Archived Military Matters
The About.com U.S. Military Newsletter
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MILITARY MATTERS
Newsletter #57
5/08/00
Howdy all, and welcome to the 57th edition of Military Matters, the newsletter for About.com's U.S. Military Information Page. If you need information about anything concerning the Military, please try http://usmilitary.about.com. If you know anyone who is interested in military matters, please feel free to email them a copy of this newsletter.
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BACK-ISSUES: Back-issues of Military Matters are now available to read online at:
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/newsletters/blnewsletters.htm
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Online "Stars & Stripes" is a Dot-Con -- Excited to see the announcement of the new online "Stars & Stripes" Newspaper? Don't be. It's not the same military newspaper that you and I have come to love and respect. In fact, it's not associated with the *real* Stars & Stripes at all.
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/weekly/aa050600a.htm
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Previous Poll: How Should the U.S. Navy Integrate Women on Submarines? 34 percent: (A) They Shouldn't - Submarines should be an all-male force; 21 percent: (B) Convert Existing Subs - ($300,000 per female berth); 28 percent: (C) Establish an All-Female Submarine; 17 percent: (D) Build future submarines to include separate male/female berthing
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/polls/blsubs.htm
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This Issue's Poll: Should military members, undergoing alcohol rehabilitation treatment, be ordered to attend AA Meetings? (A) Yes; (B) No
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/polls/blaa.htm
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NEWS AND COMMENTARY:
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Brits Send Troops to Sierra Leone: A battalion of 700 British paratroopers were flying into Sierra Leone last night as the rapidly deteriorating security situation persuaded the government to advise all Britons with no essential reason to remain to leave the west African country. The first battalion of the parachute regiment, currently the British army's spearhead unit, was landing in Freetown to help evacuate civilians and, if necessary, UN troops.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2269.1
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A Real Sailor's Navy: DEN HELDER, the Netherlands -- Where does the leader of the world's most powerful Navy go for a peek at the possible future of the sea service? To a Dutch frigate, where enlisted sailors sleep in staterooms, sometimes stand zero duty sections, carry union cards, openly question authority and drink beer aboard ship. But stow your beer stein, sailor: Navy Secretary Richard Danzig wasn't necessarily interested in buying the full package of privileges afforded the crew of the Tjerk Hiddes, which he visited here in January. He focused on technological innovations and creature comforts, areas he believes the U.S. Navy must concentrate on in order to improve the lives of its sailors. Doing that, he believes, is key to recruiting and retaining enough good people to meet the Navy's global mission.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2221.1
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Speak your Mind, but Please Don't Salute: DEN HELDER, the Netherlands -- When Lt. Wilco Dykstra, an officer in the Dutch navy, hosted U.S. naval officers aboard his ship several years ago, he ordered an enlisted helmsman to steer the ship while the officers went below. The American officers paused. "They didn't know if I was kidding or not," said Dykstra, an officer aboard the Dutch frigate Tjerk Hiddes. He wasn't. Experienced enlisted crewmen are allowed to steer with no officers on the bridge, under certain conditions. It's one of the many ways that the boundaries between officer and enlisted are more blurred than the hard line drawn in the U.S. Navy. In the Dutch navy, sailors are encouraged to question orders from officers. Officials say it fosters an atmosphere of cooperation, and allows officers to learn from enlisted crewmen who may be more experienced than the officers.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2220.1
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Nuclear Powers Pledge to Disarm (They just don't know how or when): UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Five nuclear powers pledged their "unequivocal commitment" Monday to ridding the world of nuclear weapons, but gave no time frame or new ideas to achieve the goal. In a joint statement issued at a conference reviewing the Nuclear Nonproliferation conference, the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain reaffirmed their support for the treaty and backed negotiations for other disarmament efforts.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2204.1
