From the Pentagon to life in a van

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 5 January 2014 | Julie Zauzmer

[LSUfan]

After a 30-year military career in which he earned three graduate degrees, rose to the rank of colonel, and served as an aide to Pentagon brass, Robert Freniere can guess what people might say when they learn he's unemployed and lives out of his van:

Why doesn't this guy get a job as a janitor?

Freniere answers his own question: "Well, I've tried that."

[LSUfan]

The economic "recovery" is a myth.

[Uncle Chip]

If he is a 30 year veteran then he has a pension.

Where is that money going and what is it used for???

[Dilbert San Diego]

How is it that he is homeless if he gets a military pension of $40,000 a year? I understand that he has debts, kids in college, divorce expenses, etc. But he really can’t find anyplace to live with money he has coming in? Something doesn’t add up here.

[bigdaddy45]

Did you read the article? I’m sympathetic, but the lack of a recovery doesn’t have much to do with this guys plight. He really doesn’t have the skills that are needed to transfer to the civilian world. He blames sequestration for his inability to find defense contracting work. Sounds like he’s not willing to reinvent himself.

[bigdaddy45]

Exactly. Thats basically a $1M+ annuity. He sounds a little flaky to me.

[LibLieSlayer]

My best guess... several x wives and a lot of child support... but I could be wrong.

[Kartographer]

In before the “He’s just another Dead Beat” Crowd.

[Right Brother]

He retired in 2006. A colonel with 30 yrs. in the military should have a pretty decent pension. I didn’t read the entire article, but something doesn’t add up.

[LibLieSlayer]

ryan killed the sequester so he will need a new excuse.

[logi_cal869]

I would define it as “inculcation”, but point taken.
.02

[sten]

when it comes to earning a living, the vast majority of people forget the best way to insure yourself a position...

make your own job.

if you've got skills that are really all that and a bag of chips, then start your own company and hang your shingle. if you're that good, you'll have customers in no time. if you're not the one to lead a business, but still have those 'mad l33t skillz', then partner with someone and let them lead... i'm sure there's plenty of people willing to make money off your lack of leadership skills

of course, this could also force the realization that your 'mad skillz' are really not very useful. at which point, you should spend your time developing skills people actually want.

iow, when you don't have a job... your job is to get a job. if that means refining your existing skills or completely retooling to make yourself more marketable, then that's what you do.

welcome to America

then again, these days people cry about how they cannot find a job and expect to get $50k/yr while not working... paid for by those that take the appropriate steps to secure an income. you'll excuse me for outright refusing to comply.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Made Colonel in 30 years ?

[logi_cal869]

From the article:

His struggle to find a job after retiring from the Air Force collided with the end of his marriage nearly two years ago. Unable to return to the home he shared with his estranged wife, and faced with expenses including bills for two sons in college and debts that mounted when he maintained a nicer lifestyle, he took up a nomadic existence.

Does it 'add up' now?

[PapaBear3625]

If he is a 30 year veteran then he has a pension. Where is that money going and what is it used for???

Here's the real story:

He receives an annual pension from the military of more than $40,000.

His struggle to find a job after retiring from the Air Force collided with the end of his marriage nearly two years ago. Unable to return to the home he shared with his estranged wife, and faced with expenses including bills for two sons in college and debts that mounted when he maintained a nicer lifestyle, he took up a nomadic existence.

His real issue is that he got taken to the cleaners in his divorce, and his money goes to keep his two kids in expensive private schools.

It's got little to do with the military, and much to do with the divorce industry.

[meatloaf]

It’s not going to get any better. Obamacare will never be self-funding meaning other programs will have to be cut. That will collide with social security also generating less income than required for paying benefits.

[bigdaddy45]

In other words, he incurred too much debt. He’s also paying for his kids college. Nice of him, but they could delay it and work for a few years to earn the money. Sounds like his decision to live out of his car is his choice, and not something he has to do.

[Uncle Chip]

Anyone who can’t live on a pension of $40,000/yr at taxpayer expense has been enjoying the good life sucking on the public teet in Washington DC far too long.

[iowamark]

Likely mental health issues. His adult sons should be exploring help for him.

[Colorado Doug]

He receives an annual pension from the military of more than $40,000 . . . Records show that Freniere moved to the Pentagon in 2000. . . . Two years later, he became special assistant to Gen. Stanley McChrystal . . . .Freniere said he had not been able to find a contracting job since August 2012. He blames the federal sequestration for squeezing contractors of money and of the confidence to hire people. He has not lasted long at other jobs, as a substitute teacher and an executive in a company writing proposals for government grants.

One of his complaints about the latter job was that it took him too far from his sons - Bobby, enrolled at a community college in Virginia, and Eric, at VFMA.

Sorry but my heart does not bleed for him. One would think that someone in his position would have a little more dignity.

[PowderMonkey]

"He's done a lot of things; he's been a lot of places. . . . He's got the gift of gab. Very smart," said Adm. James Hogg, who officiated at Freniere's retirement ceremony in 2006."

After 30 years service, that's a grotesquely anemic summation there, Admiral. Good grief. If standing for promotion, statements like that will kill a career in heartbeat, are calculated to do just that, and the Admiral knows it.