Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP your summary doesn’t match the article.

Second, I’m a liberal whose father served in the Korean War in the Air Force. I took the ASVAB and did well. The only job they had for me was medic. This was in the late 80s during the draw down. I ended up not enlisting. The Gulf War happened 6 months later.

Why I am against my daughter enlisting. I work with many former military. It doesn’t seem like a welcoming place for women. The sexual assault numbers are terrible and it’s a hostile environment for women. I also one who associates the military with the Insurrection (as the article mentioned) and the 3%, Proud Boys, and Oath Keepers. I see it as a proxy for the White Supremacy/Neo Nazi movement…Especially when there is any sort of backlash toward DEI the military undertakes.

Here's what you've done to the military:

You've promoted single motherhood far and wide. It's working. Just look at how many single women are raising boys. They don't turn out the same as a two parent family.

You've pushed tbe idea of toxic masculinity causing self-doubt in boys to men.

You've turned the military into a social experiment. That comes from the pentagon.

You've also turned it into a paper pushing exercise. Death by powerpoint. Plus, you want an inquiry for every fire fight. Seriously, you want to judge every shoot as good or bad shoot (in the heat of battle) and then punish according to that. It's ridiculous.

You have no idea of the negative reinforcement you send by your actions. Oh, and BTW, more money and benefits doesn't solve this. You can't buy your way out of al tbat messaging. You are so engrossed in pacifism at this point, who the heck would want to serve.

No pledge of allegiance, a pride flag in place of the U.S. flag and telling everyone everyday we're evil colonialists. Of course you can't make the recruiting numbers. We are a joke of a nation today.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP your summary doesn’t match the article.

Second, I’m a liberal whose father served in the Korean War in the Air Force. I took the ASVAB and did well. The only job they had for me was medic. This was in the late 80s during the draw down. I ended up not enlisting. The Gulf War happened 6 months later.

Why I am against my daughter enlisting. I work with many former military. It doesn’t seem like a welcoming place for women. The sexual assault numbers are terrible and it’s a hostile environment for women. I also one who associates the military with the Insurrection (as the article mentioned) and the 3%, Proud Boys, and Oath Keepers. I see it as a proxy for the White Supremacy/Neo Nazi movement…Especially when there is any sort of backlash toward DEI the military undertakes.

Here's what you've done to the military:

You've promoted single motherhood far and wide. It's working. Just look at how many single women are raising boys. They don't turn out the same as a two parent family.

You've pushed tbe idea of toxic masculinity causing self-doubt in boys to men.

You've turned the military into a social experiment. That comes from the pentagon.

You've also turned it into a paper pushing exercise. Death by powerpoint. Plus, you want an inquiry for every fire fight. Seriously, you want to judge every shoot as good or bad shoot (in the heat of battle) and then punish according to that. It's ridiculous.

You have no idea of the negative reinforcement you send by your actions. Oh, and BTW, more money and benefits doesn't solve this. You can't buy your way out of al tbat messaging. You are so engrossed in pacifism at this point, who the heck would want to serve.

No pledge of allegiance, a pride flag in place of the U.S. flag and telling everyone everyday we're evil colonialists. Of course you can't make the recruiting numbers. We are a joke of a nation today.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, there have been many women concerned with the inability to get abortion services. This will have a big impact on woman and whether they will want to serve.

This. And it affects spouses too.

I've told my DH (active duty AF) that I refuse to live in any state that denies women healthcare services. At the moment we're in Virginia, but if his next move is to someplace that outlaws abortion, he'll be retiring.

If the AF wanted your DH to have an abortion seeking wife, they would have issued him one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is ridiculous. As the article noted, only 23 percent of 18 year olds are even capable of joining the military

If people posting here are representative of America, you folks are raising fat, drug-addicted, criminally-inclined useless idiots

For the other 23 percent, yes, there are issues. And they are manifold. And they differ from officer retention concerns to what kid wants to go to Basic when even Walmart is paying more than $2000 a month. Soldiers on food stamps is a travesty.

There needs to be a rethink. And it needs to happen soon. Iraq and Afghanistan were disasters. What was the point of any it? Young people see that and think, no thank you. America seems to be very quick at throwing away the lives of young people - for nothing. If you're 18 years old and you see that and you know Walmart is going to pay more, you're going to think F*ck that. Why would I join the military?

We need two things. Better politicians first and foremost. People that are wiser about how we use military force. And we need to make it worthwhile for people to join. It's only a small percentage of young Americans that are even eligible. Make it worth it. Food stamps aren't the way.

