If you were the Commander-in-Chief for a single day, and had the ability to make one change in the military, what would it be?

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 16:23:30 -0500

If you were Commander in Chief for a single day and had the ability to make 1 change in the military what would it be?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2024 4:25 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 16:25:36 -0500

I would get rid of the up or out policy I have seen many soldiers get out as they didn’t want to lead, and some because they shouldn’t.

If a SPC just wants to drive the tank forever, let them.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2024 5:08 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 17:08:31 -0500

Increase IDT Reimbursement for Reservists and Guard.

At present, the ceiling cap is NMT $500.00 for travel reimbursement for Reserve and Guard that have to travel in to their BTAs. Many TPU/MDay Soldiers have to fly in from great distance. Those plane tickets can get pretty damn costly. Even at my rank and number of years, by the time I get plane tickets (and yes, I do shop for best prices for airlines that travel to my destination(s)), I am sometimes losing money, in essence paying to come to BTA. It's not too bad a punch to the wallet, but it still hurts. Now, you take these PVTs, PFCs and SPCs that haven't been in long that don't make much per BTA but have to buy a ticket twice their BTA pay....those Soldiers are truly getting hosed in the worst way. I'd kick that IDT reimbursement up to $1000.00.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2024 11:58 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 23:58:20 -0500

Try and decrease burnout by actually establishing predictability. To that end, initiate some sort of policy that protects and enforces the T-week model, with anything 6 weeks out being locked in. No more training assignments or operations coming down to BNs with little to no time to react. The policy would force every commander across the board to get their calendars straight and then stick to it.

There would be strict real-world business rules for missions that invade T+6. There would also be greater restrictions on new initiatives by commanders. No more coming in and changing everything on a dime. Commanders will have forcing functions with severe consequences to make them work with what (and who) they have and to lean on their NCOs from the very start.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jan 27 at 2024 12:00 AM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 00:00:15 -0500

1. Since every MOS and school is now open to both genders, I would determine a single physical fitness standard, and all Soldiers in a given MOS would have to make that standard. Eliminate the male/Female standard on physical fitness standards.
2. Re-establish both the hands-on and the written Skill Qualification Test and the Common Task Testing Hands-on testing, making the passing of all three a prerequisite for promotion.
3. Remove/Redact ALL references to Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Identity/Orientation from all documentation as well as the DA Photo from all DA Centralized boards. All promotions should be based solely on merit and achievement. Nothing else.
4. If one male Soldier can have facial hair because his ethnicity or faith requires it, then all male Soldiers can have the same facial hair just because they want it. No One's ethnicity or religion should give them special treatment.
5. Stop using the military as a Sociological Experiment Laboratory. Shift the focus to Combat Readiness.
Bring back the Khaki Uniform for Class-B wear.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jan 27 at 2024 8:20 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 08:20:46 -0500

I would require each service to develop and implement recurring "basic training refresher week." All of the mandatory death by power point bull shit condensed into one single week of classes - if you can't fit it in that week, you don't get to do it.

Then, implement that week at every single PME course from AIT (yes, even for those who just came from basic) on up through whatever it is that Flag Officers go to to get their stars. Additionally, any course which A) is longer than 4 weeks and B) has a "classroom" portion will add basic training refresher week at the beginning. Finally, each installation will run an installation-wide basic training refresher week. Anyone who has not completed the course through PME / other course in the last 2 years must attend. And I mean everyone. This includes Commanders, flag officers, senior enlisted advisors, even the elusive Chief Warrant Officers. For smaller installations (say, less than 1,000) they will run it annually. For medium installations (1,000 to 9,999) semi-annually, for large installations (10,000-24,999) quarterly, and mega-installations (25,000+) monthly.

With the implementation of the basic training refresher week, ALL, and I do mean all, non-tactical / non-METL training is eliminated. Unit level training now consists of physical training, common and collective tasks, MOS skill training / battle drills, specialized skill training (like language sustainment or BlueForce Tracker utilization) and that's it. No more quarterly EO or annual TARP or any of that. If it does not DIRECTLY contribute to your individual or collective wartime mission, it doesn't happen at the unit.

Plus, with centralized training (and record keeping) there is no more "I didn't know getting her drunk so she would have sex with me was considered rape." There is no "oops, I was at sick call that day." None of it.

MASSIVELY free up training time *and* get rid of "I didn't know better" excuses.

Upon advice of the services, I would be willing to extend basic training refresher week to two weeks, if necessary. But it had better be a damned convincing pitch - and it will *not* exceed 2 weeks no matter what.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jan 27 at 2024 12:58 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 12:58:17 -0500

I'll just copy and paste SSG Roger Ayscue's response as my own. I'd also add 1SG Private RallyPoint Member's suggestion of getting rid of "up or out". We lose a ton of skilled and experienced troops just because they have no desire to be pushed into a leadership role they do not want (and in many cases, are not qualified for).

Response by MSgt Shirley Wiggins-White made Jan 28 at 2024 6:41 AM

MSgt Shirley Wiggins-White — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 06:41:23 -0500

I would make sure that each veteran was taken care of

Response by 1SG John Millan made Jan 29 at 2024 3:28 PM

1SG John Millan — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 15:28:14 -0500

Make it hard and warrior focused, quit having heritage this and that days and months, woke, BLM, gay month; eliminate anything divisive or that is soaking up training time. Time spent not training for war is time spent preparing to die.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2024 5:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:51:46 -0500

Except that Congress oversees the majority of things in the military so I don't know how successful anyone could be to make any change in "one day." I know it's hypothetical but we all know changes don't happen overnight and there are processes to go through to institute any change.

