The ways global climate change threats may affect servicemembers

2014-10-15T11:00:07-04:00

Climate change is now being looked at as a national security threat. Rising global temperatures, increasing sea levels and intensifying weather activities will challenge global stability, says Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. The changes could even lead to food and water shortages, disease and clashes over refugees and resources.

On Monday, Hagel unveiled a “Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap” to several defense ministers at an international meeting in Peru. He stressed leaders inside and outside the military need to set aside the intense political debate over the issue. Hagel says our armed forces have to prepare for all possible threats to keep our country secure. This includes our military bracing for a global warming crisis that will cause sea levels to rise 12 to 18 inches over the next 20 to 50 years.

Flooding and erosion will threaten military installations’ infrastructure and training areas, including port facilities such as San Diego, Hawaii and Norfolk, Virginia. The number of humanitarian assistance missions will increase. Climate changes can create new health risks by expanding infectious disease zones and boosting health service demands. Bases in the West will have to consider new water management programs to handle droughts, as dust can ruin military equipment and increase equipment costs.

Hagel outlined a list of potential changes for the Defense Department, including how all branches will be affected:

Marine Corps: Rising sea levels could make it harder to mount amphibious landings.

Air Force: Changing weather patterns could make it more difficult to fly for investigation and surveillance missions.

Navy: New ship technology might be needed to maneuver in the Arctic icy waters, in facing new zones of competition as new fossil fuel and mineral deposits become accessible.

Army: Soldiers may need to help manage instability caused by flooding in densely populated coastal areas, where mass-migration creates chaos and a breeding ground for extremist groups.

National Guard: More severe weather, such as hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires, will cause serious damage that will require more support from members.

The Pentagon is assessing the vulnerability of more than 7,000 bases and installations around the world. As the assessment winds down, leaders are reviewing all budget plans, war game scenarios and off-the-shelf operational contingency plans to determine if revisions are needed in light of projected impact of global warming.

Can key decision-makers put aside their political differences and focus on preparing for climate changes? Given what Hagel has outlined, how will preparing for global warming threats affect you and your service?

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 11:09 AM

2014-10-15T11:09:29-04:00

I think that it would be just as you posted, our missions will become much more dynamic. I do think that climate change should be more of a concern, however, I do not think that it is that big of a matter of national security as some would have us believe. It's a cycle that the Earth goes through, with the melting and refreezing of the polar caps and such. I also think that we give ourselves as humans too much credit in the regard of being the cause of 'Global Warming.'

Response by PO3 Shaun Taylor made Oct 15 at 2014 11:26 AM

2014-10-15T11:26:57-04:00

I think the military needs to start training people for the worse case scenarios and for adverse weather conditions. They can use weather stimulators to assist with that training.

Response by COL Timothy S. made Oct 15 at 2014 11:33 AM

2014-10-15T11:33:05-04:00

With ISIS (ISIL, IS, whatever) increasing their influence, and apparent relevance in the Arab region, the uncertainty of the role of the military in Africa regarding the Ebola threat, and ALL of this in the face of persistent reductions in military spending through sequestration that are eroding our readiness, how in hell can "global warming" rise to the top of the Defense Secretary's talking points?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 11:35 AM

2014-10-15T11:35:38-04:00

All I can say to this is you can't fight God. If the Earth is getting hotter then it's just something you gotta deal with. Protecting yourself from the elements is an individual responsibility.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Oct 15 at 2014 11:43 AM

2014-10-15T11:43:23-04:00

It likely won't even with the worst of predictions I'll likely be dead well before the worst consequences show up.

Response by CPO Greg Frazho made Oct 15 at 2014 12:17 PM

2014-10-15T12:17:29-04:00

It won't.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 12:24 PM

2014-10-15T12:24:58-04:00

"How will global warming threats affect you and your service?"

There's two ways to look at this question.
First, the threats themselves may cause slight action here and there. Over time they will be forgotten and a new crisis will replace them. So threats, or the fear of global warming, may have a slight impact on my service.
Second, how will it actually affect me? It won't- or my future children. I'm not in the slightest bit worried about that. There's real evil and real human problems out there with which we should be concerned.

Response by SSG John Erny made Oct 15 at 2014 12:36 PM

2014-10-15T12:36:54-04:00

I think it is a load of crap!!!! Even if it is real third world countries will keep on dumping CO2 into the environment.

