Unfortunately, the disconnect between the military and the general population makes it easier to cut programs and benefits, while sustaining an ops tempo that is wearing out people and equipment at an alarming rate.
I retired from active duty almost 14 years ago; my 21 years in service included the “Clinton Foreign Policy Tour,” with multiple deployments to Bosnia, plus side trips to Haiti and the Middle East. I was also around for Gulf War I (but didn’t deploy); the ops tempo of the 90s was “busy,” but it pales in comparison to what service members have experienced since 9-11.
In a previous job, I did some work at the John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (JFKSWCS) at Fort Bragg. Met a number of career SF personnel; as of 2013, it was easy to find operators who had been down-range a half-dozen time since 2001. You can imagine the human impact of so many deployments—not to mention the wear-and-tear on equipment. And just this morning, I read that a small Air Force special tactics unit (Combat Controllers and pararescuemen) had just passed the 5,000th consecutive day with someone in the squadron deployed to Southwest Asia.
It’s not just the SF guys, either. AWACS crews average over 200 days a year on the road, and the RC-135 fleet is close behind. Ditto for every other low density/high demand asset. Yet, we’re cutting the Army to its lowest manning level since before Pearl Harbor, and the number of Air Force fighter squadrons has been reduced by 66% since 1991.
Meanwhile, programs for those who serve are being gutted. Look at the “new” military retirement plan. Young men and women will have to largely fund their retirement out of their own pocket, with the introduction of the 401k-type system. Withholding 5% is going to make it very tough for service members at the bottom of the ladder. Imagine being a SPC, Corporal, Senior Airman or P03 assigned to a high cost of living area. Money is already tight, and now another 5% is going towards a retirement plan.
At the same time, co-pays/deductibles for TriCare (which covers retirees and dependents) continue to rise. There is also a recommendation in the new compensation plan to eventually scrap Tricare and move all of those beneficiaries into Obamacare. And we know what a mess the VA is.
BTW, did I mention that the average military retiree (who retires at the 20-year point) gets about $1600 a month after taxes and other deductions. In many locations, that won’t even pay the mortgage, yet all the smart folks in D.C. tell us the military retirement system (in its present form) is unaffordable.
How do they get by with it? By keeping the military small enough so that it is not a political force to be reckoned with. There aren’t enough active duty, guard/reserve and military retirees to “turn” any election, save a few local contests in regions with large armed forces community.
Get outside places like Norfolk, San Diego, Jacksonville, Fayetteville, NC and Kileen, TX and the military is almost an alien race. In some families, you can’t find a single, living person who actually served, and many actively discourage younger members from joining the military.
I salute Mr. Sinise for all he has done for the military. Sadly, he is in a very small minority, both in the entertainment community and in society at large.
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Yup. Pretty sad picture. My relatives have served since the revolution in the mil. My dad was career Navy, I did one enlistment, youngest daughter Navy, oldest grand-daughter FL National Guard, niece career Army, aunt and uncle career Army Air Corps/Air Force, and on and on. Middle grandson is considering it but with the ROE’s today and declining benefits for being overworked and under compensated, I’d have a hard time recommending it.
But how come welfare is affordable?
Very good posting! I finished my active duty in ‘62 when things were much different regarding the military.
It's been death-by-a-thousand-cuts since HW was in office. The commissary, PX, gas stations used to make a significant counterweight to lower pay--now you can find better prices downtown if you shop. The Class VI is the last real value, and it's in the nanny's sights right now.
The deployment rates have decimated our personnel and the wear and tear on all our weapons platforms won't be understood for years. The majority of our most vital defense assets are being recklessly spent without regard to future requirements. They can only cannibalize so much, and the magic life expectancy extensions only look good until the first plane falls out of the sky or the breech blows out on that howitzer.
Sinese is one of my heros--he's our generation's Bob Hope. I have to add a small hat tip for Robin Williams--though I despised his politics, he did the USO tours regularly. There are damn few A-listers who ever attempt it.