157 Air Force Majors terminated without retirement benefits

The American Thinker ^ | 11-25-11 | Thamas Lifson

[SERKIT]

Two or three fewer trips by the First Lady would more than pay for the retirement benefits of the AF Majors. Barry needs to spread the wealth around by example. The retirements would then be “paid for”.

[warsaw44]

bandit - what does ‘ getting your ticket punched ‘ mean?

[AwesomePossum]

O, were it to be done to the teacher's unions..........

8:}

[afraidfortherepublic]

The way that they have treated Maj. Mosley is outrageous!

[calex59]

There was an article several days ago on FR that outlined the cuts and how many mililtary personnel were going to be axed because of the failure of the so called Super Committee(Sorry no link at this time). The administration has already issued the orders for the reductions based on the cuts anticipated. I suppose if the dimwits some how get common sense and agree to tax cuts and spending cuts they will reverse the personnel cuts, but I doubt if that happens.

[USNBandit]

Getting a top category fitness reports. In the Navy the categories are not recommended (equivalent to a bullet in the head), promotable, must promote, and early promote. Normally you start at the bottom when you show up to a command and then move up with better rankings and grater responsibilities.

Obstacles to getting an early promote include, really competitive groups (staff at Top Gun), quotas for the number of early promotes your CO can give out, train wrecks where too many guys all have to leave the command, and inept COs who don't know how to take care of their guys.

Career killers include flat performance trends, and worse yet declining trends.

then 19.5 year guy definitely has a good case, but unless the Air Force has a different written policy a 15 year guy is toast.

[verity]

Good synopsis.

[suthener]

I was an active duty Naval Reserve recruiter. I made no effort to advance because I did not want to transfer. I got myself into a pinch where I had to get promoted or I was going to get kicked out at 16 years. I did indeed get promoted and made my 20, but “no advancement equals no career” is not new. I also saw officers “RIF”ed due to non-advancement.

[snoringbear]

“If you don’t make rank, you get fired.”

Yep, agree. Seems that Captain and Major are the two hurdles to clear before being fairly certain of making it to retirement. Most of these guys who are cut have been passed over a couple of time....

[Joe Boucher]

U.S. military has an increasing percentage of officers.
To the point that an officer today is NOT what they were years ago.
Far too much brass.
But still this may not be a good time for this marxist punk with an anti military bent to be doing this kind of stuff.

[blueunicorn6]

It’s obvious that the very best have made it to admiral and general. Best at ass kissing. 10 years and our very best admirals and generals can’t figure out how to win. Winning is the only thing in war. Worthless, incompetent losers wearing stars.

[William Tell]

Owen said: "Everybody had better get thoroughly used to the idea that this is NOTHING."

I agree. There is so much pain ahead. I haven't figured out what I need to do to protect IRA funds from the calamity ahead. Where will be a safe place for assets? Should I just take the pain of paying taxes on such a sum?

I'm concerned that the economy is headed into a drop into an abyss of incredible depth. Imagine standing on the top of the Saint Louis Arch. Every day moves us further along toward the increasing downward slope. The effort to keep from sliding further down increases with every step until finally there is no stopping the plunge. The bottom will be only seconds away.

How far out on the edge are we with 15 trillion in debt growing by 1.5 trillion per year, perhaps another 50 to 100 trillion in underfunded entitlement programs, multi-trillions in underfunded public pension funds, and states and municipalities heading into bankruptcy.

The state of Illinois and a county in Alabama are examples of the next phase. Promised payments just stop. Unhappy recipients are forced to compromise, much like those holding Greek bonds. These 157 officers are NOTHING compared to what is coming.

[devolve]

[cynwoody]

because the Super Duper Pooper committee failed to reach an agreement on cutting spending so the defense budget is taking a huge hit

The sequestrations don't take effect until 2013, by which time we'll hopefully have the votes to handle the budget properly. That's one reason why the Super Committee's failure to reach an agreement doesn't matter — we're just as screwed as before, but not more so. We just need to take the White House and the Senate in 2012.

[OldPossum]

This is not unusual. It happens all the time. If you don't make rank, you get fired. Bottom line. They should have either picked better duty stations, did a better job or whatever it took to make Lieutenant Colonel and they failed. Good bye. Thanks for your service and good luck in civilian world.

Well, ain't you just such a swell guy.

[OldPossum]

Re your post 16, but don’t you understand? Napscoordinator is one tough guy and has to show it. Hell, I can smell the testosterone from where I am sitting.

[Vermont Lt]

Not likely. SF and a SGT, chances are they will keep him around until they cannot squeeze any more out of him.

These are generally officers who have redundant skill sets.

[Vermont Lt]

Say you get out of college with a good degree, and you want to join the service.

If you are not from an academy or military college, and you are not ROTC....you had better be a doctor.

Otherwise the chances are 4 in 100 you can get a slot.

[napscoordinator]

Realistic. I don’t live in dream land like some of you folks.

[OldPossum]

You make a lot of assumptions, bud. One does not live in a dream world because he or she is sympathetic to the trial and tribulations of others.

But I can be sure from your posts on this thread that you are an extremely unpleasant person.