The Clinton Years

Scimitar · 10-26-2008, 16:31

I would be interested in hearing from some of the QPs; ground truth on what happened at the grass roots level during the Clinton downsizings? What effects where there in SF on a day-to-day basis?

S

**Pete** · 10-26-2008, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scimitar

I would be interested in hearing from some of the QPs; ground truth on what happened at the grass roots level during the Clinton downsizings? What effects where there in SF on a day-to-day basis?

S

The timeline really started with the fall of the CSSP. Under Bush the elder the US saw Peace in our time, no need for a large conventional force.

The downsizing was well under way when the first Gulf War kicked up. A number of units that went to the desert knew they were going to be axed after the war. A-10s were saved by that war.

To be fair Clinton only speeded up and deepened what was already underway. Although he and his friends - seemed to take great pleasue in doing so.

Not much of a negative impact for SOF units, money was short but you went anyway.

**Team Sergeant** · 10-26-2008, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

Not much of a negative impact for SOF units, money was short but you went anyway.

You mean besides nutering the military, which included Special Forces officers and Sr. NCO's.

If I recall correctly we instituted the dreaded "risk analysts" under bill "blowjob" clinton and fired everyone that had anyone in their unit "injured" for any reason.......

Training got to the point I was told by a battalion Commander that we had to "walk through" each and every individual that was going to take part in a shoot house live fire. I then asked the LTC where the training value was if they already knew where the bad-guys were before they entered? That's when I was "dismissed".

We took some tough hits during that time.

TS

**Box** · 10-26-2008, 17:46

Does anyone still have the "Army Values" card that everyone had to carry after Bill got his bayonet polished?

**Eagle5US** · 10-26-2008, 19:33

Hmmm...
-pallets of team gear left behind so we could take MRE's that we had to purchase then had our separate rations taken
-$2 / day per diem (for water)
-runs to Jim's Pawn and Gun with the team fund for ammo for training
-risk assessment matrices to walk from the company area to the woods across the parking lot; including specified actions and medical response should someone "sustain injury negotiating the numerous curbs in the 7th SFG(A) parking area"

great times

Eagle

abc_123 · 10-26-2008, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle5US

Hmmm...
-pallets of team gear left behind so we could take MRE's that we had to purchase then had our separate rations taken
-$2 / day per diem (for water)
-runs to Jim's Pawn and Gun with the team fund for ammo for training
-risk assessment matrices to walk from the company area to the woods across the parking lot; including specified actions and medical response should someone "sustain injury negotiating the numerous curbs in the 7th SFG(A) parking area"

great times

Eagle

Going on 45 day missions with $2k in opfund...

The risk assessments really took the cake...

Dozer523 · 10-26-2008, 22:27

The fall of the Soviet Union was the worst thing that ever happened to me. The "Peace Dividend", anyone remember that crock? I'll vouch that the begining of the bad times started with Bush the Elder. 1990 there were three or four of us thinking about how and where we going to throw the O-4 promotion party when we got called into the commander's office one by one. At least we got the rest of the day off.

SF took it in the shorts after Vietnam too. I met a Reserve full-timer at SWC who told this awful story about getting passed over after 74. He had two or three tours and had "been there". But when Infantry Branch had to thin the ranks it seemed the "bluer" you were the safer you were (according to him). The Aviators got tagged pretty hard after Vietnam too I understand. As for Clinton, ,from the outside, looking back it appeared that except for the "don't ask, don't tell" foolishness, Bill seemed to treat the military pretty well. (But I was on the outside looking back. Of course the "salad days" were President Reagan after the bleak Carter years. Time will tell about these days when all this ends. It will, too. Someday.

kgoerz · 10-27-2008, 07:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle5US

Hmmm...
-pallets of team gear left behind so we could take MRE's that we had to purchase then had our separate rations taken
-$2 / day per diem (for water)
-runs to Jim's Pawn and Gun with the team fund for ammo for training
-risk assessment matrices to walk from the company area to the woods across the parking lot; including specified actions and medical response should someone "sustain injury negotiating the numerous curbs in the 7th SFG(A) parking area"

great times

Eagle

I still miss it thou

**The Reaper** · 10-27-2008, 08:39

Ah, the Klinton era....flashback to "America Held Hostage, Day 1" (till the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated and the nasty right wingers and their popular shows are taken off the air).

