What do you believe is the biggest internal problem facing the current military?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 21:20:38 -0400

What do you think is the biggest problem internally facing the military? As for me, I believe there are too many politicized leaders forcing the civilian PC bull onto us. Such as weakened BCT, with units complaining about undisciplined soldiers coming to their units. Forced redundant training that only needs down maybe once every few years. Also, soldiers who have been overweight since they joined, but are allowed to stay even though they don't meet fitness standards and the soldiers that skate by until they get promoted while the good soldiers are overlooked. Also when units blow things out of proportion when a sm seeks help. Finally, the standards regarding Officers, NCOs, and Jr Enlisted in regards to awards and school slots. What do you think? PFC Private RallyPoint Member SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" LTC Stephen F. CPL Dave Hoover SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth PVT James Strait SSG Private RallyPoint Member Capt Dwayne Conyers CPT Jack Durish

Response by LTC Greg Henning made Aug 6 at 2018 9:27 PM

LTC Greg Henning — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 21:27:44 -0400

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member You are correct on several of your points. I find this goes in cycles with the military.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 6 at 2018 9:29 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 21:29:59 -0400

Sounds like nothing much has changed in all the years since I enlisted (1966). We had recruits and draftees writing mommy about those mean DIs and the mean things they did. Then mommy wrote her Representative in Congress, who wrote the DA, who wrote to our unit commanders. Tiresome little trolls. When we got to OCS, we were told to not bother writing mommy. If we didn't like anything, anything at all, we could simply quit. No harm, no foul. Well, it seems to me that the all-volunteer military is the equivalent of attending OCS in those days. Don't bother writing. Just quit. No harm, no foul...

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Aug 6 at 2018 9:39 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 21:39:14 -0400

I agree with LTC Greg Henning it does go in cycles. However this time we have become PC because of the population we draw from. Instead of making them comply with our standards, we are moving down (my opinion) to theirs.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2018 10:59 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 22:59:18 -0400

Social issues, politics, millennials bringing in attitude taught by progressive teachers, relaxed rules, religion over military bearing, to lazy to meet standards so lower the standards, etc., etc., etc.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Aug 6 at 2018 11:10 PM

Maj Marty Hogan — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 23:10:22 -0400

Careerism and butt hurt feelings. You can't tell someone what a crappy job they are doing for fear they will go postal or hurt themselves.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2018 11:19 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 23:19:25 -0400

Inconsistent discipline and neglecting soldiers.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Aug 7 at 2018 12:51 AM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 00:51:43 -0400

Most of this comes from the top.

If your men are unruly and sullen, If NCOs and Petty Officers refuse to execute their authority and Junior Officers has rather stay in their staterooms all day, look to yourself for the source of the problem. If the men do not do what they are supposed to do, it is usually because no one has told them what to do?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2018 2:07 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 02:07:54 -0400

I agree with LTC Greg Henning that it goes in cycles. The issues we face today are similar to issues of the past. The Army as an organization works continuously to rectify the issues. I will take some of your points and counter them with what I know.

1. "Such as weakened BCT, with units complaining about undisciplined soldiers coming to their units."
The Infantry OSUT is being extended from 14 to 22 weeks. Drill Sergeants are going back to AIT units. Is this the cure? I can't say for sure but I do see it helping. When I enlisted in 1999 there were Soldiers coming in who were overweight, undisciplined, and were not fit for service in my opinion. Additionally, there were Soldiers who had been skating by for years and just there to be there. Sound familiar?

2. "Forced redundant training that only needs down maybe once every few years."

Change is coming and is already here
https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/04/24/the-army-just-dumped-a-bunch-of-mandatory-training-to-free-up-soldiers-time/

3. "Also, soldiers who have been overweight since they joined, but are allowed to stay even though they don't meet fitness standards and the soldiers that skate by until they get promoted while the good soldiers are overlooked."

This isn't an Army problem, this is a leadership failure on multiple levels. I have rarely seen good Soldiers overlooked for promotion. I say overlooked as being recommended for promotion and such. There are "Good" Soldiers that are not promoted due to points but they always have some reason while they are unable to: enroll in college, raise their PT score, etc. And then they blame the system for not being promoted (ie. points too high, MOS overstrength, etc.)

4. "Finally, the standards regarding Officers, NCOs, and Jr Enlisted in regards to awards and school slots."

I'm not certain what your are getting at here. Awards are merit based. What I continuously see and here are young Soldiers not understanding what the qualifications are for certain awards and have poor expectation management. I see the same with school slots. The process isn't understood or they are uniformed.

Good points you bring up here. I hope I was able to give a little insight as to how the Army as an organization is working to find solutions. These things don't happen overnight. The new generation of Soldiers is no worse than my generation of Soldiers and those before me. The issues of today were the issues of the past. We adapt and overcome in the end.

