Current SA/ROTC Cadets: Sorry you missed the fun

To current active duty:

You are going to serve in a poor military. Oh and if you get out, better have a plan because jobs aren't easy to find either!
 
To current active duty:

You are going to serve in a poor military. Oh and if you get out, better have a plan because jobs aren't easy to find either!

I haven't had a single friend have trouble finding work. Hopefully I'm as lucky.
 
http://defense.aol.com/2013/02/05/army-sequester-cr-mean-78-of-brigades-must-skip-training/

You all are going to be heading into a very poor military. Sorry you missed the good ol' days.

That's going to be ugly - it's kind of a "back to the future" scenario because that is exactly the situation the military was in during the Carter years. When I got to my first unit, we only had 2 squads in every platoon, and each company only had 2 platoon leaders. Our team leaders and often squad leaders were often Acting Jacks one or two grades lower and the equipment was left over Vietnam stuff-(Try keeping a "mule" running for more than one day or keep a 15 year old PRC-77 functioning for an entire field problem - those old enough to recognize those names appreciate what I'm talking about)- there was not enough of anything and what we had was not very good. Those were not good old days by any stretch of the imagination . But- within a few years an awful lot changed and the Army got a lot better fast as a result. Hang in there- this too will pass.
 
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That's going to be ugly - it's kind of a "back to the future" scenario because that is exactly the situation the military was in during the Carter years. When I got to my first unit, we only had 2 squads in every platoon, and each company only had 2 platoon leaders. Our team leaders and often squad leaders were often Acting Jacks one or two grades lower and the equipment was left over Vietnam stuff-(Try keeping a "mule" running for more than one day or keep a 15 year old PRC-77 functioning for an entire field problem - those old enough to recognize those names appreciate what I'm talking about)- there was not enough of anything and what we had was not very good. Those were not good old days by any stretch of the imagination . But- within a few years an awful lot changed and the Army got a lot better fast as a result. Hang in there- this too will pass.

+1 to Bruno
 
http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/feb/5/navy-clip-blue-angels-wings-if-sequester-hits/

Bye Bye Blue Angels!

The memo and an accompanying slide show, sent out by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert last week, show plans to cut all funding for the Blue Angels, the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron and the country’s oldest flying aerobatic team.

Canceling the 30 shows scheduled for that time frame would produce a meager savings of $20 million, but it would also shut down one of its top recruiting tools. The Blue Angels website estimates that 11 million people attend their shows each year.

If Congress can’t reach a deal in the next few weeks, the Navy is prepared to stop deployments to the Caribbean and South American, limit European deployments to only those supporting ballistic missile defense missions, reduce the number of ships and aircraft deployed and reduce the number of days at sea and flying hours across the entire force, according to the memo.

In addition, the Navy would stop training, flying and other operations for the majority of ships and aircraft preparing to deploy, “unless funded by Fleet Commander’s proposed offsets.” Adm. Greenert said the Navy also would consider the possibility of civilian furloughs of up to 22 days
 
Then you've got some very lucky friends. Or you have friends in the DC area (our little hiring bubble).

Nah, I can't think of any in the DC area. Many have gone directly into sales or operations for major firms (Amazon being a big one), some work for Nissan in operations, and few have become lawyers. Many have gone to top B-Schools and are now in nice positions at some big NYC and silicon valley firms. I know of a few people who took the "safety net" route and went to work for Booz Allen, though they left soon after for better gigs. Booz will hire you if you have a DD214 and a heartbeat, it seems.

As to what Bruno said, it's true. Things are getting very ugly, very fast. Aviation takes a big hit in the Flying Hour Program, because flying is damn expensive.
 
Bye Bye Blue Angels!

I saw this internal memo (which makes me curious on how this got leaked out to the press, when there are specific markings on it). On my personal list, that should be the first thing that goes. I'm curious if the Thunderbirds are going to still perform, as well?

I always find it amazing how training is the first thing to get thrown out (either in this case) or during the ACQ process.
 
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I saw this internal memo (which makes me curious on how this got leaked out to the press, when there are specific markings on it). On my personal list, that should be the first thing that goes. I'm curious if the Thunderbirds are going to still perform, as well?

I always find it amazing how training is the first thing to get thrown out (either in this case) or during the ACQ process.

Our local media was reporting this 4 days ago.

As much as we like to see the Blue Angles at our Seafair every year I can sure understand the need to save the money for actual training over Airshows. Makes sense that the T-Birds would follow suit.

I wonder if this will be the end of the Airshows altogether. McChord AFB has a huge semi-annual airshow, free to the public, I imagine that would be on the chopping block as well.

Of course all of this is just the fluff, the ugliest part is the cuts to actual training and equipment, scary times for the Military...again.
 
