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Pastimes : Don't Ask Rambi -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ilaine who wrote (53207)	7/10/2000 10:11:49 AM
From: nihil	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 71178

I am quite a fan of Naval aviation -- the fighting kind. I think there is so much waste in the Naval services that should be stopped. During every war we draft marines to fight while the Marine Bands play dance music for the President. We dress troops in blues to march on parade. We dispatch marines to guard embassies and never let them fight, just shamed by being kidnapped by students in Iran. The fighting marines are deprived so the fancy pants can show off. Do you have any idea what the real recruiters have to go through to meet their quotas? If they don't get their quotas their careers are ruined. Many of them have to cheat and request waivers for criminals and nongraduates to fill them. Why won't people join? Many enlisted men are on relief because they can't feed and house their families. A damn lot of good the fly boys do recruiting of real fighting men. Any nation that will not pay its fighting men enough to live deserves contempt. The truth is that Marine and Naval air should be merged into the Air Force. Of course, we need specialized squadrons to operate at sea. The idea of the services competing with each using our money to recruit pilots is ridiculous. The truth is the Army and Marine ground troops should be merged into one service. It's okay and costs nothing to have them wear different uniforms, but the there is far too much duplication and waste. I'd prefer, of course, that the Army be merged into the Marine Corps which is usually much more economical. But the key to military economy and efficiency is to eliminate waste -- expenditure not related to military effectiveness. We need to eliminate the distinction between officers and enlisted men. We need to reduce the number of different pay grades, and make pay reflect the market value of the skills. We need to make selection for retention much fairer and more focused on performance and knowledge. Most important we need to start shooting a few more generals and admirals for the encouragement of the others. The shameful sex harassment of women service people and wives, the blatant acts of indiscipline (stunt flying in Italy, rape in Japan, Korea and Okinawa) shows that discipline and command have broken down. The behavior of the military (especially Marines) is a shame and a disgrace. It is clear that many officers and enlisted men are afraid to complain about mistreatment. They know they will be victimized if they complain. In civilian industry when one can't complain and is underpaid and ill-treated he joins a union. A soldier's union will soon become necessary unless military command cleans up its act.