It’s one good deal after another these days.
Military reservists may be asked to volunteer to fill many of the hundreds of additional U.S. civilian positions in Afghanistan called for in the Obama administration’s strategy for that nation and neighboring Pakistan, officials said yesterday.
“Asked” is a polite word. I wonder if they’ll tack a “t” on the front end of that verb. Wouldn’t surprise me at all.
And THIS is a very bad idea– “The State Department, officials said, wants the reservists to dress in civilian clothes and to report up a civilian chain of command reaching to an overall civilian coordinator who would supervise all nonmilitary U.S. programs in Afghanistan.” And this too– “State has also asked the Pentagon to consider a flexible rotation schedule that would allow for assignments longer than the several months that mark many reserve tours. Officials said that it was not yet clear whether any of the State Department’s requests were possible within military reserve rules…”
But I have a GREAT idea. Hey, all you crackerjack smart Ivy Leaguers, dedicted to national service, all of you agronomists, engineers, accountants and other experts– here’s your chance. No uniforms, no awful evil guns, none of those boring state university types barking orders at you in their frightful provincial accents. Can I get a show of hands?
Didn’t think so.
I saw this as well today and had three thoughts. First, for the last several years, the DC area congressional delegation at the behest of the federal worker unions have been mandating equal pay raises for the civil service on the basis that they were equally carrying the burden of fighting the war on terror! The second thought was similar to yours, that once Obama was elected, there would be all sorts of civilian volunteers (plus our European allies were going to pitch in). Third, I thought that the Bush administration was overusing the reserves and Guard and they weren’t available here at home for disaster relief and such.
If they asked me, I’d go – 2 weeks from law school graduation
I’m curious how this impacts BOG/Dwell time. I can just picture someone going and doing a tour with State, coming home for a few weeks, then getting involuntarily mobilized.
I know I had to record my civilian job as part of a data call with the reasoning they (big they–the Man they) didn’t want to double-tap someone who was needed for national defense or had a job that was mission critical (DoD Civil Servant and Reserve/guard). Now I wonder what that info will be used for.
I wouldn’t mind going and playing with State, but I don’t like bringing a laptop to a gunfight. Let me do nation building on a PTT where I can shoot back if things get ugly…
Not sure this is as bad as it sounds, my guess it will be voluntary thing. In fact, the Army National Guard has been providing Agriculture Teams for several years in Afghanistan. All have been Farmers, or Agriculture experts. Regarding the BOG issue, if someone just returned I doubt if they would be tapped again. Not wearing uniforms, I have some problems with, we are in the Armed Forces, and if captured it could be argued we are spies and not members of the Armed Forces. I would go if asked, but I would want DoD to spell out the ground rules not DoS.
Regarding the Federal Employee saying they have been carrying the GWOT–that is pure BS.
While I am not a fan of the Ivy League schools–they are very overrated, two of the best Officers I have ever met came from the Princeton ROTC program. Dr. Drew Filipin Faust the current President of Harvard attended last years commissioning ceremony for the Harvard graduates commissioned through the MIT ROTC program. While the faculty may be wacked and think they are still in the 60′s I would not be surprised that if either Harvard or Yale reinstates ROTC within a few years–I may be wrong on this, if so I owe Lt Col P a beer or a box of 7.62X39 his choice.
sir:
i’ll ALWAYS take the ammo. :-) but i’d be even happier to see harvard and yale step up, it’s long overdue. like you, with me it’s nothing personal. i want to see the educationally privileged get with the program.
jpp 89
I wonder if this would idea would be implemented in the same way that Reservists/Guard who go take a overseas contracting job, that individual would be transferred to the IRR/ING.
wong21fr,
If they did that, it would result in the Servicemember losing all of their retirement points for that time.
That would absolutely not fly.
I worked on a Civil Affairs staff and with PRTs and ePRTs in Iraq last year-some of the problems I see:
1-State won’t hire people with experience and common sense unless they also have a bachelor’s degree-I know two GySgts with multiple tours in Civil affairs who were turned down for PRT/ePRT positions for that reason. But they can be mobilized and assigned the same work at a third the pay and without the quarterly leaves.
2-Most of the State folks are contractors in it for a)$$$ b)to write a book c)the 2 wk paid leaves anywhere in the world every 3 months. Many are ridiculously over or under qualified for what they do. Few get out to meet the locals as much as they should (too busy doing research or attending team meetings). They also refuse to communicate with the military staffs or be held accountable to the extent necessary for mission accomplishment.
I would suggest we’d be better off finding those military folks with the proper skills, SNCOs are preferred for their ability to fight red tape and make things happen without planning them to death. Place them in dedicated civil affairs sections under military authority and chain of command, and do the job ourselves. Screw State.
We had approval before I left to wear civvies, but weapons were an unanswered question. I felt ridiculous going out with my personal weapon when I was surrounded by 10-15 guys whose mission was to protect me while I talked to the locals. I felt that carrying my personal weapon in that situation was more of a hindrance. If it is kinetic enough that I need it then we shouldn’t be there.
And I’m with the first poster regarding GS employees doing their part, as well as the academics.
My thoughts, in no particular order:
GS civilians want the money but not the accountability, given the trashing NSPS received.
Dept. of State hired Blackwater-now-Xe, and both let its contractors twist in the wind and allowed DOD to take all of the blame. That demonstrable lack of moral fortitude leaves me doubting anything put out by State.
If a reservist is wounded or killed on this adventure, does s/he get a PH? Does the family get the money from SGLI? Do wounds, injuries and illnesses that happen during this time count in terms of VA disability/treatability at a local VAMC?
Again, just thoughts…
I trust DOD I have worked with state. They are good meaning and beyond stuck on s…..d God help us and please go with DoD.