Soldiers in general are not eligible for food stamps. Enlisted members get BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) which is a food allowance OR if they are single and lower ranking, they live in the barracks and are able to eat at the chow hall.

When soldiers are eligible for food stamps, WIC, etc. it's because they have a family when they are still very low rank/few years in.

And Walmart isn't paying $2000/month for the majority of store level employees. Big box stores like that keep their employees below 40 hours a week, and they can cut hours any time they want.

I generally agree, but even with a family, a young soldier should never be forced to rely on food stamps. That’s just demoralizing.

Are the Washington elites doing that on purpose, along with all the other current demoralizing mandates? Shame on them all.

So what is your solution?

Pay our military a living wage so that their dependent spouse and children can eat real food, not just the processed garbage they call food.

Who is "they?" Real food can be purchased with food stamps.
But what would a "living wage" be? Should the 18 year old fresh out of boot camp earn a "living wage" consistent with supporting a spouse and 3 children? 5 chlidren? 7?
Whatever number you pick, there will be someone enlisting with more than that. And then you also have to incrementally raise EVERYONE else's pay as well, or else you will have 18 year old privates earning more than the base commander.

Yes, everyone's pay should be raised, but the base commander is already making more than enlisted even if you pay enlisted more.

Look, the bottom line is that pay should NOT be what YOU think they are "worth." If you are expecting them to commit a significant chunk of their life to the task then they are already past that bar of worth. And as such, you should be paying them enough to live on, period. Anything less and you are exploiting them and taking advantage of them. And that's not only the military, but all workers. And if your business or your model "can't afford" to pay more then either you need to increase revenue or change your model.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, there have been many women concerned with the inability to get abortion services. This will have a big impact on woman and whether they will want to serve.

This. And it affects spouses too.

I've told my DH (active duty AF) that I refuse to live in any state that denies women healthcare services. At the moment we're in Virginia, but if his next move is to someplace that outlaws abortion, he'll be retiring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is ridiculous. As the article noted, only 23 percent of 18 year olds are even capable of joining the military

If people posting here are representative of America, you folks are raising fat, drug-addicted, criminally-inclined useless idiots

For the other 23 percent, yes, there are issues. And they are manifold. And they differ from officer retention concerns to what kid wants to go to Basic when even Walmart is paying more than $2000 a month. Soldiers on food stamps is a travesty.

There needs to be a rethink. And it needs to happen soon. Iraq and Afghanistan were disasters. What was the point of any it? Young people see that and think, no thank you. America seems to be very quick at throwing away the lives of young people - for nothing. If you're 18 years old and you see that and you know Walmart is going to pay more, you're going to think F*ck that. Why would I join the military?

We need two things. Better politicians first and foremost. People that are wiser about how we use military force. And we need to make it worthwhile for people to join. It's only a small percentage of young Americans that are even eligible. Make it worth it. Food stamps aren't the way.

Soldiers in general are not eligible for food stamps. Enlisted members get BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) which is a food allowance OR if they are single and lower ranking, they live in the barracks and are able to eat at the chow hall.

When soldiers are eligible for food stamps, WIC, etc. it's because they have a family when they are still very low rank/few years in.

And Walmart isn't paying $2000/month for the majority of store level employees. Big box stores like that keep their employees below 40 hours a week, and they can cut hours any time they want.

I generally agree, but even with a family, a young soldier should never be forced to rely on food stamps. That’s just demoralizing.

Are the Washington elites doing that on purpose, along with all the other current demoralizing mandates? Shame on them all.

So what is your solution?

Pay our military a living wage so that their dependent spouse and children can eat real food, not just the processed garbage they call food.

Who is "they?" Real food can be purchased with food stamps.
But what would a "living wage" be? Should the 18 year old fresh out of boot camp earn a "living wage" consistent with supporting a spouse and 3 children? 5 chlidren? 7?
Whatever number you pick, there will be someone enlisting with more than that. And then you also have to incrementally raise EVERYONE else's pay as well, or else you will have 18 year old privates earning more than the base commander.

Yes, everyone's pay should be raised, but the base commander is already making more than enlisted even if you pay enlisted more.

Look, the bottom line is that pay should NOT be what YOU think they are "worth." If you are expecting them to commit a significant chunk of their life to the task then they are already past that bar of worth. And as such, you should be paying them enough to live on, period. Anything less and you are exploiting them and taking advantage of them. And that's not only the military, but all workers. And if your business or your model "can't afford" to pay more then either you need to increase revenue or change your model.