Response by SFC Rich Carey made Oct 15 at 2014 1:15 PM

2014-10-15T13:15:08-04:00

What global warming? (It's all Political)

Response by Sgt John H. made Oct 15 at 2014 1:33 PM

2014-10-15T13:33:54-04:00

Seems to be a deflection tactic of what is really happening in the world and what is happening to our military.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Oct 15 at 2014 2:00 PM

2014-10-15T14:00:16-04:00

Here is a link about climate gate for those interested in the political agenda part of the coming ice age,,,,er,,, global warming,,,,,,,er change, yeah that's it, climate change. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2011/11/23/climategate-2-0-new-e-mails-rock-the-global-warming-debate/

Climategate 2.0: New E-Mails Rock The Global Warming Debate

We need more objective research and ethical conduct by the scientists at the heart of the IPCC and the global warming discussion.

Response by PO1 John Y. made Oct 15 at 2014 2:19 PM

2014-10-15T14:19:13-04:00

It won't...I have to believe there are "global warming effects" for them to affect my service. If the Al Gore groupies are right though and the polar ice cap is melting than there will be only one service to protect us...the best navy in the world...the United States Navy!!!! (assuming we end up like Water World the movie)

Response by Cpl Chris Rice made Oct 15 at 2014 2:29 PM

2014-10-15T14:29:35-04:00

With the scientific consensus that the mean temperature of the world is rising, and that it can create changes in the environment, which will directly effect the actions of humans it is important the military consider how this will factor into future missions. As many of the other commentators on this thread have expressed that they do not believe it is man made, it really does not matter if it is man made of not. If weather patterns change to the extent that they bring drought and famine to regions that already cannot handle the insult, and will result in situations that breed extremism.

If the military does not look at the root cause of the reason that people are going to be ready to strap bombs on themselves to kill Americans they need to fired, and the leader who can look at 97% of scientific study on the manner and say that there is not even a slight chance that they are wrong is going to do serious damage to our national security.

Response by CPT Chris Loomis made Oct 15 at 2014 3:50 PM

2014-10-15T15:50:47-04:00

I agree completely with SGM Charles Brainard.

Taking it a step further, the only difference all of this environmental brouhaha should make is a great commitment to and the increased level and intensity of service members training to fight and conduct operations in any clime and place.

Response by TSgt Charles Holmes made Oct 15 at 2014 5:52 PM

2014-10-15T17:52:23-04:00

I do not believe in "global warming". I do believe Climate Change is happening constantly, however, but we are not humanly responsible for it.

Response by CW2 Ernest Krutzsch made Oct 15 at 2014 6:33 PM

2014-10-15T18:33:35-04:00

Why is the temperature of the Great Lakes 6 degrees lower than normal, we try to rationalize what the weather does, in 1975, it was an Ice Age coming , then global warming, then because it was not warming, Climate Change. My advice, follow the money, Al Gore made millions convincing people by the year 2000 the Earth would overheat and we all would die, we are all still here

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 7:57 PM

2014-10-15T19:57:12-04:00

Climate change is a fact, man caused climate "disruption" or "global warming" is a bunch of nonsense that is completely unsupported by actual data from any non-government funded or non-partisan entity.
This false premise will affect the military in a negative as we waste more than the usual amount of money on unsustainable "green" fuels and handing out R&D grants for solar powered tactical vehicles. Pay raises will become a thing of the past as the force becomes ever more degraded and hollowed out until we reach total combat ineffectiveness. Then we all sit around and smoke dope, eat granola, and question our gender, all while wearing hemp sandals until our country is taken from us by our foreign enemies. The domestic enemies have already won while we ignored our oaths and let the defense of the Constitution take second place to political correctness.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 8:56 PM

2014-10-15T20:56:46-04:00

Since climate change is a naturally occuring cycle of our planet, it won't. It'll take a few hundred, if not thousand, years to have any real profound effect and then after a few more millenia, our future ancestors will be crying about how cold it's getting and call it global freezing.

