2014 DoD Budget

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Jcleppe

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There is another round of cuts that will automatically be made in the coming year if something isn’t done to stop them, to the tune of $52 billion. According to Hagel, “it would create “an extremely severe package of military personnel actions including halting all accessions, ending all permanent change-of-station moves, stopping discretionary bonuses and freezing all promotions.”

Here’s what that means:

◦Military members wouldn’t be promoted, and those recently promoted may not get paid for their new rank, as there is often a waiting period between assuming rank and being paid for it.
◦Military families wouldn’t be moving to new duty stations, or those who are leaving the military would be responsible for moving themselves back to their home area.
◦Certain bonuses would be gone.
◦A significant reduction in recruiting efforts.
◦A new round of personnel cuts.
◦There is talk of permanently closing stateside commissaries, the DoD’s answer to grocery stores, which saves shoppers about 30 percent on average over civilian stores.
◦Housing allowances are on the table as well, however Congress has to approve any reduction by law.
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Sure hope our service men and women enjoy where they are stationed.
 
Sounds pretty draconian. I wonder if this is just another round of crying wolf? Only time will tell I guess. I certainly don't think our service men and women should be suffering or paying the brunt due to the sequester.
 
I'm sure we can depend on Hagel and the President to take good care of our service members. :cool:
 
I think if I were one of those AROTC cadets with an Engineering degree that would get them Active Duty for a certain baranch by using an ADSO, I would be thinking that Reserves or NG might be a better option then obligating for 7 years . That's a long time to be a 2LT at Ft. Polk.
 
Jcleppe said:
I think if I were one of those AROTC cadets with an Engineering degree that would get them Active Duty for a certain baranch by using an ADSO, I would be thinking that Reserves or NG might be a better option then obligating for 7 years . That's a long time to be a 2LT at Ft. Polk.
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Awww c'mon Polk is really nice this time of year! But really I see these devastating suggestions but where are the GS cuts besides the furlough? I mean I am sure there are areas of the DoD that can be shaved before implementing these cuts. I mean I have seen 4 or 5 GS employees hired to do the job of 1. Or is what you posted applicable to the general DoD community and not just military?

Maybe I am a little bitter considering my pay is jacked up anytime I have orders or I am treated like a cretin every time I have an admin issue that I have to go on base for....
 
Jcleppe said:
Here’s what that means:

◦Military members wouldn’t be promoted, and those recently promoted may not get paid for their new rank, as there is often a waiting period between assuming rank and being paid for it.
◦Military families wouldn’t be moving to new duty stations, or those who are leaving the military would be responsible for moving themselves back to their home area.
◦Certain bonuses would be gone.
◦A significant reduction in recruiting efforts.
◦A new round of personnel cuts.
◦There is talk of permanently closing stateside commissaries, the DoD’s answer to grocery stores, which saves shoppers about 30 percent on average over civilian stores.
◦Housing allowances are on the table as well, however Congress has to approve any reduction by law.
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Some of these things are already happening and some of these things provide minimum benefits, so why not get rid of them

There is already delay in the promotion system for active duty officers - by sequence number. You get selected for promotion, get to carry (P) next to your rank, but won't actually get promoted until your sequence number comes up. For NG, starting MAJs, even if you get selected for promotion by the DA board, you still have to find a position to get promoted.

Military duty station is where the military assigns you, not where you want move. Some soldiers like being stationed at one location.

Bonuses are not an entitlement. The Army already announced stopping most of the foreign language proficiency bonuses.

If we are going to reduce, the recruitment requirement goes down.

Commissaries - not necessarily cheaper. My guess is at least 20% or more of folks who could use commissary didn't shop there.
 
The services are releasing their updated budget requests to the President Monday.

Expect much gnashing of teeth come Monday evening.
 
Bullet said:
The services are releasing their updated budget requests to the President Monday.

Expect much gnashing of teeth come Monday evening.
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Whose teeth will be gnashed? Or is it all of us? :confused:
 
I guess we will go back to the hometown militias as cost savings. It worked at Lexington and Concord. Three shots and all the ale you can drink.

