To much effort being spent looking for "loop holes"

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 23:31:53 -0500

I have only been in the Army for 12 years. One thing I have noticed at an increasing rate is how many Service Members feel that the Army's Standards and Regulations are up to them to follow and to what extent. Sadly it isn't just junior Soldiers, but also junior NCOs, senior NCOs, and Officers. I think the push of "Americas Army - Our Profession" is very important and a good step in the right direction of bringing pride and discipline back into our ranks. I guess this was a rant rather than a question. Just wish we could just flat out cut the dead weight and move forward.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Dec 17 at 2013 11:36 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 23:36:54 -0500

This is from people losing pride in what we do in my opinion.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Dec 18 at 2013 12:31 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 00:31:44 -0500

Part of the problem is the number of rules that were created to deal with "stoopid". Half the regs were written because someone couldn't understand basics. The policy against starching your uniform was created for a reason, then some CSM got the ass because the uniform didn't look as sharp any more and started requiring starch, defeating the purpose of the new mods to the uniform. Now we are going through the same problem again. If you are wearing ACUs or other class C's, your job is to get them dirty, not starch and press. Now, the clowns at the Pentagon that like to wear their fluff and buff PJs to the office wear they are never going to see any dirt, there's a reason a Flag Officer instituted a Class As policy there. If you want your troops dressed sharp, you have Class As. In a sense, this goes back to another thread regarding opinion as policy. You want to instill pride? Its not about the crease in the cap or the shine of the boot. Its about being able to do a job you are proud of and doing it well. Victory on obstacle courses, combatives competition, clearing the shoot house for time... MOS specific awards.... You fix that, and the rest will fall into place. Just ask the Marines.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2013 12:45 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 12:45:54 -0500

Well why not suggest that the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Army do a 90day event where you allow servicemembers who are miserable to get out free and clear without followup and have them sign saying from this date the Army and military and gov't is not financially responsible for furture health, social, or financial issues. If you did that I think you would be pleaseantly srprised at just how much dead weight would be dropped. To caveat the attrition rate needs to be reintroduced. If we are in an Army Profession why do we continue to 'test till they pass" mentality? Some people are either no longer or are just not fit to remain or train in today's military. Yet we allow ourselves to succomb to the message that all levels of personnel are trainable even to the minimum standard. In turn we set the bar so low that the minimum standard is the "Tommy Boy Situation" Way to go on that D+...... So now you have for instance a 70 percent(er) that only correctly repairs aircraft assumingly 70 percent of the time. that sucks... In order to alleviate loop holes and train professionals we need to endure some attrition and say "thanks for playing but you didnt make it..." it is no different than 18CMF or ranger or airborne schools if you fail a test you retest and fail that you are removed the end of story no 3rd/4th/5th retests... Send a message to the top leaders "Hey if you want the best you have to uphold the standards and retain the best" there is no incentive for a hard worker wh owatched his peers benefit without performing in the same manner...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2013 12:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 12:46:58 -0500

We are an All-volunteer force it is about time we return to its original intent and perform as one.

Response by SGT Thomas Brown made Feb 18 at 2014 2:01 AM

SGT Thomas Brown — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 02:01:01 -0500

I fact that there are loop holes in the system and people exploit these loop holes just allows for more soldiers to realize them and use them as well. The issue I see is when it comes to dealing with a chapter on a soldier. There are certain things that needs to be done in order to chapter somebody and if one thing wasn't complete then they exploit that and allow for the process to be extended. The other issue is when a senior leader exploits a loop hole the lower level leader see this as well and does what their leaders do and eventually a lot of people are using these loop holes. We need to get back to the old ways of the Army, granted I have only been in 7 1/2 years but at the same time I have seen a lot of transition since I have been in. I don't always agree with these changes but we all have to take pride in everything we do and must understand all the changes and follow them with no short cuts.