The Army just dumped a bunch of mandatory training to free up soldiers’ time

The Army is ditching several online training programs in a wider effort to reduce administrative burden on units.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 7 at 2018 6:03 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 06:03:12 -0400

It's been a while since I was in Cody, but things haven't a whole lot since I left the military, you still have your slackers that get the perks ahead of the working individuals, and people promoted that don't deserve it.

Response by SSG James Bloodworth made Aug 7 at 2018 6:15 AM

SSG James Bloodworth — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 06:15:09 -0400

PC has to rank up there at the top as issues go. Jr enlisted need to remember that NCO's are thier first line supervisors, not their co-workers. Officers should remember that the word office is in officer. They need to handle that Admin dedication. NCO's need to work together and make sure that they are training their subordinates to achieve success. But I think the number one issue is ALL service members, officer, NCO, and EM need to stop stabbing eachother in the back. It happens WAY too much.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Aug 7 at 2018 7:53 AM

MSgt Michael Smith — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 07:53:35 -0400

So what I get from your comments is the following:
1) Politicians trying to make the military politically correct --I would be really interested in what you mean by this statement, as 'PC' has become somewhat of a catch-all for a variety of things. Are you talking about not being able to rape or sexually harass female personnel? Perhaps not being able to openly discriminate against or disparage different races? Is it the fact that you have to work nicely alongside people that don't look like you? Exactly what 'PC' elements are you referring to. Do tell...
2) Weakened BCT? What parts are weaker in your opinion?
3) Undisciplined soldiers in units: I have to disagree with you here. Soldiers are just the same as they always were -blank slates. It's up to you to teach them to be professional. If there is a problem, its with their role models.
4) Redundant training: Usually if training is repeated over and over in an organization, its because personnel are not getting it, or the problem is very, very large.
5) Fat Soldiers: There is a process for this. That process is administered by a Commander with the advise of trained medical staff. I know its hard to accept your superiors might be looking at a bigger picture than you but guess what....that's why they are in charge. Shut up and color.
6) Awards and School Slots: Perhaps your superiors are looking, once again, at a bigger picture than you. Maybe maturity, professionalism, discipline, are just as important as how fast you can run.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Aug 7 at 2018 9:23 AM

LTC Eugene Chu — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:23:17 -0400

In personal opinion, biggest internal problem is corruption from toxic leaders. Although individual discipline and toughness are key, we have many senior officers and NCOs who commit blatant misconduct. Some Navy Admirals steered contracts towards Malaysian businessman, "Fat Leonard", but were allowed to retire with benefits. We have some Army Generals who had careers end over adultery and sex offenses, but get a slap on the wrist.

Before blaming "political correctness", we should know that while junior officer and enlisted misconduct needs investigation and punishment, we should ensure that the example is being properly set.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2018 2:28 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 14:28:05 -0400

I don't know why every NCO say that.
To be honest I join the army because of the history and discipline that they have..unfortunately when you come to the units they are the most undisciplined. Also a private will do what the sgt say to do..
I'm 30 I was a truck driver for 6 years before I decided to join because I was sick of dealing with bs...but I come here and there is more BS here that outside..

The officers don't know how to plan shit..I have never seen so much stupid in my life..

NCOs are not living the nco creed at all..they only care about pleasing the 1st sgt..I'm a 88m they been here for 4 to 6 years and they can't back up a trailer..so that's what wrong now a days..

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 7 at 2018 2:54 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 14:54:32 -0400

Fighting a long counterinsurgency war.

Response by SSgt Donald Libby made Aug 7 at 2018 3:29 PM

SSgt Donald Libby — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 15:29:39 -0400

When I went through basic you took what was hamded out to you without complaining. No writing home aboit how mean the DI is, or too tough the training is. I look at some of the complaints on a couple of FB sites for AF enlisted and NCOs. The complaints posted there are rediculous. One was, his superior told him he needed more off-duty volunteer work to improve his performance review. They post many instances of they or others breaking the rules/orders. If you post a reply pointing out where they may be wrong they attack you for it even though they sought the advice of the group.

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Aug 8 at 2018 5:29 AM

LTC Stephan Porter — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 05:29:01 -0400

There are some very good points here. I am about to enter my 32nd year since enlistment and I’ve been both Officer and Enlisted as a Reservist and Active Duty.

There are definitely cycles that appear and similarities across the board. So many issues have already been cited; wasting time with quarterly to annual training that does not need to be done on that frequency, and the population that we now draw our force from.

I see that there are huge discrepancies in our talent management professional development of leadership and management. The main stream generation that comprises the bulk of our force thinks much differently and the leaders that are ahead of them do not understand those differences. All sides must learn about each other and meld that understanding to the military mindset and processes.

So there are many, many more problems, too many for anyone of us to list all of them.