Most of the bad personal stories involved Hillary, though there is no one saying if Bill hit on female service members like he did everyone else. As I understand it, Hillary did.

At various times, Hillary asked military officers in uniform to act as waiters during formal dinners and told then LTG Barry McCaffrey not to wear his uniform when visiting the White House. Rumor was, she and LTG Claudia Kennedy were pretty close though.

Bill and Hill started off with the crazies and leftist policies, like "don't ask don't tell", and after two years of mismanagement, cost a lot of Dim Congresscritters their jobs, so Newt and company stiffed most of the stupidity for the next six years while balancing the budget.

It could happen again, though it might take a while longer to win the Senate back.

They can't help it, regardless of the centrism of many Dim Congressional members, they will be forced to vote with the libs the majority of the time. Wait and see what they do to Joe Lieberman if they no longer need his vote.

Dim leadership is already talking about cutting the DoD budget by 25%. Not too long before we have to start bringing in our own office supplies and toilet paper again.

Not looking forward to this train wreck. A lot of good people are going to get hurt and huge amounts of money are going to be given to those who did nothing to earn it.

A few more votes in the right places could make a huge difference next week.

TR

TOMAHAWK9521 · 10-27-2008, 10:13

Wasn't there something about the Clintons, the warriors for socialized health care, being responsible for seriously damaging health care coverage for military dependents?

jw74 · 10-27-2008, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

At various times, Hillary asked military officers in uniform to act as waiters during formal dinners and told then LTG Barry McCaffrey not to wear his uniform when visiting the White House. Rumor was, she and LTG Claudia Kennedy were pretty close though.

A few more votes in the right places could make a huge difference next week.

TR

According to wikipedia, Claudia Kennedy is Obama's likely Sec. Def. nominee. When people think it doesn't matter much who is president (obviously no one on this site) because he doesn't do all that much, they need to remember all of the people that a president puts in key jobs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia_Kennedy

steel71 · 10-27-2008, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw74

According to wikipedia, Claudia Kennedy is Obama's likely Sec. Def. nominee. When people think it doesn't matter much who is president (obviously no one on this site) because he doesn't do all that much, they need to remember all of the people that a president puts in key jobs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia_Kennedy

Holy smokes, Janet Reno II...

Sdiver · 10-27-2008, 12:51

Also too, didn't a lot of guys, particularly SF, hold off and stay in, when they hit 20 years, before retiring, just so they wouldn't have Bill's name on their Retirement "Thanks for Serving" Certificate?

I seem to remember reading that some place.

**Team Sergeant** · 10-27-2008, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sdiver

Also too, didn't a lot of guys, particularly SF, hold off and stay in, when they hit 20 years, before retiring, just so they wouldn't have Bill's name on their Retirement "Thanks for Serving" Certificate?

I seem to remember reading that some place.

I tore mine up, it was a thanks for your service from "bill blowjob clinton" that was just handed to me by MG Boykin and threw it into the trash before I left the theater.

I think most in the theater saw and heard me tear it up...

My wife looked at me in sheer horror wondering what I just tore up and threw away.....

When I told her it was Slick willies thank you she relaxed.

Team Sergeant

afchic · 10-27-2008, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw74

According to wikipedia, Claudia Kennedy is Obama's likely Sec. Def. nominee. When people think it doesn't matter much who is president (obviously no one on this site) because he doesn't do all that much, they need to remember all of the people that a president puts in key jobs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia_Kennedy

I'd put my money on Colin Powell being Sec Def, if Obama is elected, just so he can say F' You to the Bush adminisration once and for all.

I still personally believe McCain is going to pull this out, and there will be a riot of epic proportions in Chicago next Tuesday night.