Because Of Bush the Army's in trouble, offers $2,000 for referrals, $20,000 for quick trip to Iraq on top of everything else!

Bush continues to screw us As I remember how important the military was during Katrina I lament what Bush has driven their Recruitment efforts to!
I just heard the chief idiot telling people how New Orleans is better today than before Katrina. It is for the rich but how can even the idiot say that to all those that have had their lives destroyed and will never be back to normal. As we remember Katrina and look at the disaster that was allowed and still continues for the poor in New Orleans while the NO of the affluent is now thriving I am reminded of a story I did two years ago saying how important the military is becoming right or wrong, intended or not, good or not, to our survival, by design? Remember General Honore!

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Anyway, thinking about that and we must, I am reminded what Bush and his perceived ineptitude which I guarantee you is not but is his unstoppable drive for new societal, middle east, and world order, has done to our society and our very important military in their effort to keep themselves staffed and it will only get much worse soon!
In the past I have done numerous stories as to how our recruitment standards both age wise and quality wise have been laxer to try and keep our military staffed as Bush continues to abuse and misuse them.
The impact of two wars on military troops goes beyond mounting combat casualties. Those are the tragic, tangible impacts that an angered nation can wrap its frustration and war-weariness around. But the impact also is revealed in troops strained by multiple tours of duty and in recruitment standards lowered to the point that a criminal record is no longer grounds for rejection. It is revealed by a rising soldier suicide rate.The nation is struggling to sustain its military and remember how important it is getting to our day to day survival. Tell me your thoughts on this!

Some signs of strain: The suicide rate among Army soldiers in 2006 is at its highest in 26 years. A report released last week found a significant relationship between suicide attempts and length of deployment in Iraq, Afghanistan or nearby countries where troops are taking part in the war effort. More than 180,000 soldiers have served multiple tours in either Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. According to the Department of Defense, more than 400,000 soldiers have served multiple tours in both wars.
The Army is proposing to further boost its recruitment approach by offering tax-free incentives of up to $45,000, increasing the number of troops given waivers for positive drug and alcohol screenings and creating a more "pleasant" boot camp environment. This, after the Army has already loosened standards and spent $1 billion last year on recruiting bonuses and ads. http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/wb/xp-128593

That is all becoming necessary thanks to Bushies perceived ineptitude and in fact, new societal and World Order wars. I find these latest incentives very confusing myself and I would expect they were designed that way to the military's benefit. Maybe you can help me understand them? In addition to the above efforts Army leaders, struggling to meet recruitment goals in the midst of a long and unpopular war in Iraq, are quietly working out final details of a program that would give bonuses of $2,000 per recruit to any National Guard soldier who brings somebody into the active duty Army.
Army Secretary Pete Geren disclosed the plan in an interview with The Associated Press, calling it an innovative effort to get broader reach into local communities. The Guard members, Geren said, are "much more in contact with the civilian population than the active duty soldier is. So they give us reach into a larger segment of the community on a personal level, a one to one basis, than we get through our recruiting relationships."
Under the new plan, a recruit would join the Guard but indicate that they are intending to shift to active duty. After they finish basic training they would either sign up for 30, 36 or 48 months in the active Army, or change their mind and simply stay in the Guard. The Army secretary said the impact of the new Guard program would be felt next year when Guard soldiers will "become an important part of the active recruiting force." The secretary says "they would recruit soldiers into the active component," adding that the recruits would then have continuing obligations in the reserves. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/28/army.recruiting.ap/index.html

Besides the warm Bodies all being abused and being taken advantage of I do not understand this and only see that it is a win, win for Bush as he continues to worsen our situation and create more mores for the future. Knowing that and what may inevitably crop up here this last incentive blew me away. I am stunned that Nearly all US Army recruits since late July have signed up for a special 20,000-dollar bonus for a quick departure, an official said Monday, amid concerns the Pentagon is eroding combat standards with such incentives.
Out of 6,611 people who enlisted in the Army between the program's start on July 25 and August 24, a total of 6,264 or 94.8 percent are receiving the hefty bonus, in return for agreeing to start basic training within 30 days. "Practically everyone who's enlisting now is eligible for this 'quick-ship bonus' if they're willing to ship by the end of September," said Douglas Smith, spokesman for the US Army Recruiting Command in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
The 20,000-dollar bonus, which amounts to more than a year's salary for most young Army recruits, is due to expire at the end of the US fiscal year on September 30. Following two straight months of enlistment shortfalls, the program helped the US Army exceed its July recruiting goal of 9,750 by about two percent, according to Pentagon statistics.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/...

My concern is not that people enlist for money rather than Patriotism as long as they serve honorably. I do not see the money as the problem but a "symptom" of the problem, President Bush. We must get rid of the disease but I am afraid we will be living with his dire consequences for many years to come. What is next?

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com

Revamping the entire Military system from the ground up starting with recruitment should be job one with the future Bush has created!