Response by LT Steve Wilson made Oct 15 at 2014 10:57 PM

2014-10-15T22:57:54-04:00

Rising temperatures? Increased sea levels? Intensifying weather activity?
Where is all this data coming from?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 11:08 PM

2014-10-15T23:08:07-04:00

Since I operate at the tactical level, and live in reality, I expect zero impact to me or my job.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2014 4:22 AM

2014-10-16T04:22:43-04:00

This is definitely not a matter of national security and in my opinion global warming does not exist. Furthermore, there is no evidence that humans contribute directly to this. Global warming is political. Now let's see how many people get upset over this.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2014 5:14 PM

2014-10-16T17:14:36-04:00

Someone then please explain to me the cause of retreat of glaciers worldwide, the shrinking of Arctic sea ice, the dying of coral reefs, and the continuing flooding of Vanuatu.
If for no other reason than simple pollution control, we need to take global warming seriously.
The continuing desertification of northern Africa will likely cause destabilization of regimes there, thereby giving Islamist terrorists more opportunities to grow in size and power.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2014 6:03 PM

2014-10-16T18:03:00-04:00

I want off this planet!!

I swear, the movie Idiocracy is slowly becoming a documentary.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2014 6:47 PM

2014-10-16T18:47:48-04:00

Rising sea's means more opportunity for Amphibious landings... Ooh Rah!

Response by CPL Jay Strickland made Oct 16 at 2014 7:02 PM

2014-10-16T19:02:50-04:00

You young soldiers will have to fill a lot of sandbags. Likely for the best it will keep you from going to the clubs and getting in trouble.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2014 7:12 PM

2014-10-16T19:12:08-04:00

I'm going to suspend disbelief and go with the assumption that climate change is happening...for whatever reason...not going to get into a politiclly charged debate. Climate changes. Been happening for thousands of years. So...what this means for us in a Contemporary Operating Environment where large, unemployed, disenfranchized young males are being drawn to urban areas in search of employment and welfare, we will see an increase in the competition for scarce resources. This scarcity will become epedemic in some areas of the world with booming populations (Africa, India, China, etc), lack of resources will lead to instability and the creation of insurgencies or at least organized criminal activity which may be focused on the destabilization of local and federal governments. Throw on top of this the cultural clashes when tribe or culturally based groups of disenfranchized youth pour into an area normally controlled by a political and cultural elite and you have the makings of a cuture war based in crime, warlords, and terrorism. If these localized issues effect the global market and US interests, it is very likely that the United States will take action in one form or another. We have seen this since Bosnia in 1995 throughout the world. As resources become scarce and cultures clash along fictitious boundaries created in the 1920's and 1940's, we will find ourselve more and more involved in "keeping the ship from tipping over." Resources matter. If climate changes the availability of resources, we will be affected.

Response by Cpl Peter Martuneac made Oct 16 at 2014 9:06 PM

2014-10-16T21:06:30-04:00

Climate change? You mean a naturally occurring phenomenon? Yeah, there's absolutely no threat.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Oct 18 at 2014 3:59 PM

2014-10-18T15:59:23-04:00

I don't see how this is a threat to national security over what we currently face. I have no doubt there are political agendas at play. Experts have been saying we will experience an increase in hurricanes since Katrina. Yet, this has been one of the quietest seasons. I think the climate always changes and it is funny how the term changed from global warming to global climate change. Yes, changes will happen but the significance of these changes is still up in the air.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2014 5:33 PM

2014-10-19T17:33:06-04:00

They won't. Im in disbelief the SECDEF even listed it as a threat. Mind boggling. In any case, threats will be met with the same adapt and overcome mentality that we have used to overcome all previous threats..

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2014 6:03 PM

2014-10-26T18:03:53-04:00

What I see is a lot of hubris over a lot of issues (ice caps, rising sea levels, etc.) and the implications that the things we are doing (in the U.S.A. specifically) is the direct cause.

We now kind of lump everything into one general category and then state we must do something. What is that? Do we REALLY understand the planet? No!! Do we really understand the upper air features which most often predicate things at the surface like temperatures, moisture, winds and so on? No!

We know that people are hurting the environment but the favorite whipping boy is oil. This seems to be a politically driven aspiration with those 'EVIL R' trying to poison our kids. Pollution must be cleaned up for the welfare of all. We do not put mercury in our waters for a reason. We do not put wind mills in a bird sanctuary also for a reason.