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Serious Crimes Down for Eight Straight Years: WASHINGTON (AP)--With serious crime down 7 percent last year, the nation is eight years into its longest-running crime decline on record, but experts see signs that a bottoming-out is coming. Preliminary figures for crimes reported to police in 1999 extended a trend begun in 1992, the FBI said Sunday. That eight-year crime decline is now nearly three times longer than the second-longest decline--the three years from 1982 through 1984.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2276.1
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Grenades, not Ants, Ruin Picnic: MOREAU, N.Y. -- It was a day by the lake with hot dogs and tablecloths, until. . . ."This guy in full military gear crashes out of the woods carrying an M-16 rifle, his face painted in camouflage, and says, 'I should tell you, ma'am, the machine guns don't have live ammo and grenade launchers are simulated, but it could get a little loud around here pretty soon,' " Holly Nye of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., told the Albany Times-Union. Nye and her husband were picnicking with their 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son at Moreau Park in Saratoga County, which Army National Guard soldiers from various nearby units were using for the first time.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2270.1
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The Bombing of the Chinese Embassy: The bombing of the Chinese Embassy one year ago was not deliberate, and there is no evidence that anyone involved in the target selection knew that an embassy was actually the building earmarked for attack on the night of May 7, 1999. But the bombing also was not simple human error, as official Washington continues to assert, and the intended target was never selected merely because it was some government department supporting the Serbian military.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2266.1
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The Army is Strapped for Cash: The Army is so strapped for cash it may have to reduce several training, personnel and maintenance programs later this year. Service leaders told Congress that unless lawmakers approve a $2.2 billion emergency appropriation to pay for operations in Kosovo, Bosnia and elsewhere, the Army will face severe readiness woes in July, August and September, fiscal 2000's final quarter. The Army's portion of the supplemental bill is $1.5 billion -- about $750 million for Operation Joint Guardian and Task Force Falcon in Kosovo.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2224.1
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Cadets Train for Rescue Missions and Life: As an Army sergeant barks orders, Robert Russenberger stands at attention, shoulders tucked in, feet slightly apart, boots shined. This is an inspection, and Russenberger wants to look sharp. You can hear a pin drop in the motor pool of the Teaneck Armory as Reserve Sgt. Jose Loa eyeballs him and 15 others in green battle outfits. Some are middle school students. The rest are in high school. The students are enrolled in the cadet program of the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the Air Force. One night a week, the youngsters gather for military-type drills, physical fitness workouts, and complicated schoolwork.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2246.1
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Air Force Chief says Air Lift Won't be there for Army's new Vision: The Air Force's top officer said his service would not be able to meet Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki's deployment goals for lighter, more flexible units without using all its airlift aircraft. In November, Shinseki announced his intention of transforming the Army into a force that can move a division anywhere in the world in 120 hours and five divisions in 30 days. To achieve this, he suggested the service could transition to an all-wheeled vehicle fleet that weighs 50 percent to 70 percent less than today's armored force. But Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Ryan said that even deploying the transformed Army envisioned by Shinseki would leave no airlift aircraft available for other services or missions. "General Shinseki has a goal for his forces to be ready to move in that time and actually have them moved," Ryan told Army Times on April 25. "But in reality we will not have enough lift to do that, unless you dedicate all lift to just that. There is a finite amount of lift out there."