I have been waking up the last 3 mornings to a series WBZ has been holding on the fact that in Massachusetts the National Guard has been pulling a lot more than its fair share of tours and Duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. I believe they said that 70% of the guard has served while only a third of the regular Army. Knowing I have heard like concerns from many States I was wondering what the actual percentage was. Any way you look at it the entire military system is at breaking point and needs to be revamped from the ground up.
I refuse to believe that knowing the systemic problems on every level in the military There has not been a "military Czar" appointed with the expeditious duty of building a military system from the ground up capable of dealing with Bush's wars present and future, starting with recruitment. From what I can see the only thing that has worked right is the American service men and women.
Those of you that know me know I have 2 sons that I am aware of serving today. One just returned from Afghanistan as EOD and a brother flying support for Iraq until some time in September. My three oldest sons stopped talking to me about about their youngest brother joining the marines when I told them his life was on their heads. At least one son can't go because he has asthma unless those rules change too. he would have gone years ago if he could.
That brings me to our military system that is inadequate from the ground up to continue to conduct itself as a viable fighting force into the future under the load of current wars, soon to come wars, and future wars set in motion by war monger new world order Bush that will not be avoided because of his departure.
I understand that the selective service system has been set in motion and is prepared to act if called into action. However, I have heard of no serious effort to monitor those of age or to find out who we can rely on when the time does come and it is coming. I have seen no serious efforts to get prepared for the future mess Bush has created.
As many of you know, I expected Bush to attack Iran next, and we keep hearing Cheney and others telling him to do so. However as we watch events in Pakistan and concerns grow over their nukes getting into Islamists hands, growing insurrection in many areas, the real possibility of Musharaff being over thrown, threats of future U.S. attacks formed in Pakistan. and the threat by Bush that he will go into Pakistan if he has too, I am increasingly concerned that Bush will go after Pakistan and Iran at the same time with as Rummy the dummy said "the army he has" not the one he wants. Then as you know, there are the traditional threats of Russia and China, etc.
All this adds up to an emergency to me and I have heard nothing serious to address obvious issues that soon will not be future but "now" I and others may not like it but Senator Rangle was right when he said we need a draft. To me that should be both sexes, ages and responsibilities should be worked out right now, with a choice of civil or military service, length of service determined by type of service.
That is just the beginning! the military medical system must be rapidly brought up to snuff and after all the promises it has not proven adequate for current needs let alone future needs. Multiple "over deployments" must be addressed and yesterday. Our beleaguered military soon to be more so must be given more of a rest while being asked to do even more, this too must be given top priority.
Lastly our active, reserve, and guard units, must receive even more $Billions to rebuild used up equipment and for now not even thinking of future needs. Bush has put a serious stress on the future of our military and our America and there is no concerted effort to address it. Why? Because Bush has other plans!
We have been increasingly told that if disaster strikes in whatever form we are on our own as the Government cant be expected to be there. Knowing that and knowing that we are headed to what appears to be all out war, think of this fact:
* When all hell breaks loose the Government is well taken care of and will survive, the military, families included will be well protected so that in the end whoever survives will have all that is needed to live, fight another day, and start over again. What no one remembers is this planet, supposedly God’s that they seem to wantonly be destroying, is in its Nurturing stage and man’s weapons are too deadly for it to survive and be life sustaining as we know it! Give me your thoughts please.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://www.anaveragepatriot.com/

We're reduced to Worthless Political games, media jokes and critical Iraq issues ignored!

We accomplish more as we sleep: We're reduced to Worthless Political games while the media jokes and critical Iraq issues are ignored!
As we listened to the Partisan bickering over an Iraq withdrawal we have been reduced to playing Republican games. In this instance it is the Political theater of a Senate sleep over. The vote of course failed and is being called a defeat for the Democrats but it is not. It is a defeat for America and our troops.
Meanwhile some very important Issues to our troops and their care is being ignored and swept under the rug. As I was researching news sources to talk about what was happening or "not happening" in the Senate I discovered the usual biased coverage. While CNN took this seriously Fox accused Democrats of playing games. Meanwhile nothing is going to get accomplished and I had to go to other sources and stories to get the serious news on this that is glossed over, ignored, and not mentioned to us.
The CNN story did show that as we know, that all night session was absolutely worthless as everyone interviewed insisted on holding their Partisan course while ignoring the real issues at hand.
It is sickening to hear the childish senseless banter to Protect Bush and his mess while our troops are in real danger, being ill cared for, and their equipment needs go unmet and underfunded by Bush.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/17/senate.iraq/index.html
Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut did say that he would introduce an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would cut funding for combat missions in Iraq and he would use the billions in savings to rebuild the nation's military. that of course is something else that may be needed but will never happen. Millions of dollars a week are being squandered in Iraq . While our nation's military is calling out for additional resources to repair the damage caused by the administration's policies Dodd said.
Dodd said the National Guard has requested $38 billion from Congress to replace vehicles, aircraft, equipment and personal gear that were transferred to Iraq, and that shortfall remains unfunded in the current defense authorization bill.
"It means that we are short of equipment to respond to natural and man-made disasters here at home, short of equipment for training, short of equipment to maintain the standard of maintenance rotation for equipment currently in the field ... short of equipment to protect the American people," he said.
How can we ignore those issues and make a joke out of the very important issue of troop withdrawal? I was disappointed to see that the Washington Post also treated the all night debate as a joke instead of treating our situation seriously. Amidst all these wasted Partisan arguments on withdrawing our troops I did run into an important story that is unfolding at least under my radar and on the Washington Post. Maybe things will get done right, there now.
Anyway the secretary of veterans affairs, resigned yesterday and said he would leave his post by Oct. 1, ending a tenure marked by the largest data breach in the federal government's history and sharp criticism of the care given to injured veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
He has done such a great job of mismanaging the Department of Veterans affairs that I am sure he too will be given a medal.
I'm sure you remember that The agency has faced considerable criticism for its treatment of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans as they move from the military healthcare system to VA's, and for its chronically slow processing of disability claims by injured or sick veterans from all eras. Critics complain about lost paperwork, a shortage of VA caseworkers, a caseload of 400,000 pending disability claims and long waits for initial appointments in the VA healthcare system.
The criticism grew louder this year when The Washington Post revealed decrepit conditions and poor outpatient treatment of wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, though that facility is run by the Pentagon, not VA.
Yet Nicholson said he was not asked to step down. He said It is a good time -- if there ever is a good time -- to leave the VA. There were no frustrations causing me to think about resigning. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/17/AR2007071700701.html?hpid=sec-nation
Sadly, I can believe that as like Bush, his whole MisAdministration, and the bias Media, they all think they are doing a great job and they are but for them. Someone has to start doing the right thing for our soldiers in Iraq and get them home while treating them right if they are wounded. All this back slapping and game playing must stop or our soldiers situations everywhere are going to continue to degrade and get much worse.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com

