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Office of the President (POTUS)
Posted on Sep 5, 2016
5 questions for the next commander in chief | MilitaryTimes
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On Sept. 7, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will participate in a prime time public forum expressly dedicated to topics of consequence to the nation’s military and veterans communities.
Organized by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and set to air on NBC, the forum has been presented as an opportunity for the nominees to provide a clear, detailed picture of how they intend to manage the military and care for those who’ve served. That’s been lacking thus far. While both have pledged to keep the military strong, and to protect the benefits that some in Washington would cut, neither Trump nor Clinton has offered much of substance about how they would approach such decision-making.
Here are a few good places to start:
1. What’s to become of troops’ pay? Since 2013, the annual military pay raise has failed to keep pace with the private sector, averaging just 1.1 percent. Next year’s raise is likely to fall short, too, unless there’s a compromise between Congress and the White House. Retention bonuses have shriveled in recent years. Housing allowance is at risk (see below). It’s become too tight-fisted, and is costing the military its top talent while eroding military families’ buying power. The force deserves to hear how the next commander in chief will remedy this.
2. Why is my housing allowance being cut? The Senate is backing some creative cuts to troops’ basic allowance for housing, or BAH. Lawmakers want to reimburse only the cost of rent and utilities, rather than a location-specific stipend. There are talks now, too, of slashing the stipend for thousands of married couples who both serve in uniform. It’s estimated that some families will lose hundreds of dollars per month, and experts fear some will become overextended as a result. How would Trump or Clinton protect what’s become a significant piece of the military’s overall compensation package?
3. Is the government reneging on its GI Bill promises? In another bid to cut spending, lawmakers are pushing a plan to raid the Post-9/11 GI Bill. One proposal would reduce the growth of its housing allowance against inflation. Another would halve the housing stipend for those with dependents, a move that supporters say would save an estimated $733 million over a decade. Understandably, some veterans groups are furious. Clinton has offered general support for protecting the benefit, while Trump has been mostly silent on the issue. Veterans depend on the GI Bill to retrain before re-entering the private sector, and their service to the nation during wartime entitles them to a clear explanation as to what they should expect. How are they to plan otherwise?
4. How will you fix the VA? Clinton and Trump agree on one thing at least: The Department of Veterans Affairs needs serious attention. They differ wildly on how to go about fixing VA’s problems, though.
Clinton needs to clean up her confusing rhetoric when it comes to the VA. She acknowledges serious shortfalls when it comes to veterans’ care, but has slammed Republicans for what she calls overblowing the problems patients have encountered. And while Trump wants to offer the option for patients to seek care outside the VA network, he needs to explain how he would ensure that won’t increase costs and jeopardize other areas of the budget that benefit vets and their families.
Fewer things are more sacred to the military than the promise of health care — especially for those who’ve been wounded or fallen chronically ill as a result of their service. The candidates must demonstrate this issue has their full attention.
5. Why should I trust you? It truly is that simple. The candidates’ positions on key issues are important, but when troops and vets go into the voting booth, their decision will likely key on which candidate has their confidence. Both Trump and Clinton come with plenty of baggage, and most voters decided long ago who has earned theirs. But for those still on the fence, this forum represents perhaps the last opportunity to demonstrate why they deserve this demographic’s trust.
Organized by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and set to air on NBC, the forum has been presented as an opportunity for the nominees to provide a clear, detailed picture of how they intend to manage the military and care for those who’ve served. That’s been lacking thus far. While both have pledged to keep the military strong, and to protect the benefits that some in Washington would cut, neither Trump nor Clinton has offered much of substance about how they would approach such decision-making.
Here are a few good places to start:
1. What’s to become of troops’ pay? Since 2013, the annual military pay raise has failed to keep pace with the private sector, averaging just 1.1 percent. Next year’s raise is likely to fall short, too, unless there’s a compromise between Congress and the White House. Retention bonuses have shriveled in recent years. Housing allowance is at risk (see below). It’s become too tight-fisted, and is costing the military its top talent while eroding military families’ buying power. The force deserves to hear how the next commander in chief will remedy this.
2. Why is my housing allowance being cut? The Senate is backing some creative cuts to troops’ basic allowance for housing, or BAH. Lawmakers want to reimburse only the cost of rent and utilities, rather than a location-specific stipend. There are talks now, too, of slashing the stipend for thousands of married couples who both serve in uniform. It’s estimated that some families will lose hundreds of dollars per month, and experts fear some will become overextended as a result. How would Trump or Clinton protect what’s become a significant piece of the military’s overall compensation package?
