Absolutely on target. It will be what it will be and it's not doing anyone any service to spin around in a tizzy speculating on what may or may not happen.Nothing has changed. Everybody still needs plan B and C just like last week and needs to be worrying about what they can control/affect and not worry about that which they have no control over.
MemberLG said:So get rid of poor performing ROTC programs.
Absolutely on target. It will be what it will be and it's not doing anyone any service to spin around in a tizzy speculating on what may or may not happen.
Absolutely on target. It will be what it will be and it's not doing anyone any service to spin around in a tizzy speculating on what may or may not happen.
Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes..."Life is what happens while were busy making plans"
While I have nothing but the finest admiration for both you and bruno, we disagree philosophically on this point.
When my DS was evaluating options last year between 4-Yr Army ROTC Scholarship and SA, one of the issues that came up in the analysis (and there were MANY) was what is the likelihood of earning an active-duty slot upon graduation. This is now a moot point, because he is absolutely thrilled with his decision to go the USMA route. But I would be willing to bet that the percentage of USMA grads gaining active duty slots will be greater than those coming from ROTC (I see more ROTC folks being forced into the National Guard, Reserves, IRR in the next several years). Relatively speaking, of course because the commissioning pool for ROTC is much greater than USMA or the other SAs. I could be wrong, though.
The fact is that candidates have to make decisions TODAY about which commissioning path to follow based on information received TODAY about what conditions will look like in 2016!!!! Simply waiting around until 2016 to see what happens is, at least in my view, NOT the right approach. In 2016, it is too late to go back and start over.
The fact is that with all the budget problems that presented themselves last year, the predictions for this year have been EXACTLY on target. While I do not have a crystal ball for 2016, I highly expect that it will involve a smaller Defense budget, with a resultant reduction in the officer ranks.
Advising folks to "just go with the flow" is not the right approach in my humble opinion.
While I have nothing but the finest admiration for both you and bruno, we disagree philosophically on this point.
When my DS was evaluating options last year between 4-Yr Army ROTC Scholarship and SA, one of the issues that came up in the analysis (and there were MANY) was what is the likelihood of earning an active-duty slot upon graduation. This is now a moot point, because he is absolutely thrilled with his decision to go the USMA route. But I would be willing to bet that the percentage of USMA grads gaining active duty slots will be greater than those coming from ROTC (I see more ROTC folks being forced into the National Guard, Reserves, IRR in the next several years). Relatively speaking, of course because the commissioning pool for ROTC is much greater than USMA or the other SAs. I could be wrong, though.
The fact is that candidates have to make decisions TODAY about which commissioning path to follow based on information received TODAY about what conditions will look like in 2016!!!! Simply waiting around until 2016 to see what happens is, at least in my view, NOT the right approach. In 2016, it is too late to go back and start over.
The fact is that with all the budget problems that presented themselves last year, the predictions for this year have been EXACTLY on target. While I do not have a crystal ball for 2016, I highly expect that it will involve a smaller Defense budget, with a resultant reduction in the officer ranks.
Advising folks to "just go with the flow" is not the right approach in my humble opinion.
It will be different soon enough if this stalemate continues.
What boggles my mind is everyone's assumption that it will be settled and have no impact.
The MOCs leave for Xmas break in a few short weeks.
I see nothing that illustrates that either side will give in, which means the DOD will remain with a 1.1 TN cut or 110 BN a yr.
If that is the case, a lot has changed today from yesterday.
Been here for a while now, and I will say history repeats itself. Army is showing in small tell tale signs they are cutting. Less HSSP recipients, cutting ROTC cadets and reducing AD ranks, (nominally, but still cutting). AFROTC showed the exact same thing 3 yrs ago for 13.
Pima said:A crappy commander can sink the morale of the unit, which sinks everything.
Think of it like football, the coach can make or break the team.
scoutpilot said:None of us knows what will happen. But if cutting ROTC saves training dollars for the active force, I'm all for it.
Jcleppe,
There is a lot of fraud, waste and abuse in the system.
Sadly I am afraid that it is asking too much. The government is truly a disfunctional organization on most fronts and when it comes to financial management, you absolutely can include the military in that assessment.OK, I'm going completely Off Topic for this, forgive me my rant.
Looking at the DoD budget from a personal stand point can bring tears to your eyes. My last command was a procurement office. I still can't comprehend the waste. Even today it can make your head spin.
... The old joke about the military buying a $200.00 hammer is not far from the truth. I just wish those controlling the budget purse strings would start by using some common sense. Might be asking too much of them.
I thought he was a veteran of the Air Force.