Another missed Recruiting quota: Blamed on Mommy factor, numerous extended deployments, unfit kids?
This morning my alarm went off amidst a discussion on WBZ that the army missed its recruiting goal for the 2nd month in a row despite loosening its standards even more on obesity, education standards, and police records. believe it or not the commentator blamed it on what he called "The Mommy Factor"
Gee Mom's don't want their children joining Bush's new world order and his illegal war in Iraq to be misused and abused? Gee, why wouldn't they want their children fighting and dying in his lost cause as my own are doing? With the promise of an opportunity to get physically or mentally messed up not to speak of getting killed, what would they be against? Is it the promise of more wars to come?
I decided I wanted to discuss this so I found the story and was quite surprised at a few facts I found unbelievable. Finding out that the Army had missed its recruiting goals two months in a row makes sense when you know the truth as to what is going on and how bad this is going to get before too long but!
With that in mind and the ever increasing tours of duty, increasing tour lengths, and multiple deployments, and booming job outlook, I was pretty surprised to see that the very over used Marines and much over used and abused Army Reserves and National Guard had no problem meeting their quotas. I find that a bit surprising to say the least but that wasn't the most surprising and disturbing thing I heard.
First, Lt. Col. Dan Baggio an Army spokesman said they are not concerned yet but I say they better be. I was also surprised to see that that the numbers of soldiers signing up for additional years of service was strong then I remembered why. In April we talked about The struggle to entice Army soldiers and Marines to stay in the military, after four years of war in Iraq, has ballooned into a $1 billion campaign, with bonuses soaring nearly six fold since 2003. The size and number of bonuses have grown as officials scramble to meet the steady demand for troops on the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan and reverse sporadic shortfalls in the number of National Guard and Reserve soldiers willing to sign on for multiple tours.
Besides underscoring the extraordinary steps the Pentagon must take to maintain fighting forces, the rise in costs for reenlistment incentives is putting strains on the defense budget, already strapped by the massive costs of waging war and equipping and caring for a modern military. The bonuses can range from a few thousand dollars to as much as $150,000 for very senior special forces soldiers who reenlist for six years. All told, the Army and Marines spent $1.03 billion for reenlistment payments last year, compared with $174 million in 2003, the year the war in Iraq began.
That just reminded me that I also heard this morning that Bush's wars are costing $12 Billion per month. Anyway, The recruiting downturn is particularly worrisome to Pentagon officials, especially because it has come in the summer, when recruiters normally find more fresh high school graduates eager to join. So despite increasing recruitment efforts and spending I see this as a beginning trend as kids would rather stay home and be safe. Knowing they are amidst a drive to enlarge the military by another 33,000 personnel they better be very concerned.
It was this last little statistic that amazed me. They were concerned about it from a recruitment standpoint but I am very concerned purely from the stand point of being a member of this society. Colonel Baggio pointed out that Recruiting had been hurt by the fact that 7 in 10 potential recruits in their late teens and early 20s do not meet Army standards, largely because they are too heavy or failed to graduate from high school.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/washington/10military.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
That blew me away! 70% of recruiting age youth are unfit for military duty? That is just stunning. That is a pretty limited pool for sure. I almost wish my own sons were in this category. Anyway, with tours increasing in quantity and length and more Bush wars to come, they better start being concerned but to me I guess that is a vote for obesity or dummying up. With Bush's warmongering and efforts to instigate and fight his way to new world order, this all adds up to a world of concern to me. What do you think?

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com