Response by PO2 Steven Southard made Feb 1 at 2024 7:43 PM

PO2 Steven Southard — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 19:43:18 -0500

Offer pensions to all NCO's base the percentage of the pension on time served compared to maximum possible service time. So a Navy E4 who serves 10 years would receive based on a max enlistment time of 40 years would recieve 25% of E4 base pay. (Base pay based on the most recent E4 pay scale ensure they are not victims of inflation)

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Feb 2 at 2024 10:14 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 10:14:32 -0500

Reduce the number of Generals and Flag Officers by 2/3rds. At my last count, we have 44 4 Stars and somewhere above 900 Generals and Flag Officers (Admiral's if you don't speak Navy). My math says were have about 1 general for every 1400 service members. Don't Full Bird Colonels run Brigades that are large than that number?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 2 at 2024 2:34 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 14:34:07 -0500

1SG Private RallyPoint Member Order the wearing of Class A uniforms for SMs not detailed to field / actual physical work!

Response by SGT Robert Urbaniak made Feb 3 at 2024 10:17 AM

SGT Robert Urbaniak — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 10:17:23 -0500

I would close the border for good, and hunt down all the Illegal Aliens in the USA, and get rid of them.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Feb 3 at 2024 11:37 AM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 11:37:12 -0500

EASY: "If I Were The Commander-In-Chief " Today,
I'd Make The Arrangements To Execute The One We Had During
The Trump Administration...

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Feb 3 at 2024 11:42 PM

Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 23:42:02 -0500

Elimination of "Up or Out" would be my first choice. There are many uniformed services, here in the US, that don't. I have not noted any problems with them. Finally, it could save taxpayer dollars.

Response by SFC Robert Walton made Feb 4 at 2024 10:23 AM

SFC Robert Walton — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 10:23:39 -0500

Sorry 1SGT It is going to take more than one thing for me to be happy about the current situations in the Military today.

Response by 1SG John Millan made Feb 5 at 2024 2:41 PM

1SG John Millan — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 14:41:30 -0500

I would come up with standardized MOS, rate, AFSC, skill and basic leadership training for ALL services. I would REQUIRE standardized basic combat training for every member of the US Armed Forces. I would involuntarily separate any marxist-leaning or sympathizing troop with an RE-4.

Response by A1C Adam Dollinger made Feb 13 at 2024 9:45 AM

A1C Adam Dollinger — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 09:45:48 -0500

Get rid of most of the generals, the service is top heavy and most are air thieves and a waste of taxpayer money.

Response by SSgt Dr. Dave Frey made Feb 13 at 2024 12:40 PM

SSgt Dr. Dave Frey — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 12:40:47 -0500

As Commander-in-Chief, I would ensure that our country has the weaponry behind us to protect and defend ourselves. There should be an evaluation that our military had superior capabilities than our adversaries so that they would fear the U.S. because of our capabilities. If I only had one day as Commander-in-Chief, and had the opportunity to extend my leadership I would petition Congress to issue an extension of my mandates to protect and defend the U.S. military both from foreign aggression and as well as shielding us at home so that @we aren’t caught with our pants down!” All aspects of our military’s superiority must be upheld not only along foreign borders, but always aggressively superior on our home front! These policies can’t be changed in my one day as “Commander-in-Chief! Actions not in place requires action by all of our people, politically, but supportive by all Americans to ensure our country is safe and protected!!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 13 at 2024 5:02 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 17:02:51 -0500

I would put straight jackets on all Trump supporters and send them to a place like Russia because they love Putin. lol

Response by 1SG John Millan made Feb 17 at 2024 6:21 PM

1SG John Millan — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 18:21:39 -0500

Add Sgt. Robert Johnson to the traitor in the ranks list, with Feuerhoff as NCOIC.

Response by SGT Ernesto Fernandez made Feb 18 at 2024 7:42 AM

SGT Ernesto Fernandez — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 07:42:20 -0500

As much as Posse Commitatus is a valid limitation of our armed force to operate domestically, the US should allow a greater military support role during conditions of certain incidents. When a police officer is killed in the line of duty or if there is an incident of large casualties, I believe improved military support would create a turning point for community recovery. Domestically deploying military air support, working dogs and handlers, medics, EOD and mechanics to support first responders would improve conditions where first responders are stretched thin. Our country needs to come first.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2024 12:26 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:26:45 -0500

Wow, 1SG, stunning question.

I'd secure our fckn border.

Response by SPC Joni Perkins made Feb 20 at 2024 1:51 PM

SPC Joni Perkins — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 13:51:16 -0500

That's called the back bone hurrah

Response by SGT Bill Braniff made Feb 26 at 2024 7:04 AM

SGT Bill Braniff — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 07:04:54 -0500

I would revert the Basic and AIT training back to the 60's.

Response by SrA Cecelia Eareckson made Feb 29 at 2024 8:51 PM

SrA Cecelia Eareckson — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 20:51:53 -0500

Promote a "We are all on the same side" mindset.

Response by SSG Mike Zientek made Mar 17 at 2024 6:44 PM

SSG Mike Zientek — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 18:44:07 -0400

All ID cards would say “Department of Defense” instead of the soft, politically correct, “Uniformed Services”

Response by SrA Cecelia Eareckson made Mar 24 at 2024 3:18 PM

SrA Cecelia Eareckson — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 15:18:16 -0400

Make it clear as can be that all personnel are on the same side. I agree with some commenters below that "special" days need to go. However, from my own experience ages ago, and from keeping a toe in currently, women who serve are still getting a raw deal in many cases. Perversely, there seems to be some notion that holding social engineering events with local women equates to combat. That blatant pay grab is not helping.