However, I believe it is the lack of understanding of the operational military, it’s goals and mission, and an internalized understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the leader in the led. This is at least one of the components of the “atom” making up out military problems, if not the nucleus!

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Aug 8 at 2018 1:06 PM

Maj Mike Sciales — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 13:06:47 -0400

The military has become an isolated warrior class. Young people have been watching Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria drag on and on and they have a healthy sense of "not for me" so who is left to apply? Unemployment is at historic lows, so a lot of young people (and I've spoken to many) don't join because they can find good jobs, go to a civilian technical school, or are go to college. Compounding it are all the mixed signals from the political sphere. Immigrants have always joined as a path to citizenship. Now they get told, "Don't want people like you" and they get discharged and in one case, a combat vet was deported -- that creates serious issues of trust.

When we break faith with our combat warriors, we're screwed. The Army missed its recruiting goals by 60,000. That is an unbelievable number, but not surprising. America has seen the actual treatment of injured vets (physical and mental) who come home and know it is horrible. We all know this, no secret, its on the news all the time, but no intelligent solutions, just cuts to VA services and a tax break for folks who don't need one. Service member suicide is at a very high rate, yet no change to the culture.

Young people see that and ask themselves, "Why would I sign up for that?" and that is a very good question. End result, we don't get very good candidates, but the quality of candidates has been in decline since Desert Storm ended and the great RIF of '92 and spawned the first generation of bad leadership.

Response by SFC James Welch made Aug 8 at 2018 7:27 PM

SFC James Welch — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 19:27:50 -0400

It’s a gross mistake to allow standards to drop for any reason! You then become responsible for the death of half-ass trained soldiers that might have survived had they been trained to the proper standards. Military life is supposed to be hard. Combat is hard. Death is forever! If I had a Son in the Army today I would want him trained hard, no quarter given. He would become a man, not a pansy!

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Aug 9 at 2018 11:40 AM

SSG Ed Mikus — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 11:40:50 -0400

managment of the budget

Response by 1SG James Matthews made Aug 26 at 2018 9:46 AM

1SG James Matthews — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 09:46:43 -0400

Take the politics out of the military and get back to true leadership without worry of promotion.

Response by CPO Leonard Orth made Aug 26 at 2018 10:41 PM

CPO Leonard Orth — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 22:41:29 -0400

Too many trumplodytes that believe they are the smartest people who ever served.

Response by SGT Linda Moss made Sep 20 at 2018 7:42 PM

SGT Linda Moss — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 19:42:48 -0400

The self entitlement that so many feel is a big problem. They where told there where special and award for loosing. Oh let not forget that race card that get played so much. It use to be there was not color but green.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Sep 21 at 2018 11:39 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 11:39:28 -0400

Zero defects mentality. Too many Commanders and senior NCOs are worried about someone under them screwing up, because they think it will make them look bad as Commanders / Senior NCOs. Gone is the time when the Lieutenant can try a hair-brained scheme because (s)he thinks it just might work. Commanders won't allow it, because they think it WON'T work, and therefore they will look bad for having a screwed up LT. Same for team leaders. We used to be a military that was strong because we allowed our junior leaders to improvise. Now we dictate not only what, but how. This leads to leaders who are not able to react when things go wrong, because they have been taught that things ARE NOT ALLOWED to go wrong. How dare you, LT, have someone external influence the battle?

This is strongly enforced not just in orders / micro-management, but also in punishment. When you hold a leader accountable for EVERYTHING a junior does - even if that thing was not predictable, you FORCE that leader to micromanage, to dictate, and to remove all possible uncertainty from every situation. If PVT Snuffy overslept and didn't make it to PT, that is because PVT Snuffy f%^*ed up. Not because SGT Tacklebox was an inattentive leader. And CERTAINLY not because 1SG Hardhead is failing to enforce standards. Now... if PVT Snuffy misses PT every day in a single week, it is a different story, true.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2018 3:35 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 03:35:12 -0400

The single biggest problem facing the military is the post-2000 era expectation of professionalism in the enlisted force. It pours over to the officer force, but in a different way. Personnel are expected to be professional but not treated professionally. It’s a double standard and it doesn’t work; that’s why the military is bleeding talent like a stuck pig. The most talented realize they aren’t being treated with any respect but are expected to treat their leadership and duties with massive amounts of respect. The leadership focus is on meeting goals and deadlines and objective requirements instead of meeting the basic requirement of being generally good leaders; that is to say treating their subordinates with respect.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 23 at 2018 12:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 12:07:52 -0400

Iraq and Afghanistan has cost us a vast sum of money, attrited the troops with multiple deployments, and made us focus on counter insurgency instead of peer on peer warfare.

