Posted on Nov 24, 2014
If you had 5 minutes to discuss a veteran issue with your senator/representative, what would you say?
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This is one of the best threads on RallyPoint if you ask me. I hope it runs forever. We are all having difficulties in one area or another. I was medically retired at the height of the surge and it was a nightmare. I lost the career, my home, my credit, and even my family from too much stress. Back then, there should have been legislature in place to freeze creditors from raising interest rates on mortgages and credit cards while we were left to wait on a disability decision. No creditor cares that there is "a big check expected in the mail."
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Lt Col (Join to see)
SFC Merino - I'm sorry to hear you went through that difficult situation. This is definitely one area where we should be taking care of all personnel that volunteer to defend our nation.
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SFC Mark Merino
I thought drinking a bottle of whiskey a day was a good idea on how to cope. It was not one of my better decisions. When you see 18.5 years circling the toilet it is a classic example of not making a successful civilian transition when alcohol or drugs are thrown into the "solution." If I can help one person not make the same mistakes I made I will meet my maker and hold my head high. That is why I am so drawn to RallyPoint. There are some great people here who are either struggling or who can help them avoid the abyss.
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MSgt (Join to see)
SFC Mark Merino Life has many twist and turns and I have seen many myself. But the one thing that you must stay positive on is your faith in our lord and savior. Remember when you only see one set of footprints behind you that is when he is carrying you. And I agree with you about RP and it is also why I'm drawn to it and hope we never lose it. Stay strong my brother for you are starting a new phase in life and our needed my many.
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I think the most important issue is not necessarily a veteran's issue. The issue is the current strategic misalignment among our national security interests, strategy, and resources. I would use historical examples to make my argument:
- During Cold War, the US had a threat based alignment. The threat was the Soviet Union and its allies which drove US actions and response.
- After DS/DS, the US transitioned to a capabilities based alignment. Simply stated, we did not know what the future threat would be so we developed capabilities that we needed to implement our strategy.
- The US now has a budget based strategy. We do not have a global threat like the Soviet Union so we can not be threat based but yet we can not afford or will not pay for the capabilities we need. Therefore we have as much capability and capacity as our budget allows.
Based upon the above, this means that I expect my Senator/Representative to be more interested in doing their job than in keeping their job. This means they need to be engaged on the discussion of what our national security interests, strategy, and resources are and what they should be. I then want them to vote based upon their analysis of these issues based upon what is best for the United States rather than what is best for them personally or for their political party.
- During Cold War, the US had a threat based alignment. The threat was the Soviet Union and its allies which drove US actions and response.
- After DS/DS, the US transitioned to a capabilities based alignment. Simply stated, we did not know what the future threat would be so we developed capabilities that we needed to implement our strategy.
- The US now has a budget based strategy. We do not have a global threat like the Soviet Union so we can not be threat based but yet we can not afford or will not pay for the capabilities we need. Therefore we have as much capability and capacity as our budget allows.
Based upon the above, this means that I expect my Senator/Representative to be more interested in doing their job than in keeping their job. This means they need to be engaged on the discussion of what our national security interests, strategy, and resources are and what they should be. I then want them to vote based upon their analysis of these issues based upon what is best for the United States rather than what is best for them personally or for their political party.
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Lt Col (Join to see) Ma'am, what a coincidence, I happen to have exactly the right issue for five minutes of a congressperson's time: the right and responsibility of the "armed forces" of the United States to, in fact, be armed.
The fully developed 5 minute pitch can be found ready for letter composition to representatives, planned for supporters of the measure to email at once at the start of the new congress!
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/arm-the-armed-forces
The fully developed 5 minute pitch can be found ready for letter composition to representatives, planned for supporters of the measure to email at once at the start of the new congress!
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/arm-the-armed-forces
Arm the Armed Forces! | RallyPoint
The outcome of the discussion "Concealed carry for CAC holders?" by [~222148:SGT Bernard Boyer III]. Below follows my skeleton letter to congress, based on the edits RP members have suggested to the 10 points. Anyone and everyone is welcome to edit and personalize the letter for their own use in writing to their congressional representatives. We sent a mass email on 3 January, the swearing in of the new congress, now it's a free for all. You...
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