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2222.1
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Cohen Beefs up Army Funds from Navy & Air Force Funds: In an attempt to buy time while Congress dithers over an emergency-funding bill, Defense Secretary William Cohen ordered $200 million to be transferred from Navy and Air Force contingency accounts to the Army to cover that service's immediate needs. "This shift will be disruptive for the Navy and Air Force," Cohen said. But the Army, which has had unexpected expenses in Kosovo and Bosnia, needs the money to keep rotating units into the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2228.1
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200 Marines give the Corps a Second Try: Marines who got out are getting back in again. From January to March, 2000, 234 prior-service Marines re-enlisted with the Corps. The re-enlistment rate to date represents a 24 percent jump over prior service re-enlistments last year and a 34 percent jump from 1998. That's great news for the Corps, which for the first time in years is scrambling to maintain a healthy career force. Manpower officials anecdotally credit three initiatives -- a personal invitation from the Corps' sergeant major, the Broken Service Selective Re-enlistment Bonus Program and the Prior Service Enlistment Program -- with making it easier for former Marines to go back on active duty.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2213.1
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Air Force Readiness at Lowest Level in 15 Years: Weakened by years of being unable to afford spare parts, the continuous loss of pilots and a decade of nearly constant operations, one-third of the Air Force's combat units are not ready for war, according to a senior service official. This is the lowest level of readiness in 15 years, the official told reporters this morning on the condition his name not be used.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2211.1
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For the First Time Ever, the Army won't Hold *ANY* of the Big CINC Posts: WASHINGTON | The U.S. Army goes missing in action today. When Army Gen. Wesley K. Clark steps down as U.S. commander in Europe and is succeeded by Air Force Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, the Army will find itself in the unprecedented position of holding none of the regional commander in chief or ``CinC'' positions created in the U.S. military after World War II. After today, an Air Force general will preside in Europe for the first time since 1962. The Navy will continue to hold the top command in the Pacific, its traditional domain. And, unusually, Marine generals will occupy the regional commands covering the Middle East and South America. Of the nine top commands in the U.S. military, collectively called the Unified Combat Commands, an Army officer will run one, the relatively low-profile Special Operations Command.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2203.1
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Pay Airmen for Skills, not Rank: Maybe, and it's a big maybe, the Air Force should pay airmen based on their skills, not on their ranks, Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Ryan said during an interview with Air Force Times. "We essentially do that in some ways with bonuses. We do it with doctors by bonuses. We do it with pilots by bonuses. We do it with some of our enlisted folks," he said in the April 25 interview. Ryan's suggestion came during a discussion of ways to improve retention. The Air Force increasingly finds itself competing with the business world for people with technical skills. Airmen in highly sought-after fields such as computer management may be able to double their salary by entering the civilian marketplace, Ryan said.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2230.1
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DACOWITS Recommend Women on Subs: WASHINGTON - A Pentagon civilian advisory panel has recommended that the Navy allow women to serve aboard submarines, one of the last areas of the military that remain the exclusive preserve of men. The recommendation is a landmark in the debate about the role of women in the military. The Navy argues that submarines have too little room to accommodate women's privacy needs, though it has permitted women to serve aboard most combat ships - including aircraft carriers - since 1994. The only other areas off-limits to women are front-line combat positions in the Army and Marine Corps, such as tank and artillery crews. The Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services said the Navy should begin by assigning female officers to Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, the "boomers" that roam the oceans armed with nuclear-tipped missiles. It did not suggest including female enlisted sailors. In the longer term, the Navy should redesign its smaller Virginia-class attack submarines to accommodate mixed crews, the committee said.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2249.1
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Plan would make Black Belts out of Marines: Everybody was kung fu fighting, or at least they will be if a new pilot program proves successful. Marine Commandant Gen. James L. Jones wants to add a serious martial arts program to the Corps' current training doctrine, giving every grunt an opportunity to earn the equivalent of a black belt. Once the program is solidified in the infantry, it likely will spread across the Corps to men and women in every occupational specialty. The pilot program kicked off May 1 in California, with Marines from 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, based at Twentynine Palms. A handful of the Corps' top close-combat instructors will provide the students with four weeks of intense training.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2216.1
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Air Force will not Increase Non-High School Diploma Recruits: Gen. Michael E. Ryan bristles at suggestions that the Air Force use more high school dropouts to fill its depleted ranks. He said he agrees with airmen who tell him, "I'd rather go short than go stupid" when recruiting future generations of airmen. His comments came during an April 25 interview with Air Force Times reporters and editors. As the service tries to recruit 34,000 airmen this year, it will stick with its normal standard of accepting no more than 1 percent who are high school dropouts or people with a general equivalency diploma.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2231.1
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Mandatory Credit Card Use Finally Takes Effect: Those people traveling on official Defense Department business must use government-issued travel cards instead of their own credit cards for any trips that began after April 30. The Pentagon, however, has given the services wide authority to grant exceptions. Written travel orders will explain whether the government card is required for specific situations. People who refuse to follow those orders will still be reimbursed for their expenses but risk administrative or disciplinary action for breaking the law, according to new Defense Department financial regulations issued in April.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2227.1
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The G.I. Food Stamps: Despite cries that the Clinton Administration has neglected America's men and women in uniform, the number of troops on food stamps is declining. In 1991, 19,400 troops received food stamps. By 1995 the number was 11,900, and by 1998 only 6,300 of the 1.4 million Americans in uniform were on food stamps. Even after accounting for the shrinking military, the number of troops receiving such aid has slid from 0.9% to 0.45% over the past decade. (About 8% of Americans are on food stamps.) Close to 60% of military families eligible for food stamps have six members or more. The Pentagon has no desire to encourage bigger families by linking pay to procreation. "It's regrettable that people in the military do qualify for food stamps," Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon says, "but it's more a function of their family size than of military pay."
