New grooming standards approved by the DOD

There have been some interesting questions about current
trends in the military.  Being retired
for a bit now, I’ve looked back on my retirement ceremony that my brother and
sister of the Chiefs mess had for my sendoff.  I recall them reading they had the watch, and
for all those years I served where I shouldered the orders and traditions laid
before me they were now taking over. Having them tell me that I was relieved,
and they had the watch; what they were really saying is hay ole timer thanks
for your service drop in for a cup of coffee but don’t overstay your welcome.

As I did for my 26 years in the Navy, those sailors I left
that day to take the watch will take the orders of their commanders and apply
them as their own as we did when we were on active duty. I know that they
wonder what us ole timers would’ve done during our service is they all have
been told to make. They will do what we did when told to make change and change
was always something on the horizon during my time in the Navy. Some changes that
came down I liked and others hated and vise a versa.

That’s one of the many things that I liked about being a
Chief. Us Chief would kicked the orders around in the mess and bark about the
un justice of the new orders,  always walking
out that hatch with our covers straight and carried out the orders we were
given.

What do I think about all of these changes that have been placed
upon our current military leadership? I think those men and women will l have
to group together to voice their concerns to their senior leadership, and what
about us? Well we need to write our Congress and Senator’s  and influence our values within our
communities that voted these law makers into office, and find a person that we
can collectively get into office that shares our  values, honor, and since of tradition. I also
think some of us should run for office placing veterans once again in making
decisions that impact military members by having a leader that has stood the
watch and loves our country, believes in what prayer can do for the soul of the
community, the US Flag, and being a American stands for. That what I think
standing on my soap box throwing out my two cents or dimes worth about all of
this change.

Also know this site was setup to network with business
leaders and those on promotion boards. I wonder what are you active duty people
doing to prepare yourself for the job market or you next milestone of your
military career preparing for the next step of your professional life.  What have you done to translate your job into civilian
terms, what certifications have you achieved that carries over into the civilian
market, what level of education have your achieved? Every 24 year old that
works in HR knows that the military offers the best education opportunities and
if you have completed within your first enlistment a technical certification or
associates degree, or if you did 20 years of service you should have at minimum
a Bachelor’s Degree or making significant progress  towards that Goal. Thinking that the School
of hard knocks means you have to knock harder on HR doors to get a shot at an
interview or knock harder at the chance of seeing your career advance without
improving your skills and education.

1LT Mark O. Read the article. Understand the Pentagon tripping all over itself on this really dumb issue. However, can somebody on RP please tell this old soldier what religion requires body piercings? The text clearly says religious tattoos and body piercings. Is that Reformed Druid?