Is this a good idea? Could it even work?
I've already said numerous times that I was never in any of the armed forces. Many of you already have. Thank you. Some of you currently are. Thank you. Others, like myself, have not had the honor or privilege to do so.
Granted, I'm in my mid-fifties, a bit overweight but otherwise in good shape. Yes, I wear glasses and I don't move near as fast as I used to which, truthfully, wasn't all that fast to begin with.
But, I believe my heart is still in the right place and my intentions noble and so I came up with (concocted?) this idea to help augment our miltary's effectiveness. I'm positive that there are many others who feel likewise. More than we may realize.
What if paunchy, overaged guys like me who have several very appreciable skills - mine are repair, maintenance and cooking - could enter into a U.S. Government-sponsored program that would enable us to be in the military on limited active duty for let's say 6 to 8 months, go wherever we're needed, and help with all of the pedestrian and mundane tasks that are currently being done by real soldiers and sailors? I'm not talking "contractor" here. I'm specifically saying part of the branch of service.
That would free up real fighting forces from these jobs and also allow guys like me and others, including women, to make a viable contribution to preserving our Nation's freedom and liberty in the process.
Yes, I'm certainly not fighting material and no, I don't think I'd be of much use in a combat situation BUT that's not what this hypothetical program would be about. Yes, someone like me could very well get wounded or killed but that's no different that what everyone in service is faced with. I'm certainly no better than them.
Take meal preparation, serving and the cleanup afterwards. How many hours and people does it require (occupy) at every base?
Routine base maintenance. Repair work. Fabrication. Tooling. Latrine digging. Etc.
The U.S. Government could seriously restrict any benefits so that someone who does serve in this limited capacity would be covered only during the timeframe in which he or she served, unless wounded. No death or burial benefits. No VA Hospital benefits later on. That would help keep the cost of benefits down and also ensure that the real fighting soldiers and sailors would continue to receive their package.
Before anyone flames me or gets this thread poofed, I respectfully ask you to consider all of the pros and cons first. With all of the folks like myself who have never served and who are in decent health, this could be a big program. A fresh supply of "helpers" or "service workers" to free up our troops.
Can someone like me make a worthwhile on-site real-life contribution to those who are serving and possibly in harm's way or about to be?
Your thoughts? Opinions?
Granted, I'm in my mid-fifties, a bit overweight but otherwise in good shape. Yes, I wear glasses and I don't move near as fast as I used to which, truthfully, wasn't all that fast to begin with.
But, I believe my heart is still in the right place and my intentions noble and so I came up with (concocted?) this idea to help augment our miltary's effectiveness. I'm positive that there are many others who feel likewise. More than we may realize.
What if paunchy, overaged guys like me who have several very appreciable skills - mine are repair, maintenance and cooking - could enter into a U.S. Government-sponsored program that would enable us to be in the military on limited active duty for let's say 6 to 8 months, go wherever we're needed, and help with all of the pedestrian and mundane tasks that are currently being done by real soldiers and sailors? I'm not talking "contractor" here. I'm specifically saying part of the branch of service.
That would free up real fighting forces from these jobs and also allow guys like me and others, including women, to make a viable contribution to preserving our Nation's freedom and liberty in the process.
Yes, I'm certainly not fighting material and no, I don't think I'd be of much use in a combat situation BUT that's not what this hypothetical program would be about. Yes, someone like me could very well get wounded or killed but that's no different that what everyone in service is faced with. I'm certainly no better than them.
Take meal preparation, serving and the cleanup afterwards. How many hours and people does it require (occupy) at every base?
Routine base maintenance. Repair work. Fabrication. Tooling. Latrine digging. Etc.
The U.S. Government could seriously restrict any benefits so that someone who does serve in this limited capacity would be covered only during the timeframe in which he or she served, unless wounded. No death or burial benefits. No VA Hospital benefits later on. That would help keep the cost of benefits down and also ensure that the real fighting soldiers and sailors would continue to receive their package.