What has evolved is a high tech way of spreading half-truths and then demonizing opinions that deviate from the status quo. If Robert Oppenheimer and his minions did not coalesce then solving the compression issue would not have happened. This is not an endorsement for nukes but an honest and well thought-out explanation of atmospheric processes and earth sciences which may explain the issue rather than just assume that AGW is the overwhelming reason.

And this and many other things that draw my attention. If we think we have a handle on weather then we err but we are making strides as we begin to understand Upward Vertical Motion and the subsequent Downward force of air.

And lastly is Kyoto., the IPCC and the Administration's marginalization of Meteorologists. The point is not constructive chat but an end run similar to Heatlhcare Reform. As a Meteorologist naturally I become irritated with the hubris and deception.

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2014 7:54 PM

2014-10-26T19:54:19-04:00

Maybe we will actually be allowed to unblouse and roll up our sleeves in the Army...? A man can dream i guess.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Oct 26 at 2014 8:55 PM

2014-10-26T20:55:11-04:00

What? Global warming? Just another ploy for the government to control the masses. Why not have a once a month blackout? wait, that happened before and the population increased.

It does not change anything in my life. Personally, I do not think there is enough evidence to support it being a national security threat.

We do need to take care of our planet. The evidence being presented is to controversial and has too many holes in some of the theories. Additionally, there have been claims made that what evidence there is has been fabricated.

If it is such a threat, why aren't some of the largest cities in the world that are located next to oceans making preparations to move to dryer ground when the oceans rise? The claim, last I heard was that the ocean levels will rise enough to swallow some of the worlds largest population centers?

I am not convinced there is a threat, but the government propaganda machine will have the masses so terrified they will be willing to allow the powers that be do as they will, as long as the masses feel it is saving their selves.

Just my uneducated, honest opinion.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2014 9:20 PM

2014-10-26T21:20:30-04:00

If there were anything to it, then there would simply be a lesser chance that I would be both cold and wet in any given situation.

I'm all for it.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2014 6:29 PM

2014-12-15T18:29:05-05:00

I am hardly supporting AGW. lol

Response by PO1 John Y. made Dec 15 at 2014 7:09 PM

2014-12-15T19:09:07-05:00

First, you have to believe in global climate changes are occurring abnormally. I do not. I believe the climate changes are occurring as they have over several centuries. So, I cannot answer this question.

Response by CW2 Ernest Krutzsch made Dec 16 at 2014 4:17 PM

2014-12-16T16:17:46-05:00

My answer is, follow the money, in 1975 they said the next ice age was coming, it did not. Now they were pushing Global Warming , but that turned out to be bogus, so they changed it to Climate Change. We can be good stewards of the Earth. One minute the Ozone layer is depleting, the next minute it is not...Al Gore has made billions making us fear climate change that we have absolutely no control over.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Jan 29 at 2015 1:36 PM

2015-01-29T13:36:10-05:00

hahahahaha there is no such thing as of man made global warming...and if there was....there is nothing our lil bodies on this earth could do anything about

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Feb 4 at 2015 6:46 PM

2015-02-04T18:46:59-05:00

Interesting, how's that snow/ice mainland U.S. ? Heard you had a pretty cold year. In Hawaii, they have been saying that another island will rise above sea level in the next couple decades, but how can this be true if the sea levels are rising? Alaska had a late start to winter, is that what we're calling global warming? Things don't add up in my opinon.

Response by MAJ Derrick J. made Feb 4 at 2015 7:42 PM

2015-02-04T19:42:30-05:00

The conclusions of Hagel and others like him are faulty... they are based on junk science that is "proven" with COMPUTER MODELS, which are regularly found to be wrong. That isn't real science, its hocus pocus and chicanery.

Response by SGT Darla Jarvie made Mar 21 at 2015 4:25 PM

2015-03-21T16:25:21-04:00

If it causes any affect it will cause more training to be better prepared. The mission is to be prepared not to worry about the weather we will be dealing with, so train for contingencies and soldier on.