I think they should be paid enough to live off barracks. I wouldn’t want my child living in a mold infested dump, which it sounds like these places are.

Look BAH calculation.

It says how much member gets for certain zipcode. DC area around 2200 monthly without dependent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is ridiculous. As the article noted, only 23 percent of 18 year olds are even capable of joining the military

If people posting here are representative of America, you folks are raising fat, drug-addicted, criminally-inclined useless idiots

For the other 23 percent, yes, there are issues. And they are manifold. And they differ from officer retention concerns to what kid wants to go to Basic when even Walmart is paying more than $2000 a month. Soldiers on food stamps is a travesty.

There needs to be a rethink. And it needs to happen soon. Iraq and Afghanistan were disasters. What was the point of any it? Young people see that and think, no thank you. America seems to be very quick at throwing away the lives of young people - for nothing. If you're 18 years old and you see that and you know Walmart is going to pay more, you're going to think F*ck that. Why would I join the military?

We need two things. Better politicians first and foremost. People that are wiser about how we use military force. And we need to make it worthwhile for people to join. It's only a small percentage of young Americans that are even eligible. Make it worth it. Food stamps aren't the way.

Soldiers in general are not eligible for food stamps. Enlisted members get BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) which is a food allowance OR if they are single and lower ranking, they live in the barracks and are able to eat at the chow hall.

When soldiers are eligible for food stamps, WIC, etc. it's because they have a family when they are still very low rank/few years in.

And Walmart isn't paying $2000/month for the majority of store level employees. Big box stores like that keep their employees below 40 hours a week, and they can cut hours any time they want.

I generally agree, but even with a family, a young soldier should never be forced to rely on food stamps. That’s just demoralizing.

Are the Washington elites doing that on purpose, along with all the other current demoralizing mandates? Shame on them all.

So what is your solution?

Pay our military a living wage so that their dependent spouse and children can eat real food, not just the processed garbage they call food.

Who is "they?" Real food can be purchased with food stamps.
But what would a "living wage" be? Should the 18 year old fresh out of boot camp earn a "living wage" consistent with supporting a spouse and 3 children? 5 chlidren? 7?
Whatever number you pick, there will be someone enlisting with more than that. And then you also have to incrementally raise EVERYONE else's pay as well, or else you will have 18 year old privates earning more than the base commander.

Yes, everyone's pay should be raised, but the base commander is already making more than enlisted even if you pay enlisted more.

Look, the bottom line is that pay should NOT be what YOU think they are "worth." If you are expecting them to commit a significant chunk of their life to the task then they are already past that bar of worth. And as such, you should be paying them enough to live on, period. Anything less and you are exploiting them and taking advantage of them. And that's not only the military, but all workers. And if your business or your model "can't afford" to pay more then either you need to increase revenue or change your model.

I think they should be paid enough to live off barracks. I wouldn’t want my child living in a mold infested dump, which it sounds like these places are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they shouldn't have fired people for refusing to get covid vaccines.

Do you have any idea how many vaccines active military are required to get

DP here
Yes, and no one complains about those. There wasn't even that much pushback about the Anthrax vaccine. The Covid vaccine was different than anything else experienced in our modern times.

Except it wasn’t. There could be no option. The military can’t work from home or shelter in place. You can’t have a pandemic running through ships and barracks and every other necessary close quarters. The US military was largely responsible for spreading the 1918-1919 great influenza and giving it perfect carriers in which to mutate into a deadlier strain.

I highly doubt our current military had any of the necessary co-morbidities. How many diabetic or obese military people do you know?

Anonymous wrote:Also, there have been many women concerned with the inability to get abortion services. This will have a big impact on woman and whether they will want to serve.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is ridiculous. As the article noted, only 23 percent of 18 year olds are even capable of joining the military

If people posting here are representative of America, you folks are raising fat, drug-addicted, criminally-inclined useless idiots

For the other 23 percent, yes, there are issues. And they are manifold. And they differ from officer retention concerns to what kid wants to go to Basic when even Walmart is paying more than $2000 a month. Soldiers on food stamps is a travesty.

There needs to be a rethink. And it needs to happen soon. Iraq and Afghanistan were disasters. What was the point of any it? Young people see that and think, no thank you. America seems to be very quick at throwing away the lives of young people - for nothing. If you're 18 years old and you see that and you know Walmart is going to pay more, you're going to think F*ck that. Why would I join the military?

We need two things. Better politicians first and foremost. People that are wiser about how we use military force. And we need to make it worthwhile for people to join. It's only a small percentage of young Americans that are even eligible. Make it worth it. Food stamps aren't the way.

