Do you believe that DoD should use private organizations to help search for American MIAs?

SSG Norman Lihou — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 10:55:06 -0400

Justin Taylan has been to the remote Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea dozens of times over the past two decades, spending countless hours slogging through crocodile-infested swamps in his quest to document as many World War II airplane wreck sites as possible.

Since 2013, he has conducted those missions for the newly reorganized Pentagon agency whose predecessor he and others had criticized for years for failing to recover and identify more remains of U.S. service members.

Taylan's hiring is part of the military's plans to reach out to private groups and others to help with the search for thousands of American war remains scattered from Pacific jungles to the European countryside.

Read more:
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2015/0919/Pentagon-enlists-private-organizations-to-help-search-for-American-MIAs

Pentagon enlists private organizations to help search for American MIAs

The Pentagon is utilizing private groups to help recover and identify remains of US service members unaccounted for since World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 21 at 2015 10:59 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 10:59:47 -0400

Depends on who is more effective, its that simple.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 21 at 2015 11:08 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 11:08:10 -0400

I think we should "incentivize" efforts which support this philosophy.

"To promote the progress of science and useful arts" Although we usually use the entirety of this clause (Patent & Copyright Clause), I don't see why we can't use the "perfunctory clause" within a grander scheme as long as it stays within the overall structure.

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 21 at 2015 11:09 AM

SGT David T. — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 11:09:38 -0400

We should use any and all resources to accomplish this.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 11:32 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 11:32:46 -0400

Citizens generally have far more flexibility in what they can do and where they can go. If Government employees were to go there would need to be formal agreements between the state departments, using a private firm or individual is a much more flexible and cost friendly arrangement. It also has the benefit of letting the government fund the organizations that produce results, whereas if it were done by Government personnel there is little incentive to actually accomplish your tasks.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Sep 21 at 2015 11:53 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 11:53:36 -0400

Any and all means should be utilized to ensure that everyone listed as MIA/POW be accounted for and found, period.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 1:28 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 13:28:19 -0400

Really I don't think it should be private organizations, but rather I think the DoD itself needs an organization that does this on the same level. Obviously anyone that finds POWs and MIAs is alright by me, but it shouldn't come to this. We should find them.