Military Retirement “Unaffordable”
By Veterans Advisory Board | July 30, 2010
The following is from the Military Officers Association of America. I STRONGLY suggest that it should be disseminated and all should preemptively begin notifying your Senators and Representatives that you stand in opposition to any actions that arise as legislation related to this “report”
Tom Helsel (LTC, AUS Ret)
Eagles up, Veteran’s Advisory Board
Board Says Military Retirement “Unaffordable”
On July 22, the Defense Business Board task force recommended that the Secretary of Defense reduce the DoD civilian workforce by more than 111,000, and laid the groundwork for potential future recommendations to cut spending on military retirement, health care, family support, and other programs.
Additionally, the task force recommended drastic reductions in combatant command staffing, hiring freezes, and elimination of organizational duplication. These preliminary recommendations will be followed in October by additional cost-cutting proposals.
For the last year, the Defense Business Board has predicted major problems for the Defense budget as the nation deals with deficit reduction efforts, the economic slowdown, escalating health care and personnel costs, and the potential exit from two wars.
Board members believe that avoiding a looming fiscal crisis will require cutting the Defense budget beyond Secretary Gates’ recently announced target of a $100-billion reduction in “overhead” spending.
The Board’s “Initial Observations” briefing devoted an entire section to costs for military compensation, retirement, health care, veterans affairs, concurrent receipt, commissaries, dependent education, and military family housing. It particularly highlighted costs associated with TRICARE For Life.
A page titled “The ‘Military Retirement’ sacred cow is increasingly unaffordable” cites increases in the number of military retirees since 1980 (as if this weren’t the direct result of decisions by every administration and Congress since the 1950s to induce a large standing career force to protect America and the world) and criticizes the 20-year retirement system (as if the military could have sustained the force over the last 10 years of repeated wartime deployments without it).
Another cites personnel cost growth since 1998 - conveniently overlooking that 1998 was the nadir of two decades of erosion of military pay, retirement, health care, and other benefits and that the resulting retention problems of that era were what sparked Congress to embark on an extended program to fix them.
Unfortunately, the Defense Business Board report is only one of the early shots in what likely will be years of budget battles to reconcile military and other needs with truly daunting deficit projections.
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Rename the Murtha
By concretebob | June 25, 2010
This is a petition to rename the USS Murtha the USS John Finn after a real hero and Medal of Honor recipient.
http://www.chandlerswatch.com/2010/06/24/rename-the-uss-murtha-the-uss-john-finn/
The late Congressman John Murtha is having a US Navy ship named for him even after his anti-military tirades of only a few years ago, remember when he pushed for the prosecution of the “Haditha 8?? Recently we have lost a living legend John Finn, the oldest living recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
He received the MoH for his actions above and beyond the call of duty during the attack of Pearl Harbor.
We at Chandler’s Watch believe that honoring John Finn for his heroism is more important than honoring a deceased Congressman known for bringing home the bacon to his District and slandering Marines, who have since been acquitted, for their combat actions.
Join Chandler’s Watch in telling Congress to rename the USS Murtha the USS John Finn!
Sign the PETITION HERE
Topics: Concrete Bob | 1 Comment »
HR 5175 A Bad Bill With Bad Things In It
By concretebob | June 23, 2010
White House issued a statement of endorsement this week, just as Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) tried to quash the rumors that the Senate wouldn’t take up the bill if it passed the House. Despite outrage from his own side, Sen. Reid wrote, “We commit to working tirelessly for Senate consideration of the House-passed bill so it can be signed by the president in time to take effect for the 2010 elections.” Considering the tough race the Majority Leader faces it is no surprise he wants to move quickly to silence the opposition. Meanwhile, H.R. 5175 seems to be inching closer to a vote in the House as Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tries to cobble her shaky coalition back together after several Democrats stepped away from the bill. Once again, she resorted to some backroom wheeling and dealing to buy back her support, this time by protecting government contractors who might be banned from political speech during election season. As always, Speaker Pelosi is on the lookout for new ways to undermine democracy to get her legislation passed. In a great sound bite from the debate, Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) described it as “auctioning off the First Amendment.” Going once… going twice…
** Don’t miss the latest and greatest from FRC’s Ken Blackwell, a column in theHuffington Post called, “Markets and Morals.”