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2202.1
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AF Offers $10K in College Loan Repayments to New Recruits: For the first time in its history, the Air Force is offering eligible new recruits up to $10,000 toward repaying their college loans. Also, the service is offering an additional $5,000 enlistment bonus to people entering one of more than 100 selected career areas between now and May 31. These incentives are in addition to any existing bonuses they may already be receiving.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2268.1
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Supreme Court Dismisses Health Care Lawsuit: SUMTER | The Coalition of Retired Military Veterans is continuing its fight for free lifetime medical benefits for its members, despite having its lawsuit dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court. ``When this happened, I just went into a tailspin for a couple of days,'' said Jim Gunn, chairman of the 9,000-member coalition. ``I had to reach out to a higher power. I had to do some thinking.'' The court dismissed the group's lawsuit April 17. In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., upheld a judge's 1997 decision to dismiss the coalition's suit, which is claiming the government owes health benefits to all military retirees who have served at least 20 years. The appeals court said military regulations never provided for unconditional lifetime free medical care or authorized recruiters to promise care as an inducement to joining or staying in the military. The Supreme Court refused to hear the coalition's appeal.
http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=2242.1
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You can read more military news on the About.com U.S. Military Site at:
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/news/newsindex.htm
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Around and About:
Army Job Descriptions: Want to know what a "Laundry & Shower" Specialist in the Army does? Check out our new Army Job Descriptions.
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/arjobs/blarjobs.htm
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Army Badges: What do those badges mean? How are they awarded? Take a look at our Army Badges Section.
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/arbadges/nlarbadges.htm
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Navy Chief Petty Officers: Learn about Navy Chiefs in this outstanding History of Navy Chief Petty
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/blnavychiefhistory.htm
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CHAT: Dennis Fauchier (DennisHOST) will be hosting General Military Chats every Saturday from 6:00 PM (EST) to 7:00 PM (EST) and every Wednesday from 12:00 PM (EST) to 1:00 PM (EST). Edward Hanrahan (AssassinHOST) will host every Saturday night from 9:00 PM (EST) to 1:00 AM (EST).
http://usmilitary.about.com/mpchat.htm
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MILITARY HUMOR: The First Sergeant noticed a new private one day and and barked at him to come into his office. "What is your name?" was the first thing the First Sergeant asked the new guy.
"John," the new guy replied.
The First Sergeant scowled, "Look, I don't know what kind of bleeding-heart, liberal pansy stuff they're teaching troops in Basic today, but I don't call anyone by their first name. It breeds familiarity and that leads to a breakdown in authority. I refer to my privates by their last name only - Smith, Jones, Baker - that's all. I am to be referred to only as 'First Sergeant.' Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, First Sergeant!"
"Good! Now that we got that straight, what is your last name?"
The new guy sighed and said, "Darling. My name is John Darling, First Sergeant!"
"Okay, John, the next thing I want to tell you is..."
For more military humor, check out the Military Humor Netlink on the About.com U.S. Military Site at
http://usmilitary.about.com/msubmenujokes.htm
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With those words of wisdom, I once again leave you.,
Rod Powers
About.com's U.S. Military Information Site
