US Army more selective on recruits, re-enlistments

[BMT (RIP)]

Now, as the Army moves to reduce its force, some soldiers will have to leave.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20120522/WIRE/120529899/1003/NEWS03?Title=US-Army-more-selective-on-recruits-re-enlistments-

BMT

[Pete]

It is interesting to note that on 02/19/2000 the Army had 474,219 troops on duty.

It was a long hard task to get Congress to increase it to where it is now - all under the war plan of being able to fight two regional wars at the same time while giving the troops a little rest between deployments.

Just change the planning, have a little budget problems because the welfare queens are bitching - and presto changeo we don't need that many troops.

Pretty soon we'll be like England. They plan on holding the Thin Red Line at 82,000 by cutting the support tail to the bone. Their plan on sustainment? Civilian contractors or "others". Gee, I wonder who the "others" are than they are planning on?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9275812/British-Army-will-have-to-rely-on-civilian-drivers-reserves-and-foreign-armies.html


Remember TASK FORCE SMITH - somebody has to.

[1stindoor]

Remember TASK FORCE SMITH - somebody has to.

I remember a time when we were reminded that we'll never have another "Task Force Smith."

[Pete]

For those who read this and do a casual search of Task Force Smith - none of us throw out the term as a slight against Smith and the soldiers who fought under him. They did buy much needed time with their blood.

[Richard]

Just wait until the new AGCV comes on line...

[cbtengr]

So its going to be harder to get in, with less people getting in with waivers. Its going to be harder to stay in if you got in with a waiver originally. It sounds to me if they are going to get very particular as to the calibre of individual recruited and retained, yet in following the "Last Hard Class" is coming thread, we see that they the powers to be are perfectly willing to water down the standards for earning the Ranger Tab. It make me question just how sincere they really are about "winnowing out not only the lesser qualified"

[The Reaper]

I think Rudyard Kipling summed it up well.

Tommy

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!