Topics: Concrete Bob | 3 Comments »
Doug’s Diaries Run For The Wall Day 11
By Eagles UP USMC | June 1, 2010
I wanted to highlight a few things before the End Of Mission email.
My “blog” is a combination of factual info - bike count, locations, etc, and my observations and emotions. The rider “next to me” might see, feel and experience something different. Like in Vietnam, we could be in the same battle but remember it very differently.
And - my blog is based on my role as one of 30 plus Road Guards. Each has there own experience and heir own emotion - some have done this for years, others are relatively new. And we are one small part. We have a BoD, a Chairman or President, we have a Finance Officer, a safety officer, secretary and others that are vital to the success of RFTW. On the road we have our registration crew which is usually on site (at every stop) before most get up and are working well after most go down for the nite. We have our Chaplain Corps and our medical people. We have our chase crews (3 trucks and trailers with crews) that are there for when the bikes break down ( and the Harleys do that a lot < >:-} >) , we have our merchandise trailers that raise money for RFTW and the schools, etc, the RFTW donates to. Fuel crew, staging crews. Platoon Leaders, Assistant Platoon Leaders, and Tail Gunners. And others I’m sorry to say I’m forgetting about thru lack of knowledge and being tired.
Many of our leadership work on RFTW thru out the year. Our State coordinators are doing just that - setting up the stops, helping to get our food fuel paid for. Our Route coordinator and Road Captain are in constant contact with each other discussing route issues (highway construction, possible weather issues, etc.) Web site update and maintenance.
I know I’m forgetting some and I apologize to both you and them. RFTW is completing its 22nd year - without a fatality, with only a few major injuries and a mess of minor ones. All in all, a heck of a record.
To all - thank you for all that you do!!
The Mission Rules.
SOME GAVE ALL, SOME STILL ARE. NEVER FORGET
PLEASE CHECK the Veteran and Family Support Events Calender at: http://www.my.calendars.net/cencapgrevents
Doug Lyvere
SgtMaj, Marine ret
Road Guard, Run For The Wall
www.rftw.org
PGR Assistant State Captain, California Bay Area
www.patriotguard.org
American Legion Rider
www.americanlegionriders.net/
Chairman, Eagles Up
www.eaglesup.us
Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Doug’s Diaries Run For The Wall Day 10 continued
By Eagles UP USMC | June 1, 2010
I totally forgot - evening of Friday (Day 10), about 200 of the Riders went to the Evening Parade, Marine Barracks, 8th and I Streets. The Evening Parade consists of performances by the Commandants Drum & Bugle Corps, portions of the Presidents Own Marine Band, and the world famous US Marine Corps silent drill team. A 90 minute performance that literally flies by. You can google the Parade for info and pictures.
Tonights performance was “enhanced” by an unexpected DOWN POUR that drenched all. The Barracks “staff” handed out umbrellas and maybe 6 people left, the performance was fantastic ( I think it was enjoyed by the Marines themselves - rifle drills involving flipping and catching weapons on the fly, precision marching and fantastic drill and ceremonies. The music was fantastic highlighting the Corps ability to adept. The Marines had to have been soaked to bone and yet it never even slowed them down.
The Mission Rules.
SOME GAVE ALL, SOME STILL ARE. NEVER FORGET
PLEASE CHECK the Veteran and Family Support Events Calender at: http://www.my.calendars.net/cencapgrevents
Doug Lyvere
SgtMaj, Marine ret
Road Guard, Run For The Wall
www.rftw.org
PGR Assistant State Captain, California Bay Area
www.patriotguard.org
American Legion Rider
www.americanlegionriders.net/
Chairman, Eagles Up
www.eaglesup.us
Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
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