Before anyone flames me or gets this thread poofed, I respectfully ask you to consider all of the pros and cons first. With all of the folks like myself who have never served and who are in decent health, this could be a big program. A fresh supply of "helpers" or "service workers" to free up our troops.
Can someone like me make a worthwhile on-site real-life contribution to those who are serving and possibly in harm's way or about to be?
Your thoughts? Opinions?
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Most military bases hire a considerable amount of "civilian" labor[ other than getting involved with security clearance material, I'd say any expansion of the labor pool, particularly in skilled areas would be good. Your idea is worth pursueing. 0 -
I've Served, but I'm up for it.
D.0 -
great idea, but in theater, civvies like you and me would only be a liability to them if the SHTF. plus, youu have to consider the fact that they couldn't make you do what they want, when where and how they want. what if you decided to just walk off the job? or had to run back home for a while to take care of the family? that's not reliable enough. they probably have reasons for doing things the way they do. 0 -
Kind of a cool idea. I might be in for something like that. Sort of like a US military Peace Corp thing. 0 -
I have Reserves over here in the Pacific from the States for their 2 weeks of annual time to put in....we get them occasionally over here. These folks have been playing the game for a long time and should know what they are supposed to do, but today they delayed an aircraft.
They can't even operate a forklift proficiently/safely.
If we have Reserves that are hurting the mission (we HAVE to let them work with us)....I wouldn't want someone temporary hired temporarily working the mission.
Just another person you need to babysit and dedicate knowledgable people to.
I have lots of people to babysit. They give me E-6's to be the boss....they are in upgrade training and have absolutely no knowledge on what we do and as soon as we get a greeny we have to spend months training him.
Then he leaves and we start all over with the next moron. The amount of money the Govt. wastes on it's failure designed personnel system is utterly sickening,
We have Australian's working on and flying our C-17's...you see they are buying some. Now we have to waste our time and resources to train another countries people while we are losing out on training our own air crews. This Aussie pilot dropped our C-17 from about 20,000 feet straight down to land it...we all thought for sure we were going to be scraping up pieces...dang thing held together.
Don't mess up a failing system worse than it is.0 -
It is much harder to indoctrinate a middle-aged person than it is a 20 yr old. Also, middle-aged folks used to thinking for themselves and being able to speak freely (most of the time) would contribute to a breakdown in discipline. The middle-aged people already in the military have been a part of the system most of their adult lives. 0 -
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"Rosie the Riveter" worked great in WWII when there was a greater demand for "'Man Power" on the fighting fronts..0 -
Classic, Rosie worked on the home front and much of industry was mobilized for the war effort. Bush is trying to fight this war on the cheap with hardly anyone sacrificing except the families' of the troops. 0 -
To clarify my idea, I'm not suggesting that the service "hire" me. Rather, I'm officially sworn in, lowest grade/class private or seaman, get token or reduced military pay and have to salute, take orders, be disciplined if necessary, etc.
No free ride here. No sloughing off or dereliction of duty. Just not a "fighting" soldier or sailor, not combat-eligible, as a guy my age WOULD no doubt be a liability on the front or wherever there's actual combat.
And, if I were working in the mess tent and a bomb hit it, oh well...
Cant' have it both ways.
I believe that despite our age and often slow-moving intentions, guys and gals that aren't suitable for fighting can still actively contribute and make a big difference alongside our troops.0 -
Check to see if your state has a State Defense Force like Virginia, Maryland, and other states do. They can use all the help they can get. Here is the info for VA's:
http://www.virginiadefenseforce.org/0 -
That's a great idea. 0 -
good ideal thats why it will never happen 0 -
I think it is a nobel idea, but...
1. The current situation is not as bad as it is painted day in and day out.
2. I really wouldn't want to let the liberal media get ahold of "George Bush Drafting Americas' Seniors" Or however it would be spun. If you would like to make a difference you can surf the web, or contact a local military base and "adopt" a military member who is overseas. You can send him stuff, and write letters to him and all of that.0 -
I have Reserves over here in the Pacific from the States for their 2 weeks of annual time to put in....we get them occasionally over here. These folks have been playing the game for a long time and should know what they are supposed to do, but today they delayed an aircraft.
