While the Army dithers and tries to come up with a way to form contingency forces for the Combatant Commands, the USMC has figured out a way to station a couple of Osprey’s, some C130s, and about Battalion (-) (JPP will set me straight) of Marine Riflemen in Rota Spain to support AFRICACOM. Granted the Army doesn’t own its own airplanes, would have if the USAF had convinced DoD to take the C27 away from the Army and then cancel it!!!!! (I won’t tell you I was thinking of calling them lying bastards but decided to be nice.) If you [...]
Stray Voltage
On the 18th of April in seventy-five Hardly a Man is Now Alive Who Remembers that famous date and year Of the Mid-night Ride of Paul Revere Stray Voltage Over at Defense News retired Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Loh argues for the elimination of duplication as a means of achieving true service interdependence. What he really means is Army, Navy, and USMC give up you aircraft the USAF will take care of you. I know what that means, just like the Army gave up the C27 to the USAF only to see them cancel it [...]
DuffelBlog on 1st Cav Division Patch
HA! FORT HOOD, TX – As conventional budget cuts loom on the heels of sequestration, leaders across the military are considering innovative and helpful ways to lower operating costs without hurting unit training or weapons qualifications. However, one common-sense suggestion — “a no-brainer” according to one Pentagon official — has ruined at least one officer’s career on the sprawling Army base of Fort Hood. The suggestion: shrink the enormous 1st Cavalry Division patch down to a size comparable to the rest of the military. Yeah– why is that thing so big? Remember, we Marines nixed the division patches on the uniforms because they’re [...]
Stray Voltage
Stray Voltage According to Battlelands Secretary Hagel is asking the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to reconsider the precedence of the “Distinguished Warfare Medal?” While I initially thought this much ado about nothing, I realized it really was important when you consider racking and stacking of who has done what in a combat zone. Given the constant brouhaha over the Bronze Star I think we need to reconsider our wartime awards. Let’s separate awards for Valor from awards for Meritorious Service. Instead of Awarding a Bronze Star with V Device; let’s instead award a Bronze Cross or the Bronze Military [...]
Major General Carroll Thackston, Former Adjutant General of Virginia Dies
On Sunday a great Virginian Major General Carroll Thackston died in Lynchburg Virginia. A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, he served his nation as a citizen soldier and career National Guardsman retiring in 1998 at the The Adjutant General of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Moreover he was good friend and mentor to me. I am humbled to have known him. He and I first teamed up to persuade the then TAG MG John Castle not to support the elimination of mandatory commissioning. MG Castles was persuaded, unfortunately the Board of Visitors did not follow his lead. After that he [...]
Ricks in Leesburg at the George C. Marshall House
Having just finished, and been deeply impressed by The Generals, I was glad that “Wang” tossed this our way about T. Ricks’ upcoming tour: Sunday, Feb. 24 — George Marshall house, Leesburg, Va. I pass it all the time but have never visited it. Might be a good excuse to go. (Within walking distance are two of my favorite haunts, here and here.)
The Personnel Types Could Screw Up a Nocturnal Emission in a House of Ill Repute
Since a Lieutenant I have railed against the Army personnel system, whether MILPERCEN, PERSCOM, TAPA, TAPC, HRC. Despite the numerous changes over thirty plus years they have consistently proven to be inept at personal management. Over at Foreign Policy there is a great article today about what is wrought by the ineptness of our personnel weenies. While I have not reviewed Tom Rick’s book the Generals yet, one complaint which I have is Rick’s fails to examine the role that statutory and regulatory changes have played a significant role in the quality of our generals. This article is instructive towards [...]
Stormin Norman Schwarzkopf Dies
Over at the Washington Post is the obit for General Norman Schwarzkopf. More on his life and legacy later.
I’m Sure Her Esteemed Alma Mater Is Very Proud of Her
Talk about losing sight of the objective. She took a slot in that class that could have been filled by someone dedicated to being a soldier and an officer. Oh, wait– he might have been Jesus-obsessed. Can’t have that. Fire away.
PETRAEUS RESIGNS (UPDATED *AGAIN*)
HOLY SHIT. Who will replace him? Is this payback for Benghazi? I wonder if this is the start of a real ugly cabinet-level blood-letting. VFRMarine sent this link too, with what I believe is the text of the letter. UPDATE: Here she is– Paula Broadwell, his biographer! More: The biographer for resigning CIA Director David Petraeus is under FBI investigation for improperly trying to access his email and possibly gaining access to classified information, law enforcement officials told NBC News on Friday. I’m sure there will be lots more. Indeed there is: Official tells me sevrl people who knew Petraeus [...]
