Dear Congress, I'd like to talk to you about military retirement

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-rewrite-the-rules-for-military-retirement/2011/08/16/gIQAk1IMQJ_story.html

I have been contemplating a blog on the debate over changing the military's retirement system.

Betcha didn't know they were even thinking of changing it. But you knew Kim Kardashian was getting hitched this weekend (again), huh? Mr. Bacevitch (a veteran) raises some good, rational points. Most of my points are angrier, and laid out randomly with less structure, as I have an emotional attachment to the issue:

With less than 1% of the nation serving, and not everyone of this 1% stays for 20 years-- how much does it really cost? As much as a year's worth of foreign aid? We have blown more money in Iraq alone for the dumbest stuff. Example: We spent $230 million over eight years here in Iraq in a province where they hate us.

The thing that needs cutting is our bloated procurement system that is overloaded with pork projects, cost overruns, a lack of accountability, and wasted projects. The F-22 fighter has been grounded for four months because it doesn't work, yet nobody gets fired. Get rid of more Generals-- Secretary Gates was on the right track with this. Our 'life support systems' are quite robust over here. KBR is making a boat load off of the Government, and we have now created a dangerous expectation-- four large, hot meals a day, a giant dining facility, and an exported Garrison environment. It all started with Bosnia-- the war Bill Clinton got us in where he said we'd only be there a year (we are still there-- But you knew American Idol starts this week right?) And when the military tells Congress it wants to close a base, don't block it because it will pull jobs from your home district.

Most folks I talk to honestly join to serve, some start out for the opportunities it provides. Others do it because they are lost, and the military gives them a place where they feel like they belong, and they are loyal to it. The military doesn't attract the kind of guy who wants to sit around and suck up welfare, we tend to keep guys pretty busy. They could walk elsewhere and make more money, but lots of Soldiers stay first out of devotion to their fellow Trooper, for the concept of service, and the notion of the Professional Soldier.

We could always go back to the conscript army. Bring back selective service, and sign everyone up. Draft women too-- after all, we are a nation of equality.

I like what he says about first they will cut the retirement, next they will cut the medical-- all at a time when our government is trying to figure out a way to give universal health care to everyone in the nation.

If we are going to go to a civilian-based incentives system, does that mean I get other typical civilian "rights" like an 8 hour work day and an OSHA-sanctioned VBIED-free work environment? Guys on the line at GM don't get rocketed, and car bombs don't go off in the parking lot. At least not usually. Looking forward to checking into that.

My point is this-- Service members serve so others don't have to. The families sacrifice the most, so when you are paying retirement benefits to a Soldier, you are also paying them to a family that went months and years without being a family. Missed birthdays, Christmases, anniversaries, first days of school, missed births, and in some cases missed deaths of family members add up; you can't put a price on the missed events, but it's nice that the government makes a guesture and tries.

Yep, I'm a little mad, but that's a good sign-- it means I still care, it means I still enjoy serving, and it means I still care about the Soldiers I serve with. Things are going well for us, and another chapter is about to be written over here, which is exciting. I'm good; just a little upset with my Government.

Good leaders lead by example. I think I'll support it after Congress leads the way by shedding most of their benefits-- After all, it's an honor to serve, right?

Hope all's well.
Ron

"It so happens that the world is undergoing a transformation to which no change that has yet occurred can be compared, either in scope or rapidity."

Leave was a blast. Lots of good family time relaxation, and a chance to catch the breath and do some thinking. Iraq chugs on. We seem to be waiting on a decision- will we stay or go? A good chunk of forces are leaving, and we are setting the conditions for it, but we are to a point where we really need a decision to be made. Every day is a different opinion of what we should do and a different rumor of what we will do. There have been a series of articles in the paper about the future and pending votes and discussions (one is below) so at least we are now talking about it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/mullen-urges-iraq-to-decide-soon-on-troops-status/2011/08/02/gIQA5ri3oI_story.html?hpid=z4

Things were pretty busy for us in June and July but they have calmed down a bit. The Iraqis (mostly the Army, some of the Government) took some responsibility for a lot of bad things happening to the east of us but the Government stepped up and the security forces seem to have it in check in their own clown car way (and after some healthy prodding from the US: "hey, are you guys gonna do something about those guys launching rockets at us?"). While I was gone our partnered Iraqi Army unit in Maysan did several sustained operations to counter the Iranian influence, and they did a fairly good job, obtaining visible effects. They get better with each one. It also appears a combination of Ramadan and heat has slowed folks down in the good way (not as many visible and active shows of disapproval of US presence), which we don't object to, either. We'll see how long it lasts.

There are good points and bad points to leaving. Good points mean we get to go home, and close a chapter of American history. I think there has been a lot of good done here that most folks don't see-- no more fears of Saddam's henchmen showing up at night, people can speak their mind without fear of government reprisal, and a society that is learning it can stand up for itself. The economy is improving-- Basrah is active with foreign investment. And the world has shown Iran and other dictatorial countries in this part of the world that they are under watch and someone will act (cynical comment: if it is in our interests). The bad point to leaving is that this is still an unstable region, capable of being influenced by its neighbors. Iraq needs the catharsis, though, to become what it will become. It would be a shame for us to leave and the place crumbles, given the 5000 Soldiers who have fallen in pursuit of a stable Iraq.

Don't get me wrong-- I'm not calling it a success. But it's not a failure, either. Yet. The quote is from Charles De Gaulle.

Stay tuned.
Ron