I disagree. Putting the POTUS in an embarassing situation. If I were his superior, he would receive counselling.
President forgets the U.S. Coast Guard
- Thread starter LineInTheSand
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POTUS put himself in an embarrassing situation....or at least his speech writer did.
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Egads...
I'm going to do it twice in the same month...I'm going to agree with Mongo!
If I were his CC...I'd have a serious "closed door" session with the transgressor. While I can understand his pride and the desire to remind everyone that the "coasties" are on the front line...
You do NOT "disrespect" the POTUS and by shouting out like that, it's probably borderline disrespect. I don't "personally" think so but I know a bunch of "more senior than I" folks that have really tight...er...well, their panties would be in a knot because of this.
We'd "discuss" it behind closed doors.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
I'm going to do it twice in the same month...I'm going to agree with Mongo!
If I were his CC...I'd have a serious "closed door" session with the transgressor. While I can understand his pride and the desire to remind everyone that the "coasties" are on the front line...
You do NOT "disrespect" the POTUS and by shouting out like that, it's probably borderline disrespect. I don't "personally" think so but I know a bunch of "more senior than I" folks that have really tight...er...well, their panties would be in a knot because of this.
We'd "discuss" it behind closed doors.
Steve
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Certainly didn't bother the O-6s and GS-15s I talked to this morning.
Christcorp
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Love you brother, but I don't think disrespect or embarrassment was in the cards here at all. As with most things in life, "CONTEXT" is important. I've told my mom "I love you" in such a manner that resulted in a wooden spoon across the bottom. If Mr. Obama had been making a formal speech or briefing, and overlooked a branch of service or something similar, and someone shouted out trying to "Correct Him", I would agree. But this was a "Moral Moment". Mr. Obama was doing a "Shout-Out". The proper response by Obama, and what was probably expected by the costies in attendance, would have been a simple: "Doh! You're right. HooRah Coast Guard!!!!". Or something similar. Only because Obama didn't know how to respond properly and admit/cover his oversight, did it "Appear" to be uncomfortable. It was a "Shout-Out". There was nothing wrong with the coasties shouting out their presence. I think if Obama would have responded appropriately, this wouldn't have even been a story.Egads...
I'm going to do it twice in the same month...I'm going to agree with Mongo!
If I were his CC...I'd have a serious "closed door" session with the transgressor. While I can understand his pride and the desire to remind everyone that the "coasties" are on the front line...
You do NOT "disrespect" the POTUS and by shouting out like that, it's probably borderline disrespect. I don't "personally" think so but I know a bunch of "more senior than I" folks that have really tight...er...well, their panties would be in a knot because of this.
We'd "discuss" it behind closed doors.
Steve
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Exactly, all could have been salvaged had he replyed correctly. Unforunately for the President and the 40,000 service members he forgot, he didn't.
Dunvegan05
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Didn't bother the O-7 I talked to either. I did find out the unit commander's name....old teacher of mine. He can expect a nice care package coming his way for the holidays.
Just_A_Mom
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12/28 posts = mountain out of a molehill.
We get it. You are personally offended and take pride in one of your fellow Coasties attempting to embarrass his CIC.
Just curious - how many Coasties were actually in attendance?
We get it. You are personally offended and take pride in one of your fellow Coasties attempting to embarrass his CIC.
Just curious - how many Coasties were actually in attendance?
SamAca10
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Sigh...JAM he was trying to correct the CIC, not embarrass him. Please accept that fact and stop.
What I find really ironic about the whole Middle East situation though is that people in the Coast Guard volunteer to go over there (and it's competitive).
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I would just like to point out that LITS is not making a mountain out of a molehill. Often, the Coast Guard is forgotten, and that's okay, we do our job well and recognition is not important. However, when the very FIRST person in your Chain of Command fails to recognize the sacrifice you're making, that's a slap in the face. Like Sam said, 100% of the Coasties in Afghanistan and the Middle East volunteered to go over there through a highly selective process.
Actually, I think I am more upset about the fact that he stated "I think we have everyone represented here tonight from all branches." It is not just that he forgot that the Coasties were in Afghanistan, he forgot that the USCG is a branch of the military.
And also continuing the 'mountain out of a molehill". The President has a staff. This staff, including military aides, is responsible for writing his speeches and also preventing him from making gaffes such as this. Do you honestly think that the President of the United States knows the manpower composition of each and every military base at which US troops are stationed? I, for one, certainly hopes that he has more important things to occupy his time.
scoutpilot
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Oh, it's the opposite of the Army, is it? I guess I missed the draft notice that made all those soldiers enlist in the volunteer Army over the past decade of conflict. Please, tell me more. I'm interested to hear this from your perspective.
Christcorp
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Oh, you are too funny. I was having a "Ho-Hum" day today. You made me laugh. Thanks. You are too funny.
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I honestly believe he has people around him that know the answer to that. I assume you've received a "white house" call before requesting information....they make them all the time.
I'm sure he has many other things to occupy himself with, like the economy...leaks....North Korea....Iran.....etc etc etc.
It's winter....too cold for beer summits and the campaign season is over.
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He's referring that they have to specifically volunteer for units continuously in the NAG, not that soldiers are volunteers. I can tell you my friend with the Tennessee National Guard didn't join the TN National Guard because they were already in the Middle East, he joined to serve it it took him there. I'm proud of his service.
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I'm sure I was offended as much as you would be if I started quoting ASVAB scores for each service.
SamAca10
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Right.
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SamAca10
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LITS explained it well. From what I've heard from officers around here, it's a competitive program that members of the Coast Guard have to apply for.
I am in no way insulting those who've made the ultimate sacrafice- or even those who've lost valuable time with family, or those who suffered injuries (whether physical or psychological) in the Middle East. But talking to people from my hometown who have either enlisted in the army, are doing ROTC, or my best friend (who is a 4/c at West Point), no one who I've spoken to wants to have to go over there.
In a sense, what I'm saying here is that it is a sort of catch 22; the people who I have talked to joined the army volunteered. They knew what they were getting into, the risks. Even my friends who joined the National Guard or the Reserves, which have served a greater role in this conflict than ever before.
I hope that you see what point I was getting at, and it wasn't meant to be offensive. When we raise our hands and take that oath to uphold and defend the Constitution we may not always know what we are in for, but we have to accept that it might lead us to something that we wouldn't want to be doing. Service implies Sacrifice, it isn't all about the educational benefits and such.
SamAca10
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Track is right, it WAS a slap in the face. When the chief yelled out Coast Guard, the President didn't even acknowledge it. Instead, he just grinned and started chuckling. Truth be told, it was his reaction that was more insulting than him not actually mentioning the Coast Guard. I'm not saying that he needs to know "the manpower composition of each and every military base at which US troops are stationed", but he should know the ones that he visits. But perhaps that's a staff error, right?
I don't have a problem with our service being the most ignored. I'm content with doing my job well quietly, a trait that I've noticed that is common throughout the Coast Guard in the short amount of time that I've been in the service. But for the CIC to just ignore us and laugh when we're mention is rather insulting