standard for years to come.
It is not unobtainable-I see all sorts of junior soldiers on here looking to connect, better themselves, and their futures. With this sort of enthusiasm, there is nothing we wont be able to solve, handle, or take on. The United States of America has the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen, known, and assembled, and we ve done it to about the same size of Attila the Hun, Xerxes (yes that turd did exist), Alexander the Great, Ghengis and Kubla Kahn, and we have effectively expanded into a global reach.
Last but not least, we need to show the American people that despite the current hardships and difficulties that are beset upon us, we are the most resilient, trained, and professional individuals this country has to offer.
Lets not let them down.
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I did not have time to go through all the posts on this topic as there are quite a few. However, simply put, the main thing I want to see happen during the downsizing is the following:
Keep the quality personnel that want to be here. Let go of the personnel who don't want to be here. If our community was full of individuals who were career minded, willing to learn, and wanted to be successful, we would have an ever better military than we do today.
Keep the quality personnel that want to be here. Let go of the personnel who don't want to be here. If our community was full of individuals who were career minded, willing to learn, and wanted to be successful, we would have an ever better military than we do today.
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Continue training, continue mainlining objectives, Missions and strategies
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The first thing would be to get rid of all the personnel that have had a senior rank for way too long. They are keeping the personnel under them from advancing because they are afraid to move on. Second would be to stop just slapping the hands of people who commit serious offenses and get rid of them. Then you have all the Soldiers who can no longer perform their job for whatever reason. It is that simple...
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This is a great article that details many mistakes that are being made at all levels. These mistakes will have lasting consequences within the force. I'd be lying if I said I haven't been aggressively looking in to civilian employment once my ETS date draws near.
The U.S. military is one of America’s premier leadership factories. But its product is in decline.
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While I think we need to get more stringent on entry requirements and selective of recruits during the drawdown,I also think we need to put a lot of work into changing Initial Entry Training. From the complete laxness of the soldiers to the best friend relationship they have with the cadre. We're putting (some) weak, lackadaisical, under-performing NCO's in charge of impressionable soldiers that now think that not meeting the standard is an acceptable course of action. I think one of the first course of actions that we need to take is have TRADOC tighten it's reigns on cadre and students alike. Put competent, knowledgeable, physically fit NCO's in these positions. Soldiers shouldn't be wondering why they're getting chaptered in AIT while they're SFC(P) PSG can't pass his APFT, H/W, or DLPT. BCT needs to be (re)toughened and AIT needs to get away from it's summer camp atmosphere. With the end of OEF and the drawdown looming, I think this is a good a time as any any for these changes to be implemented.
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Weed out the ones that don't want to be there. Then, Bar to Reenlist all soldiers that have failed their PT test more that twice in a row. If they can't pass the APFT they need to go.
On the other side, find ways to keep the good soldiers/NCO's/Officers in to make the Army stronger. After that, I don't know.
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Become more lethal. Thats it. Increase our lethality, not our appearance to the public or chase a career.
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