Soldiers in general are not eligible for food stamps. Enlisted members get BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) which is a food allowance OR if they are single and lower ranking, they live in the barracks and are able to eat at the chow hall.

When soldiers are eligible for food stamps, WIC, etc. it's because they have a family when they are still very low rank/few years in.

And Walmart isn't paying $2000/month for the majority of store level employees. Big box stores like that keep their employees below 40 hours a week, and they can cut hours any time they want.

I generally agree, but even with a family, a young soldier should never be forced to rely on food stamps. That’s just demoralizing.

Are the Washington elites doing that on purpose, along with all the other current demoralizing mandates? Shame on them all.

So what is your solution?

Pay our military a living wage so that their dependent spouse and children can eat real food, not just the processed garbage they call food.

Who is "they?" Real food can be purchased with food stamps.
But what would a "living wage" be? Should the 18 year old fresh out of boot camp earn a "living wage" consistent with supporting a spouse and 3 children? 5 chlidren? 7?
Whatever number you pick, there will be someone enlisting with more than that. And then you also have to incrementally raise EVERYONE else's pay as well, or else you will have 18 year old privates earning more than the base commander.

Yes, everyone's pay should be raised, but the base commander is already making more than enlisted even if you pay enlisted more.

Look, the bottom line is that pay should NOT be what YOU think they are "worth." If you are expecting them to commit a significant chunk of their life to the task then they are already past that bar of worth. And as such, you should be paying them enough to live on, period. Anything less and you are exploiting them and taking advantage of them. And that's not only the military, but all workers. And if your business or your model "can't afford" to pay more then either you need to increase revenue or change your model.

I think they should be paid enough to live off barracks. I wouldn’t want my child living in a mold infested dump, which it sounds like these places are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is ridiculous. As the article noted, only 23 percent of 18 year olds are even capable of joining the military

If people posting here are representative of America, you folks are raising fat, drug-addicted, criminally-inclined useless idiots

For the other 23 percent, yes, there are issues. And they are manifold. And they differ from officer retention concerns to what kid wants to go to Basic when even Walmart is paying more than $2000 a month. Soldiers on food stamps is a travesty.

There needs to be a rethink. And it needs to happen soon. Iraq and Afghanistan were disasters. What was the point of any it? Young people see that and think, no thank you. America seems to be very quick at throwing away the lives of young people - for nothing. If you're 18 years old and you see that and you know Walmart is going to pay more, you're going to think F*ck that. Why would I join the military?

We need two things. Better politicians first and foremost. People that are wiser about how we use military force. And we need to make it worthwhile for people to join. It's only a small percentage of young Americans that are even eligible. Make it worth it. Food stamps aren't the way.

Soldiers in general are not eligible for food stamps. Enlisted members get BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) which is a food allowance OR if they are single and lower ranking, they live in the barracks and are able to eat at the chow hall.

When soldiers are eligible for food stamps, WIC, etc. it's because they have a family when they are still very low rank/few years in.

And Walmart isn't paying $2000/month for the majority of store level employees. Big box stores like that keep their employees below 40 hours a week, and they can cut hours any time they want.

I generally agree, but even with a family, a young soldier should never be forced to rely on food stamps. That’s just demoralizing.

Are the Washington elites doing that on purpose, along with all the other current demoralizing mandates? Shame on them all.

So what is your solution?

Pay our military a living wage so that their dependent spouse and children can eat real food, not just the processed garbage they call food.

Who is "they?" Real food can be purchased with food stamps.
But what would a "living wage" be? Should the 18 year old fresh out of boot camp earn a "living wage" consistent with supporting a spouse and 3 children? 5 chlidren? 7?
Whatever number you pick, there will be someone enlisting with more than that. And then you also have to incrementally raise EVERYONE else's pay as well, or else you will have 18 year old privates earning more than the base commander.

Yes, everyone's pay should be raised, but the base commander is already making more than enlisted even if you pay enlisted more.

Look, the bottom line is that pay should NOT be what YOU think they are "worth." If you are expecting them to commit a significant chunk of their life to the task then they are already past that bar of worth. And as such, you should be paying them enough to live on, period. Anything less and you are exploiting them and taking advantage of them. And that's not only the military, but all workers. And if your business or your model "can't afford" to pay more then either you need to increase revenue or change your model.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they shouldn't have fired people for refusing to get covid vaccines.

Do you have any idea how many vaccines active military are required to get

DP here
Yes, and no one complains about those. There wasn't even that much pushback about the Anthrax vaccine. The Covid vaccine was different than anything else experienced in our modern times.

