Million Dollar Comments

CPO Jon Campbell — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 16:53:16 -0400

Does anyone have any tales of comments that cost millions?
Here is an example:
(According to legend) In the early 1990's Secretary of Transportation Samuel Skinner was attending a tall ships event in New York harbor and was accompanied by the US Coast Guard Commandant and various members of his staff.
Skinner reportedly commented: "Hey, shouldn't those cutters say 'U' 'S' Coast Guard?" (since 1915, all cutters and boats simply had 'Coast Guard' on them.)
The members of the Coast Guard who heard this took it as an order and the entire fleet of thousands of boats were repainted and new letters applied with US in front. All of the stock of 3M decals without US was thrown away and new stock was ordered. The cost to taxpayers for this casual aside was estimated to be in the 10's of millions of dollars.
The benefit to the public was that there would not ever be a single lawsuit from a boater claiming they did not heave to when ordered because it was unclear whether or not the white boat with the red and blue racing stripe was actually the US Coast Guard or some other coast guard.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Sep 10 at 2014 5:57 PM

SGT Richard H. — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 17:57:02 -0400

I would guess that ACU's probably started with one of those comments like "hey, why don't we get cool digital camo like the Marines"

(unverified)

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 10 at 2014 7:13 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:13:45 -0400

How much did the ceramic plates for the body armor cost - not that it was a bad cost - but the issue was brought to a head because troops' families were buying and sending ceramic BA plates to their SMs because troops were being deployed W/O them.