Response by MSgt James "Buck" Buchanan made Oct 2 at 2018 4:52 PM

MSgt James "Buck" Buchanan — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 16:52:40 -0400

While it may not be the biggest problem, but is something I think contributes to everything SPC Cody Voye mentioned, one of the things we face is the lack of teaching history in such a way that the younger generations feel a "kinship" with where we have been, where we are, and the direction we many times seem to be headed. For those of us born from the '20s into the late '80s/early '90s we had the spectrum of WW I, the "war to end all wars"; WW II and its truly world wide ramifications; from the late '40s through the early '90s (and maybe still somewhat today) the threat of the "red menace" of Communism and Mother Russia. The Vietnamese conflict has been so buried that unless you served there or during that time you have no real relationship with what went on, both at the front and at home. The dangers left over from Desert Storm, the '93 attack on the WTC, the much more successful attack of 9/11 aren't seemingly used as rallying points to bring us together, but as points of separation to bring us to a point of appeasement toward those who caused the problem. I guess what this boils down to is a personal concept of the relationship of the dangers that face our country every day and how we are motivating our citizenry to be in a state of preparedness for what may come. The days of hiding under your desk at school because of a bomb threat from an outside enemy are still relevant, and I'm not talking about the random shooter who causes damage, but the larger enemy who constantly lurks at our borders and beaches.

Response by CMSAF Kenneth Lake made Oct 4 at 2018 9:10 PM

CMSAF Kenneth Lake — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 21:10:26 -0400

Yes a lot has and senior NCO’s are you enjoying your time out cards. Navy Master Chiefs are leaving because of political correctness and poor leadership. The byproduct of Democrats crying there isn’t a need for a professional military. I spent five years purging PC out of Group Headquarters, unless upper leadership supports the senior NCO’s you will be fighting a loosing battle.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2018 4:21 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 16:21:41 -0400

Governmental bureaucrats using the military as a social science experiment.

Response by SGT Jim Ramge, MBA made Oct 7 at 2018 9:28 PM

SGT Jim Ramge, MBA — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 21:28:05 -0400

The single biggest problem... The pay gap amongst their civilian counterparts and B.S. pay raises while Congress sits fat, dumb and happy on their yearly increases! Military Doctors (not sure of Lawyers), get pro pay to remain in... What about those Enlisted that are good with Computers, Intelligence, Med Tech’s, etc., that are all making 3-5x in the outside world... Sorry, but those little “We are keeping up with the civilian workforce data sheets” are crapola when it comes to certain fields...
When you put your life on the line, you should be paid a heck of a lot more money than you fine folks are getting with those continued depleted benefits while serving and then on into retirement - rant over...

Response by SSG Dave Johnston made Oct 21 at 2018 10:13 PM

SSG Dave Johnston — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 22:13:01 -0400

Political correctness and the cyclic drawdowns the military goes through every couple of years. Our civilian leaders forget that the Congress has a "Constitutional" requirement to fund and maintain the Navy and Army [Art 1, Sect 2, cl. 12 and 13 US Constitution]. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 doesn't help either.
Can you imagine what a military force would look like if DOD applied the training outlined in the following:
Heinlein: Starship Troopers
Gordon Dickson: Dorsai
Joe Haldeman: The Forever War

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Oct 24 at 2018 3:14 PM

CWO2 Shelby DuBois — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 15:14:10 -0400

Valid points SPC Voye. I agree...the force fed PC doctrine is a thorn in the side and unnecessary distraction and fiscal waste. What's even more scary is the brass on Capitol Hill ignoring real issues to focus on destroying careers of anyone who dares disagree with them about it. When a General or Admiral has nothing better to do than to create orders for units to spend time and money to purge their training and operations manuals of potential 'offending' verbiage, it's reached its idiocy point.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2018 1:34 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 01:34:40 -0500

There's some things that irk me: the amount of time wasted on stupid take like "area beautification" and other crap. Or soldiers should spend the majority of their time training, not doing administrative tasks. The race to lower standards. The money wasted on inclusion programs (I don't care about outliers, we should be focusing our money on a meritocratic utilitarian manner), the crap way we assign duties without regards to their educational backgrounds or linguistic aptitudes, the fact that after two decades in Afghanistan that most of our soldiers still don't have a clue about the place prior to deploying there... The favoritism and careerism is bad too.
Also the amount of waste and lack of efficiency and the disregard for tube and money...
The fact that we even purchase supplies from communist China disgusts me.
Also the lack of fighting spirit in rear-echelon troops.
The traditions of officers not to wear qualification badges - they should wear them and set the example for their troops along with the NCOs, otherwise the troops with think it's not important.
The way soldiers and even leaders politicize everything and openly use political pejoratives is frankly appalling. That fucking shit can not stand. It's the US Army, not the Democrat Army or the Republican Army. This isn't a fuckin dictatorship, we're not a party-Army. Shit pisses me off.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2018 4:50 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 04:50:53 -0500

They're just not motivated enough.