BR2000.jpeg
 
I find the ceasing of PCSs, BAH, promotions, and commissaries VERY hard to believe. The rest I can see it happening.
 
MabryPsyD said:
I find the ceasing of PCSs, BAH, promotions, and commissaries VERY hard to believe. The rest I can see it happening.
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This is why when school boards are serious about getting a millage passed, they threaten to cut the football team. The mundane stuff doesn't attract attention.
 
Bullet said:
The services are releasing their updated budget requests to the President Monday.

Expect much gnashing of teeth come Monday evening.
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The general addressing the last class to graduate LDAC this summer warned them they would have to learn how to "do less with less".

Anyway, if Congress and the President don't come to terms by October 1, don't stand near any fans.
 
EDelahanty said:
The general addressing the last class to graduate LDAC this summer warned them they would have to learn how to "do less with less".

Anyway, if Congress and the President don't come to terms by October 1, don't stand near any fans.
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I don't think it will matter as there will be so many shoveling.

Saw an article at RealClearDefense (I think) that Gen. Amos is talking about cutting USMC to 174,000 or thereabouts. That's another 10-11,000 below where the 2011 projections were.
 
kinnem said:
I don't think it will matter as there will be so many shoveling.

Saw an article at RealClearDefense (I think) that Gen. Amos is talking about cutting USMC to 174,000 or thereabouts. That's another 10-11,000 below where the 2011 projections were.
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BYOS

(bring your own shovel, otherwise, you'll have to use your hands)
 
The Army will be initiating retention boards for captains in YGs 07-12. Now instead of not getting resident ILE, the bottom portion of each year group will be sent packing.
 
RADM Morton told us last week that the Navy was pretty much set, but the MC would reduced (I don't recall the number but it was in the ball park that kinnem reports) He went on to say that any personnel cuts to installation support would be made mostly at HQ levels. But it's difficult to see how there's enough $ available there. MILCON is pretty much nuttered already. Reality dictates severe cuts to weapons purchase and base closures. Less sailors/marines/soldiers/airmen = less bases. The math is not difficult. But, Congress wants it both ways: cut your spending but don't you dare close the base in my district (or cancel the weapons system built in my district.) They either need to lead or get the he!! out of the way.
 
Military members wouldn’t be promoted, and those recently promoted may not get paid for their new rank, as there is often a waiting period between assuming rank and being paid for it.
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I don't know about other branches, but the AF does this already. Most selected O4s wait @10-12 months before pinning on, thus, there would be no savings there from at least the AF's POV.

Additionally, I believe there would be no savings from closing any commissary since they do charge a 5% surcharge to cover their costs. I have always been told that the commissary cannot make a profit, but they do charge more than what it costs them to pay for their overhead.

I agree with osdad, Congress will be happy to kill programs or bases as long as it is not in their district.
 
Pima said:
I don't know about other branches, but the AF does this already. Most selected O4s wait @10-12 months before pinning on, thus, there would be no savings there from at least the AF's POV.

Additionally, I believe there would be no savings from closing any commissary since they do charge a 5% surcharge to cover their costs. I have always been told that the commissary cannot make a profit, but they do charge more than what it costs them to pay for their overhead.

I agree with osdad, Congress will be happy to kill programs or bases as long as it is not in their district.
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This is a difference between being selected for promotion and being promoted (and it occurs in the private sector too). "In zone" officers who are promoted have a promotion date, after which they "pin on" the new rank. The exception to this is "frocking". Generally "frocking" occurs when, often senior, officers move to a new command that is for a specific rank. A commander may be selected for captain, and transfer to a new command where he will be the CO, with a commander working for him. It would look odd to have a commander working for the CO, who is also a commander, so the commander who was selected for captain wears the captain shoulder boards and collar devices, while still receiving his O-5 pay until he is ACTUALLY promoted to O-6.
 
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