They can't even operate a forklift proficiently/safely.
If we have Reserves that are hurting the mission (we HAVE to let them work with us)....I wouldn't want someone temporary hired temporarily working the mission.
Just another person you need to babysit and dedicate knowledgable people to.
I have lots of people to babysit. They give me E-6's to be the boss....they are in upgrade training and have absolutely no knowledge on what we do and as soon as we get a greeny we have to spend months training him.
Then he leaves and we start all over with the next moron. The amount of money the Govt. wastes on it's failure designed personnel system is utterly sickening,
We have Australian's working on and flying our C-17's...you see they are buying some. Now we have to waste our time and resources to train another countries people while we are losing out on training our own air crews. This Aussie pilot dropped our C-17 from about 20,000 feet straight down to land it...we all thought for sure we were going to be scraping up pieces...dang thing held together.
Don't mess up a failing system worse than it is.
Obiwan- I can't speak for the "Moron Reservists" that you've had the displeasure of working with but I can speak for myself and the Reservists that I have worked with and I take offense to your post. I have over 20 years experience with the ANG and although I may be a "weekend warrior" I also have 20 years full time experience maintaining aircraft on the civilian side. Most of the people I work with in the ANG have a heck of a lot more experience than our active duty brothers. Whenever we have deployed with our AEF we usually have the highest FMC rate in our AEF. We have lower turnover and a higher maturity level which means more jets available to meet the days flying schedule. I couldn't begin to tell you stories I've witnessed seeing some of the boneheaded mistakes coming from the active duty side. While I mean do disrespect to the active duty side of the Air Force I do take exception to the generalization of reservists as morons.0 -
I'll agree that your heart is in the right place, and there is no reason your idea wouldn't work, but it's not likely to happen. A program like that isn't really necessary now because all those billets are filled by civilian employees or contractors.
In 2001 I was entertaining the thought of volunteering for recall to active duty. I too was thinking I'm not dead yet and there are a few jobs I can still do. Then I saw a copy of a letter from two Marines volunteering to come out of retirement, and the reply from the Chief of Naval Personnel. You could tell the Admiral was trying to be as respectful and gentle as possible, but I was embarrassed for the Marines. When you cut through all the extraneous BS, it boiled down to "You old farts would be in the way". I was grateful the Marines saved me the humiliation.
Probably the best way for us to contribute now is to just pay our taxes.0 -
I like the idea of "Adopting a serviceman/woman" but you could take it one step further and adopt a service member's family too. We all know the families struggle, maybe you could adaopt them and help out in some way. Some could help out around the house with any maintenance, drop off some groceries every once in awhile, whatever. Something that would go a long ways for the families, and the active duty personel in showing you care and are behind them.
Just a thought.0 -
What they really ought to use us older folks for are "cannon fodder", so to speak.
Toss us in the most dangerous areas so the young ones have a better chance of getting home to their spouses and kids.
No need for a lot of elaborate training-nor would I want to put up with it at my age. Most guys my age that are not in prison or dead already have decent self-preservation skills. Just point us in a direction and tell us to go kill. Those left could meet at a beer tent afterward. Payment for a job well done.
Maybe and/or an even better idea is to allow those in prison to work off some of their sentences by doing the same with them. Save the patriotic youngsters to run the liberals out of office. When they get old, they can join us.
While a little far fetched, I hate to hear of these young servicemen and women killed, especially those with small kids. My kids are 12 and 14 and I am retired (for now) so my family has some steady, regular income.0 -
quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
good ideal thats why it will never happen
Well the Politicians would require the old folks serve up front in the hot areas. Their thinking would include, hey if they get killed NO social security.. and then the Politicians could give themselves a raise.0 -
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
good ideal thats why it will never happen
Well the Politicians would require the old folks serve up front in the hot areas. Their thinking would include, hey if they get killed NO social security.. and then the Politicians could give themselves a raise.
They'll give themselves a raise anyway.0 -
They could call us the OFB (Old Farts Brigade). 0 -
Are you recommending something like the SeaBees of WW2? 0
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