Response by PO2 David Hagwood made Mar 21 at 2015 4:31 PM

2015-03-21T16:31:19-04:00

There is no proof that we are having any kind of significant affect on "climate change". In recent years there have been record freezing temperatures in various places. The fact that our government is funding this research is a joke in itself. They have used scare tactics to increase support in continued funding in the research efforts and only calling this "global warming" when it's convenient, changing it to "climate change" when the record freezing temperatures don't support the idea of global warming. I say that what is happening is what has been happening naturally since the Earth's creation, natural warming and freezing phases. We have bigger problems to deal with; and this hoax is certainly not one. If you don't believe this is a scam, read the independent studies that show evidence of this, not some government-funded studies that have already had evidence of data tampering. In the end this is mainly about the $$$.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Mar 21 at 2015 5:28 PM

2015-03-21T17:28:39-04:00

I will probably have to adjust the thermostat in my office.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2015 6:04 PM

2015-05-09T18:04:42-04:00

Saying the so-called AGW is an emergent disaster is a bold faced lie. The format is also leading. There is no consensus but there are political commentaries leading people too lazy or too stupid to understand that this is no slam dunk but our representatives are using this as a means to an end. $$$

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 26 at 2015 7:09 AM

2015-09-26T07:09:23-04:00

Sea Rise will be a major problem for the Fleet, Shipyards and Mooring. The Navy has been discussing this for some time and Navy Research Lab is working on what to do next.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2015 1:52 PM

2015-09-26T13:52:55-04:00

What I find interesting in the Global Warming debate is that it is used as political football for creating a massively profitable economical sector. Personally I think that the history of Ice Ages signifies that the Earth is on a cycle of warming and cooling, and that whether the "scientists" like it or not, there are some things that they just might never understand. That being said, as one of my least favorite people in this world once said, "What difference does it make?"

It should be everyone's priority to find ways of creating a sustainable economy that is less damaging to the environment. Neither shackling the economy under repressive regulations, nor doing nothing is the right answer. Regardless of whether "global climate change" is happening, or whether humans have anything to do with it, it is without argument in the best interest of the world to create cleaner, less damaging, methods of doing things. Perhaps, if we spent a fraction of the effort being wasted on global climate summits and "proving climate change exists" into just creating efficient and economical ways of producing goods and services we wouldn't be having these discussions.

The reality is, the "Climate Change" concept has created a $300 Billion a year and up industry, and Washington insiders *cough* Kerry *cough* are lining their pockets and putting the attention on unsustainable methods to keep the debacle going... I mean, if we allow businesses to buy and sell pollution rights that will fix it right?

Response by SSgt Everett Jones made Sep 26 at 2015 2:25 PM

2015-09-26T14:25:44-04:00

It's hard to respond to this thread. NASA has released data for several years showing that there has been no global warming for over 20 years, the polar ice cap that was supposed to have been gone last summer was actually 24% larger. Scientists have also noticed global climate change on 2 of our other planets, Mars being one. The large earthquake in South America a few years ago shifted the Earth by 6 inches at the poles, which would equate to a larger shift at the equator. The magnetic field around the Earth is currently in flux and is weakening a bit. Add all of this up, and I don't know what it all means, but there is far more going on than just humans mucking things up.

Response by MAJ Derrick J. made Sep 26 at 2015 4:18 PM

2015-09-26T16:18:46-04:00

We have almost zero ability to do anything about this. This reactionary BS will cost lots of money and yield little to no discernible results.

The fact is, the SUN is the primary driver of climate - good luck controlling that.

Another fun fact is, the "doom and gloomers" started their frantic efforts back in the early 70s. Then they claimed that Earth was in for another ice age.

Being responsible stewards of our resources and land is one thing - but thinking we could out-do the power of the sun? Really?

Another fun fact is, that as the sun ages it's getting hotter and eventually it will expand in size.

If every country on Earth cooperated and did what is proposed, we would certainly have a cleaner environmental moment and healthier ecosystems.

But that's about as far as human efforts can and will go.

Another fun fact is, all the climate predictions are based on COMPUTER simulations, not actual science. The predictions are only as good as the data and programing is. The fact remains, they cannot know all those variables and they can never create a computer program that will accurately predict climate.

The final fun fact is, weather and climate changes in traceable ways - we have next to no control over this.

Let's put thought and resources into things we can change instead of chasing the latest scare-monger fad pushed on us by questionable science.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 11:45 PM

2016-01-19T23:45:28-05:00

This entire topic and deductions made from it are at best specious. Most uninformed supporters have no idea of what they speak. Climatotology is the recorded weather events, since records have been kept.