-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! ARTICLE 4 Many Awards aren’t Earned Ed.: More first hand proof that our badges and wards don’t mean much. If the skills badges for the most critical tasks, such as marksmanship or Expert Infantry skills are "doctored," how do we know who the real killers are? We need a desperate reform of the circus awards or we’ll one day pay a serious price. The first step: Force the brass to stop the statistics games and pressures on subordinates. By an Airborne NCO I used to get your newsletter, but changed addresses and never sent you an update. I always remember how helpful it was to read that I was not alone out there in my loathing of military corruption, but now I find myself guilty of it. I cannot express the sorrow that I feel when I think of myself as part of the problem rather than the solution and I am trying to gain the courage to do something about it. I guess I should start at the beginning and explain myself. I am currently an infantry Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army. I resigned a reserve commission as an infantry officer several years ago to enter onto regular army enlisted service. All of my career I have felt the pressure to earn the Expert Infantry Badge. My first opportunity was after I entered active duty,and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. In order to qualify to go out for the badge in the first place you must qualify expert with your M-16 or M-4. The first time I tried out we went to a non-computerized range, where your buddy fires and you score him, then you fire and he scores you. You are required to hit at least 36 out of 40 pop up targets at a mixture of ranges from 50 to 300 meters with 40 rounds. The guy I scored fired expert and then he scored me expert, although I had doubts about whether I hit all those targets or not. During testing, I failed out during task testing and was unable to go the following year because I was sent to jumpmaster school instead. Two years later I went out for it again. We went and fired at 25 meter range and did not engage the targets in the required manner, 20 rounds from the foxhole and 20 rounds from the prone. We were told to just fire all our rounds from the foxhole at once. I made the required number of hits, but as I mentioned, not in the manner prescribed in the manual. Again, I failed during the task testing. I was later transferred to Ft. Benning GA, where I hoped the firing would be more regimented and honest. I tested here twice. The first time, my unit didn’t want me to go to the range and shoot. It seemed that the instructors just falsify their qualification results as a common practice. The attitude seemed to be "everyone shoots expert anyway, right?" Even after questioning the integrity of it, I was taken aside by my platoon sergeant and told that I needed to just "go along with it". I lost my spine and went along and then failed the last task I tested on. The second time that I tested there, I had a great First Sergeant, who coordinated for me and a fellow instructor to go shoot with a regular unit on post. We went and fired with them. After my colleague shot expert and left, I was still having trouble due to faulty targets and lack of practice. After firing several times, I was called to the range tower and given a score sheet showing an expert score that was not mine and was told by the range NCO to take that score back to my unit. The unit I was firing with seemed to want to get off the range no muss no fuss. I watched as soldiers would go to firing points and shoot the targets in the lane next to them to help their buddy qualify. I once again went along with what I was given. I breezed through testing and was awarded my EIB. Not a day goes by that I don't regret my decision. I wish I could go back and say no. The pressure in the army to attend this training and earn this badge is immense. You are expected to earn the badge as quickly as possible so that you won't have to take the time every year to test, and so that you will have credibility with the soldier you lead that you know what you are doing. They want everyone to score expert so that there will be a high number of soldiers on the testing site. They don't want you "getting out of training". The things I have seen in the 82nd and at Ft. Benning demonstrate the willingness of higher command to look the other way while ethics are destroyed so that they can say that a certain percentage of their soldiers earned the badge. The first time I stood for a class A inspection in the 82nd I was wearing the sharpshooter badge that I had earned. The inspecting Sergeant First Class told me I needed to go buy an expert badge, because "everybody in division scores expert". I have talked to several fellow NCOs who think that I am stupid to worry about this. It is very important to me to "do the right thing". I value honesty above personal gain and it is killing me to think of what I have done. If these things are happening in "America's Guard of Honor" and at the "Home of The Infantry", I shudder to think of what is happening in the rest of the Army. I am planning on removing the badge from my chest, and asking that my orders for it be rescinded. This is not easy for me to do because I am a husband and father of two small children, and this will destroy my career. All I ever wanted to be was a soldier, and at over 30 years of age, I have no options in the world outside the military. I can only hope that my story may prevent some other soldier from making the same mistake I did. I love the army and want to serve my country, but I despise lying and need do what is right, and can only hope that I can salvage something good from all this. ARTICLE 5 Tomorrow's Army, "Interact, Build Trust" Ed.: Excellent thought on mission creep and lessons ignored. By J. David Galland The Chief United Nations War Crimes Prosecutor, Carla DelPonte, is not happy. This is evidenced by her harsh criticism of the NATO led "peacekeeping forces", for not doing enough, in her opinion, to pursue accused war criminals in Bosnia. This very task, advocated by DelPonte, as, "current mission", only weeks ago constituted, "mission creep". Now, wait just a minute here, who is in charge? While DelPonte grumbles about, "criminals, running amok, in Yugoslavia", back at beautiful Fort Lewis, Washington, far from the fray, the U. S. Army is honing its warrior skills by training, "to not offend". I am sorry, but this is true. This newly engineered Army doctrine, and these redefined training goals, are being implemented at Fort Lewis, Washington, under the watchful eye of Brigadier General Paul Eaton. American soldiers, "are being trained to interact and build trust with the native populations", according to Eaton. Soldiers have always interacted with the native populations, everywhere they have been. Some of this interaction has lead to marriage, some to death, and some, a trip to the local dispensary. However, pleasant interaction is not why soldiers are issued weapons, ammunition, hand-grenades, and