Except it wasn’t. There could be no option. The military can’t work from home or shelter in place. You can’t have a pandemic running through ships and barracks and every other necessary close quarters. The US military was largely responsible for spreading the 1918-1919 great influenza and giving it perfect carriers in which to mutate into a deadlier strain.

I highly doubt our current military had any of the necessary co-morbidities. How many diabetic or obese military people do you know?

DP. That’s not even the issue. It’s a national security issue when squadrons, units, fleets, etc are all too sick to function. And that’s when happens when viruses spread through groups. Just because it doesn’t kill you, doesn’t mean you don’t lose 7-14 of work after spreading it to your co workers who will do the same.

Why the recent spike of athletes dying “suddenly” AFTER they got the vaccine?

Anonymous wrote:OP your summary doesn’t match the article.

Second, I’m a liberal whose father served in the Korean War in the Air Force. I took the ASVAB and did well. The only job they had for me was medic. This was in the late 80s during the draw down. I ended up not enlisting. The Gulf War happened 6 months later.

Why I am against my daughter enlisting. I work with many former military. It doesn’t seem like a welcoming place for women. The sexual assault numbers are terrible and it’s a hostile environment for women. I also one who associates the military with the Insurrection (as the article mentioned) and the 3%, Proud Boys, and Oath Keepers. I see it as a proxy for the White Supremacy/Neo Nazi movement…Especially when there is any sort of backlash toward DEI the military undertakes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they shouldn't have fired people for refusing to get covid vaccines.

Do you have any idea how many vaccines active military are required to get

DP here
Yes, and no one complains about those. There wasn't even that much pushback about the Anthrax vaccine. The Covid vaccine was different than anything else experienced in our modern times.

Except it wasn’t. There could be no option. The military can’t work from home or shelter in place. You can’t have a pandemic running through ships and barracks and every other necessary close quarters. The US military was largely responsible for spreading the 1918-1919 great influenza and giving it perfect carriers in which to mutate into a deadlier strain.

I highly doubt our current military had any of the necessary co-morbidities. How many diabetic or obese military people do you know?

DP. That’s not even the issue. It’s a national security issue when squadrons, units, fleets, etc are all too sick to function. And that’s when happens when viruses spread through groups. Just because it doesn’t kill you, doesn’t mean you don’t lose 7-14 of work after spreading it to your co workers who will do the same.

Why the recent spike of athletes dying “suddenly” AFTER they got the vaccine?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is ridiculous. As the article noted, only 23 percent of 18 year olds are even capable of joining the military

If people posting here are representative of America, you folks are raising fat, drug-addicted, criminally-inclined useless idiots

For the other 23 percent, yes, there are issues. And they are manifold. And they differ from officer retention concerns to what kid wants to go to Basic when even Walmart is paying more than $2000 a month. Soldiers on food stamps is a travesty.

There needs to be a rethink. And it needs to happen soon. Iraq and Afghanistan were disasters. What was the point of any it? Young people see that and think, no thank you. America seems to be very quick at throwing away the lives of young people - for nothing. If you're 18 years old and you see that and you know Walmart is going to pay more, you're going to think F*ck that. Why would I join the military?

We need two things. Better politicians first and foremost. People that are wiser about how we use military force. And we need to make it worthwhile for people to join. It's only a small percentage of young Americans that are even eligible. Make it worth it. Food stamps aren't the way.

Soldiers in general are not eligible for food stamps. Enlisted members get BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) which is a food allowance OR if they are single and lower ranking, they live in the barracks and are able to eat at the chow hall.

When soldiers are eligible for food stamps, WIC, etc. it's because they have a family when they are still very low rank/few years in.

And Walmart isn't paying $2000/month for the majority of store level employees. Big box stores like that keep their employees below 40 hours a week, and they can cut hours any time they want.

I generally agree, but even with a family, a young soldier should never be forced to rely on food stamps. That’s just demoralizing.

Are the Washington elites doing that on purpose, along with all the other current demoralizing mandates? Shame on them all.

So what is your solution?

Pay our military a living wage so that their dependent spouse and children can eat real food, not just the processed garbage they call food.

Who is "they?" Real food can be purchased with food stamps.
But what would a "living wage" be? Should the 18 year old fresh out of boot camp earn a "living wage" consistent with supporting a spouse and 3 children? 5 chlidren? 7?
Whatever number you pick, there will be someone enlisting with more than that. And then you also have to incrementally raise EVERYONE else's pay as well, or else you will have 18 year old privates earning more than the base commander.