That's going to be ugly - it's kind of a "back to the future" scenario because that is exactly the situation the military was in during the Carter years. When I got to my first unit, we only had 2 squads in every platoon, and each company only had 2 platoon leaders. Our team leaders and often squad leaders were often Acting Jacks one or two grades lower and the equipment was left over Vietnam stuff-(Try keeping a "mule" running for more than one day or keep a 15 year old PRC-77 functioning for an entire field problem - those old enough to recognize those names appreciate what I'm talking about)- there was not enough of anything and what we had was not very good. Those were not good old days by any stretch of the imagination . But- within a few years an awful lot changed and the Army got a lot better fast as a result. Hang in there- this too will pass.

The CO of TBS (Col) told us in a discussion group that immediately after he showed up to his first platoon, over half of his Marines were 'sepped from the Marines Corps due to (I guess) reenlistment restrictions. This left him with a platoon of one 2ndLt...and 22 PFC-LCpls, all on their first enlistment.

The hope that I've heard repeated from a lot of guys with actual experience in the Navy/USMC is that the current generation of senior officers went through those rough years and will do everything possible to make sure the cuts are less drastic and have a lower impact on readiness than in the past, especially with regards to career designation.

As always, though, I guess we'll see. I'm not in a huge position to do anything about it, but if I could go through my AD time without getting only 20 blanks for a weeklong field exercise/not having any money to put toilet paper in the bathrooms/other horror stories that'd be great.
 
I saw this internal memo (which makes me curious on how this got leaked out to the press, when there are specific markings on it). On my personal list, that should be the first thing that goes. I'm curious if the Thunderbirds are going to still perform, as well?

I always find it amazing how training is the first thing to get thrown out (either in this case) or during the ACQ process.

IMO all this stuff was leaked recently to help for Congress to delay or avoid the sequester. That and $5.00 will buy you a latte.
 
IMO all this stuff was leaked recently to help for Congress to delay or avoid the sequester. That and $5.00 will buy you a latte.

We're dealing with a military where everyone has a SECRET clearance.... do we really think an internal memo, I'm guessing FOUO, won't make it to people who aren't "official?"

The fact of the matter is, this affects FAR MORE than the military. And it trickles down too, especially in the DC area (where I live). Certainly fancy dancing planes can take a back seat to MANY other things.

I used to coordinate the Coast Guard's involvement in the air show at Andrews AFB. Granted, the Coast Guard's involvement was always sad...

After the Army presented 5 slides to the group I would go....

"We anticipate an MH-65, possibly and MH-60. I'm also shooting for two planes."

In the end, CG units would have some SAR case and one of the planes would get pulled, while they've have some many mechanical issues with a helo, that it would get pulled too.

At the end of the day, I was blown away by the scale and the likely price tag. DOD put all military flight crews up in the National Harbor Gaylord hotel (which they of course appreciated) or a few other spots.

Cuts need to be made, and this is a painful way to do it. That said, I'm not sure if Congress and the White House have the will to correct their mistakes in an organized and timely fashion.
 
We're dealing with a military where everyone has a SECRET clearance.... do we really think an internal memo, I'm guessing FOUO, won't make it to people who aren't "official?"

I'm not surprised, but it is disappointing.

Certainly fancy dancing planes can take a back seat to MANY other things.

Ditto!

kinnem, I'd have to say you are probably right. However, the media doesn't need to know the specific details.
 
kinnem, I'd have to say you are probably right. However, the media doesn't need to know the specific details.

If it's not classified, and disclosure wouldn't harm individuals or the security of the United States..... they should know.
 
The fact of the matter is, this affects FAR MORE than the military. And it trickles down too, especially in the DC area (where I live).

I think this would also be a good time to unload your real estate in that region as well... I suspect a lot of folks will be leaving soon when their contracts are cut...
 
We got word in the reserves that our annual training (AT) could be increased from 2 weeks up to 7 weeks as there could be less emphasis placed on an active contingent. Apparently the increased training will improve the readiness of the reserves while slicing the budgets of the standing AD force.

I don't know when or if this will be implemented but it does seems like an interesting take at lowering the budget.
 
We got word in the reserves that our annual training (AT) could be increased from 2 weeks up to 7 weeks as there could be less emphasis placed on an active contingent. Apparently the increased training will improve the readiness of the reserves while slicing the budgets of the standing AD force.

I don't know when or if this will be implemented but it does seems like an interesting take at lowering the budget.

It will be interesting to see how a shift to a 7 week AT would effect civilian employment for reserves.
 
It will be interesting to see how a shift to a 7 week AT would effect civilian employment for reserves.

Exactly what I was thinking, but they said up to 7 weeks which I guess would be unit depending on what the final training cycle duration is. There are already enough disgruntled employers with weekend drill and just two weeks a year as it is, but federal law is king I suppose.
 
We got word in the reserves that our annual training (AT) could be increased from 2 weeks up to 7 weeks as there could be less emphasis placed on an active contingent. Apparently the increased training will improve the readiness of the reserves while slicing the budgets of the standing AD force.

I don't know when or if this will be implemented but it does seems like an interesting take at lowering the budget.

Considering the lack of overlap between AD and Reserves, it's a bad plan. We will likely still have a Reserve force that is no more competent.
 
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