ultimately live a great deal of their life under the weight of a Kevlar helmet. I wish I had a dollar for every time, during my thirty plus year military career, that I watched, as the wheel was re-invented by some sharp, or otherwise self-serving, military officer. Currently, as the Army strives to re-define its role in this world, it has suddenly determined that it needs a rapidly deployable Army division, of about 14,000 soldiers. Back in 1985, when I was in the rapidly deployable, 7th Infantry Division, light, at Fort Ord, California, I thought that was our mandate. These "minuteman" soldiers could go anywhere in the world and solve any downtrodden, "toilet bowl of a country's", problems within a mere five days notice. What are we talking about here? Are military leaders actually so dumb to think that a force that can be deployed to, "chase away the bad guys away from", and will be capable of effecting political, cultural, and demographic change, in a matter of weeks. Then the soldiers just hop on an airplane and return to home and hearth? If you believe that one then guess what walnut shell the pea is under? In reality, this translates into is another low intensity quagmire, just like the one that led to the horribly divisive mess known as Vietnam. Remember that one? American leaders pursued a failed political, and resultant thereof, unsuccessful military policy in Vietnam. Doesn't anyone reflect back to the turbulent times of the not-too-distant past? Take a minute to review the years 1965 to 1971, while America was embroiled in Vietnam. No, it was not just a bad dream! It really happened, I was there! That chronological period, "65-71", of "lack of enlightenment" close to six years worth, mirrors the calendar as to how long American soldiers, in large forces, have been mired in what "used to be" Yugoslavia. Sound a little similar? Remember the, "home by Christmas 1995", promises?.........."Psych"! Clearly, this illustrates that "tunnel-vision, and memory loss" are rampant in the military. When I read the comments, of the deputy-commanding general for transformation, at Fort Lewis, General Eaton, it is apparent that Eaton has an advanced chronic case of "CRS", and I can go on to name a few more Flag Officers, whom I have my doubts about. General Eaton was quoted in the Seattle newspaper as saying, "among the things this force can do is a police action, we can respond that way if the nation should ask us". What nation? Does this mean that if Judge Carla DelPonte wants to call 911, for example, she just picks up the telephone and "orders-up" a mobile police force? Maybe she could call General Eaton if the price of a Calzone Pizza skyrockets, back in her Italian neighborhood. Sounds like it to me, and I don't like it! The prudent taxpayer and defense analyst must ask, what justifies the development of this force? What warrants the design and implementation of the unique equipment the Army "thinks" it may need? Specifically, a newly designed light wheeled fighting vehicle! Furthermore, why is an American military force training to "better, kick down a door and best use plastic handcuffs". It is quite apparent that senior Army leaders want to field an, "on-call", police force style, SWAT team that will include in its training focus, "achieving the balance between timidity and aggression". As the same time, the hype concept fuels the lucrative defense contractor's lust for research and development contracts. The new force should be, "Good-to-Go", to give those warlords, mass-murderers, ethnic cleansers, despotic maniacs, heavy handed strongmen and corrupt politicians, what they really deserve, in the year 2003. So we must ask, " Who ya' gonna call"? Don't call the eighty percent of the enlisted soldiers, who transferred out of the 3rd Brigade, of the 2nd Infantry Division, at Fort Lewis, Washington. They got out of the "AO", before they got caught up in this idiotic experiment. Don't call most of the officers, who were in the unit, either. Only forty-five of the officers remained with the entire Brigade, according to Lieutenant Colonel Dana Pittard, of Fort Lewis. Should military leaders be concerned about this? I can only pray -- you bet they should! ARTICLE 6 Air Force: We’re working like every Day is a Day at War Ed.: This has been a problem for the last thirty years. We’re working people into the ground, even when we’re not deployed into combat…and we’re driving many good ones out. Of course, we label them whiners because we don’t want to listen to the truth. By a USAF SSgt Just would like to add to the USAF NCO departure file... I have been in the USAF since 1986. I have been stationed at 7 different bases during that time. Three have closed, two have re-aligned, and two built up. I perform emergency responses for aircraft emergencies (among other things). Some of those responses I'd rather not remember... I have four medals awarded for conduct "under fire" during these responses. I have three long overseas tours (10 years). I have made NCO of the Year for my AFSC (MOS if you will) at three different facilities. I have near perfect performance reports. I've been recommended for an extra "stripe for exceptional performance". I have worked joint forces at nearly all of my assignments. Two "Joint Spouse" assignments cancelled because "USAF comes first." My last assignment, my wife stayed TDY to parts unknown for three years. We both volunteered for a Joint Spouse to any short tour remote in the USAF (to be honest with you, so we could get it out of the way). They turned us down, and sent us non-volunteer to the states. I have worked 12 hours shifts for 14 years now, and we are currently working an average of four on, one off. The mantra is the same, "We're under-manned", "No money". Our duty section at my current assignment has had a $0.00 budget for two years now. Lost one marriage, and nearly this one, because I tried to live the "Service Before Self" crap. I work in a hanger that leaks like a sieve. And I am still an E5... So, this year, we are attempting to go to the Air National Guard. And the response from some of my management? "Why do you want to throw away 15 years?" Throw away indeed... Granted, I didn't live in a foxhole, or live off of MREs, or face potential/actual hostile fire, as did my wife, and others. My fun meter is pegged. To add to the insult, I had a young 2LT ask me yesterday how I liked the USAF. What could I say? Forgive me if I whine, but enough is enough. We're not at war, yet we insist on working our people to death like we are. With no parts, 40 year old aircraft, and no money... I've said my peace. Thank you for your time and thanks for carrying the torch for us. I can only imagine how things are for my fellow service members in the other DOD components... *COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] Want to be on our lists? Write at [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a menu of our lists! <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. 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