Military justice or end run?

Sir,

I think as the Army gets "trimmed" it will go back to standards as we do not need as many. However, in the Army Reserves we are all about second, third, and fourth chances now to allow anyone who used to be non-participants, etc. back into the Army Reserves to plus up our numbers. Until we hold fast and actually process our packets in a fast but prudent manor to ensure that we met legal requirements we will just be sitting here chasing our tails. I mean I am still trying to kick out Soldiers that the last commander was trying to kick out. I have never seen these Soldiers as they have not shown up at all nor responded to any communications since I have been in command. I have been in command for over 20 months now. Three years and still waiting for the packet to go before the CG to kick them out....

So...yeah enforce the standards from top down and show that you mean what is in the regulations. Do not have double standards, nor publish regulations and then contradict it with new guidance. Quality over quantity. Do not inflate our numbers just to hit the make and give too much paperwork to the Company Commanders to deal with on people who should have never been allowed to wear a uniform. The more paperwork you give the Commanders to do the less motivated they will be to do them. You want to see the greatest fighting force ever put us in combat. If you want to see us collapse then give us more paperwork and more checklists and excuses of why we should keep Soldiers who are pissing hot two or more times. We are not better behaved or more disciplined. We are frustrated and not able to handle our own at lower levels as it must go all the way up to the top and it takes years to do most things. How are Commanders supposed to asked about a Soldier who they and the previous Commander never saw? The lower leadership cares. It is questionable at what level it just appears to be a numbers game or where the staff is lying to the Commanders or incompetent to be able to process. Then it becomes a burden on the lower leadership to redo packets with new checklists based on a "bright idea" that is not even remotely based on doctrine or regulations. So do you want to handle it at your level where you know you can do something by regulations or push it up and risk it taking forever and kicking it down the road for another Commander to respond to/risk them ETSing before it even sees the light of day?

This rant brought to you by someone who is in the trenches and fighting to do the right thing and seeing nothing but barriers and roadblocks, but clings to every small victory I get. I will continue to fight until I retire as I love this organization and I hate to see it tarnished by those who should be punished but get to walk around with no punishment for years.

****editors note**** this post will become available in paperback and hard cover in December 2014 at your local bookstore and on Kindle.

COL Vincent Stoneking, I think the answer to why this is happening lies in the theme of other threads here on RallyPoint, which essentially say we're a kinder, gentler military, where choosing the hard right over the easy wrong has become a mountain to high. And overlooking "minor" infractions is the new standard.

"I'm okay, you're okay" and political correctness lead to this downward spiral in the punishment of offenders, whether by court martial or NJP.