Defense Department Budget Cuts

[kinnem]

Do you know what exactly is going on? I have been mad about the cuts in defense spending since I was eight or nine, and then my parents didn't even know what was going on. It wouldn't have affected me, or so I thought then, but this is just something that I have been worried about, especially now that I am working on getting into West Point. I am just trying to figure all of this out.

Ashleigh

This is simple. The size of the Army is being reduced and therefore fewer 2LTs will be needed. That being said, no one meeting standards at USMA is going to be cut, but if you're not meeting standards, your not meeting standards. It's part of your contract, and like the rest of the world, if your not performing to your contract, you lose. In the past people got multiple chances to perform up to standard... not anymore.

 

[USMA2020]

Thanks so much. That helped. I mean, I was thinking about this, sort of, today, but I didn't really know the details.

By the way, I love the profile picture. I take it you are from SC? What part? I live in Cayce, which is right outside of West Columbia.

Ashleigh

 

[BigNick]

To be brief - if you are meeting the Cadet standards you have NOTHING to worry about. If you are failing academically or commit some serious dicipline infraction, you are in trouble.
This is also the way it is in the Army. Do your job and stay out of trouble and you will have no worries.

 

[USMA2020]

To be brief - if you are meeting the Cadet standards you have NOTHING to worry about. If you are failing academically or commit some serious dicipline infraction, you are in trouble.
This is also the way it is in the Army. Do your job and stay out of trouble and you will have no worries.

This makes sense, I just am worried about getting the grades in math, everything else is fine, although they could go up some.

Ashleigh

 

[scoutpilot]

Since I'm guessing you're only about 15 now, I'm not sure what defense spending cuts you've been "mad about" since you were eight or nine, as we were spending money hand over fist on our military 6 years ago.

 

[USMA2020]

Since I'm guessing you're only about 15 now, I'm not sure what defense spending cuts you've been "mad about" since you were eight or nine, as we were spending money hand over fist on our military 6 years ago.

I am 14. I heard President Obama talking about them when he was running, and I was nine then. And I have gotten angrier the more it happened.

Ashleigh

 

[another13mom]

Ashleigh, I think it's great that at the age of 14, you are setting goals and want to attend a Service Academy - and that you have recognized the need to work on your math skills and to keep up with your studies. At this point in your high school career, there are many resources available to you to read and learn about attending a service academy, serving in the Army and American and world history. I would recommend that you find these books at your public library so that you can take the initiative in learning as much as you can on your own. As for the cuts, given the fact that we have been in two back to back wars, and are about to leave the second, this will hopefully be a time when we can cut back defense spending in an orderly fashion to help reduce the debt your generation will face.

For the effect on cuts in the early 90's, which appear to mirror the current proposals, I found this interesting article about USMA. Perhaps you may want to read it. http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...zFZGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nSMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4730,434787

 

[USMA2020]

Ashleigh, I think it's great that at the age of 14, you are setting goals and want to attend a Service Academy - and that you have recognized the need to work on your math skills and to keep up with your studies. At this point in your high school career, there are many resources available to you to read and learn about attending a service academy, serving in the Army and American and world history. I would recommend that you find these books at your public library so that you can take the initiative in learning as much as you can on your own. As for the cuts, given the fact that we have been in two back to back wars, and are about to leave the second, this will hopefully be a time when we can cut back defense spending in an orderly fashion to help reduce the debt your generation will face.

For the effect on cuts in the early 90's, which appear to mirror the current proposals, I found this interesting article about USMA. Perhaps you may want to read it. http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...zFZGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nSMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4730,434787

Thanks. I can't believe I want to, it was totally unexpected when God showed me this, and now I am really excited about the prospect. I work there two hours a week, so I have checked out just about everything in the library. I understand that.

Thanks. I will read it.

Ashleigh

 

[BigBear]

In the latest round of budget cuts, academic departments have been told to stop using paper if at all possible. Guess who has to print everything out before class now?

 

[scoutpilot]

In the latest round of budget cuts, academic departments have been told to stop using paper if at all possible. Guess who has to print everything out before class now?

Don't feel bad. Such things are happening all over. Of course, a lot of it is "leadership" leaning about 10 degrees too far forward in the foxhole.

 

[scoutpilot]

I am 14. I heard President Obama talking about them when he was running, and I was nine then. And I have gotten angrier the more it happened.

Ashleigh

Yeah....don't do that. Not a wise or well-reasoned approach.

 

[robinhood17]

the paper thing will be interesting. They announced today that public printing in the library is now a no-go because of costs. so now we are using company printers which run out of paper very quickly...plus classes requiring you to print 100+ pages of material, reading, worksheets, essays, etc and goldcoats that is very slow if not impossible to get your printer to if there are problems (which many of them are broken).

Cadets rely heavily on those printers in the library, I'm a little interested to see how that combination turns out.

 

[BigBear]

I suppose this may give the iPad idea some more momentum - long term paper/ink savings, plus cheaper textbooks!

 

[USMA2020]

What part of it? Getting angry? If so, I know, and I am working on it. I have started to become more reasonable.

Ashleigh

 

[USMA2020]

the paper thing will be interesting. They announced today that public printing in the library is now a no-go because of costs. so now we are using company printers which run out of paper very quickly...plus classes requiring you to print 100+ pages of material, reading, worksheets, essays, etc and goldcoats that is very slow if not impossible to get your printer to if there are problems (which many of them are broken).

Cadets rely heavily on those printers in the library, I'm a little interested to see how that combination turns out.

What is going on? I know this will affect me, so I am trying to figure it out. I know just how much trouble I have with our public library printing, so I can't imagine all of that.

Ashleigh

 

[BigBear]

What is going on? I know this will affect me, so I am trying to figure it out. I know just how much trouble I have with our public library printing, so I can't imagine all of that.

Ashleigh

Due to the looming sequestration (pretty significant budget cuts), funding for almost everything at west point is being cut right now. That means AIADs and trips are being re-examined, altered, or canceled, Academic departments are being told to conserve paper by not printing anything (which means we have to print their handouts for them and bring them to class), the number of floaters at each meal is increasing (at least it appears to be), summer training objectives are being re-examined, altered, or canceld, and, probably most important for you (USMA2020), class size is being reduced

 

[LineInTheSand]

Sounds like accountability has reared its head in DOD.

 

[MemberLG]

the paper thing will be interesting. They announced today that public printing in the library is now a no-go because of costs. so now we are using company printers which run out of paper very quickly...plus classes requiring you to print 100+ pages of material, reading, worksheets, essays, etc and goldcoats that is very slow if not impossible to get your printer to if there are problems (which many of them are broken).

Cadets rely heavily on those printers in the library, I'm a little interested to see how that combination turns out.

I wonder what students at normal colleges do, ones without computer labs with printers or dorm printers?

 

[LineInTheSand]

What part of it? Getting angry? If so, I know, and I am working on it. I have started to become more reasonable.

Ashleigh

No, "not a wise or well-reasoned approach" is believing what the President says in prime time, especially on T.V. or in debates.

 

[LineInTheSand]

The "paper thing" is nothing new in the federal government. About 3-5 years ago agencies were told to cut back on their paper usage. It wasn't new, just new found "resolve" to tell people to do it.