3. Is the government reneging on its GI Bill promises? In another bid to cut spending, lawmakers are pushing a plan to raid the Post-9/11 GI Bill. One proposal would reduce the growth of its housing allowance against inflation. Another would halve the housing stipend for those with dependents, a move that supporters say would save an estimated $733 million over a decade. Understandably, some veterans groups are furious. Clinton has offered general support for protecting the benefit, while Trump has been mostly silent on the issue. Veterans depend on the GI Bill to retrain before re-entering the private sector, and their service to the nation during wartime entitles them to a clear explanation as to what they should expect. How are they to plan otherwise?
4. How will you fix the VA? Clinton and Trump agree on one thing at least: The Department of Veterans Affairs needs serious attention. They differ wildly on how to go about fixing VA’s problems, though.
Clinton needs to clean up her confusing rhetoric when it comes to the VA. She acknowledges serious shortfalls when it comes to veterans’ care, but has slammed Republicans for what she calls overblowing the problems patients have encountered. And while Trump wants to offer the option for patients to seek care outside the VA network, he needs to explain how he would ensure that won’t increase costs and jeopardize other areas of the budget that benefit vets and their families.
Fewer things are more sacred to the military than the promise of health care — especially for those who’ve been wounded or fallen chronically ill as a result of their service. The candidates must demonstrate this issue has their full attention.
5. Why should I trust you? It truly is that simple. The candidates’ positions on key issues are important, but when troops and vets go into the voting booth, their decision will likely key on which candidate has their confidence. Both Trump and Clinton come with plenty of baggage, and most voters decided long ago who has earned theirs. But for those still on the fence, this forum represents perhaps the last opportunity to demonstrate why they deserve this demographic’s trust.
5 questions for the next commander in chief | MilitaryTimes
Posted from militarytimes.comPosted in these groups: Office of the President (POTUS)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
Posted >1 y ago
Leaders lead by Example and from the front, not by Stolen Valor, claiming to have been under sniper fire while in reality a bunch of children received you with flowers...nothing to snipe at...
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
>1 y
SGT Damaso V Santana thanks for the response, well said and profoundly conveyed.
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Posted >1 y ago
How will you earn the respect of the service personnel that you have sworn an oath to lead?
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
>1 y
Commander-in-Chief Forum » Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Of America (IAVA)
For the first time in history, both major party Presidential nominees will take the stage in New York City for a forum focusing on national security, military affairs, and veterans issues. Hosted by IAVA, and broadcast in primetime by NBC and MSNBC, this forum will allow an audience of primarily servicemembers, veterans and military family members to ask questions of both candidates on the issues most important to our community. Learn more...
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SFC William Farrell
>1 y
Something the current President has not done COL Lee Flemming. Great question.
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COL Lee Flemming
>1 y
SFC William Farrell - still serving...can't say anything about that. Thanks for the comments though!
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Posted >1 y ago
I think the only question of those five that is worth asking are #1 and #5 since the rest are well below the level of the President SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
1. The actual question should focus on the candidates views on how DoD and its people fit into government. Either they are just another agency as in the Obama administration or they are unique and should be treated independently of the civilian agencies.
a. Should the military pay scales be bumped up to more closely match comparable civilian pay scales.
b. Should retirement pay and disability pay be tied to the active pay scales or continue to be determined independently.
2. Do you view the military as an extension of foreign policy which needs to be judiciously.
a. Once the military options is used should we do our best to win the war and have an unconditional surrender or leverage the military to bring about a negotiated peace.
3. How have you used your power to help this nation and its citizens?
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Forrest Stewart SGT Robert Hawks SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright
1. The actual question should focus on the candidates views on how DoD and its people fit into government. Either they are just another agency as in the Obama administration or they are unique and should be treated independently of the civilian agencies.
a. Should the military pay scales be bumped up to more closely match comparable civilian pay scales.
b. Should retirement pay and disability pay be tied to the active pay scales or continue to be determined independently.
2. Do you view the military as an extension of foreign policy which needs to be judiciously.
a. Once the military options is used should we do our best to win the war and have an unconditional surrender or leverage the military to bring about a negotiated peace.
3. How have you used your power to help this nation and its citizens?
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Forrest Stewart SGT Robert Hawks SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright
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SSgt Robert Marx
>1 y
I would say that the POTUS has been too quick to use the armed forces and too slow to allow the same to heal and refit.
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