Even the Soldiers are getting pissed off...

In thier own words..

Secretary Rumsfeld COSCOM Town Hall Meeting in Balad, Iraq

Here are a few excerpts from the meeting he had in Balad, Iraq. They are quite enlightening.

Sir, my name is Sergeant Major [Pritsing] and I'm with the 1st Team. My question is of all the naysayers out there that think we need to pull out of Iraq, what can we do in the military to convince our public that we are making significant progress in both Iraq and in the global war on terrorism and that we have to remain committed to this important mission?

[Hooahs and Applause].

Rumsfeld: Sergeant Major, you're right. You are making progress here in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and certainly in the global war on terror. Pressure is being put on the terrorists and the terrorist networks, and those countries that are providing havens for terrorists all across the globe. Everything they do is harder today than it was. It's harder to talk to each other, it's harder to move, it's harder to raise money, it's harder to recruit, it's harder to retain people. The reality, however, is that terrorists of course can attack at any time, any place, and it's impossible to defend at every time and every place. So our task is to go after them where they are. The progress that is being made is measurable and solid.

The only way I can answer your question is is to keep using every means of communication you have. Think of it. You've got e-mail, you've got phones, you can write, you've got digital cameras -- you two both have digital cameras, I can see. [Laughter]. And ultimately the truth will come out.

You know the American people are amazing, if you think of somewhat less than 300 years of history. We staked everything on the idea that free people given sufficient information will find their way to the right decisions. That was an enormous gamble when it was made and it's worked. It has worked.

To be sure, in a wave of emotion people can get pushed to one side or a view can take place that really isn't the true view, but people have an inner gyroscope. They have a good mooring lines, and they come back to center. And if we keep saying what the truth is and we keep doing our jobs, by golly, they'll figure it out and they'll be supportive and you can count on it.

Question: Good afternoon, sir. I'm Sergeant Major Fillmore from 1st Corps Support Command.

Currently, the Sergeants Major and senior officers are required to retire at 30 years of active federal service.

Rumsfeld: I think that's ridiculous.

Question: Yes, sir. Some of us agree.

Rumsfeld: Of course at my age I have to say that. [Laughter]. But I do. I can't imagine people at the top of their game retiring when they're 38 or 40 or 45 or even 73. [Laughter].

Question: Well to support deployment, Sir, we currently have to put in a request to Human Resources Command to stay past that 30 years point. My question is, is the Army looking at changing the mandatory retirement date for Sergeants Major and senior officers?

Rumsfeld: If they're not, they ought to be and I will look into it. I've talked to Dr. David Chu, who is the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and I've told him that I thought given the fact of medical care today and health and the fact that people live so much longer, that we ought to increase the age at which people can enter if they'd like to, and we ought to increase the age at which people can retire if people would prefer to stay on. And it just stuns me to see a 38 or 40 year old come up to me and say that it's up or out and I'm gone when they're terrific, fine, servicemen and women.

Well those comments and questions are pretty good. I think they cover some of the issues I have seen raised here and other places. I would like to say, when all else fails, go to the source. Here we have men and women asking why there is such a negative opinion when they think they are doing such a great job. Another asking why he has to get out after 30 years, and wants to keep on serving, this speaks volumes about our fine men and women in uniform.

God bless them all...

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

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Reply #1 August 3, 2005 12:07:30 PM
from JoeUser Forums

what can we do in the military to convince our public that we are making significant progress in both Iraq and in the global war on terrorism and that we have to remain committed to this important mission?

Stop listening to the liberals, their media allies, and the French.

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dharmagrl

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Reply #2 August 3, 2005 12:12:46 PM
from JoeUser Forums

The retirement question is one that my husband and his colleagues have mulled over for years now. The military is letting people who are, as Rummy said, at the top of their game, walk away. There folks are in their early 40's (some are even in their late 30's), they've got the job experience, they've got the management skills, they've got the combat experience, they still have a hell of a lot to offer...and the military is either shoving them out of the door or is letting them walk away. It's silly, really. Instead of pushing them out, the military should be offering them incentives to stay. We need these people.....

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Gideon MacLeish

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Reply #3 August 3, 2005 12:18:46 PM
from JoeUser Forums

dharma,

I agree. As an opponent of the draft, I believe it is in our best interests to retain those who wish to continue to serve and are capable of contributing. To throw them out and to propose a draft AT ANY LEVEL (the Democrats get the yellow hankie on THIS one) is an absurd double standard.

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dharmagrl

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Reply #4 August 3, 2005 12:45:16 PM
from JoeUser Forums

agree. As an opponent of the draft, I believe it is in our best interests to retain those who wish to continue to serve and are capable of contributing. To throw them out and to propose a draft AT ANY LEVEL (the Democrats get the yellow hankie on THIS one) is an absurd double standard.

Absolutely. Overloading the military with inexperienced rookies is a horrible idea.

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lifehappens

Join Date 07/2004

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Reply #5 August 3, 2005 2:16:10 PM
from JoeUser Forums

This issue hit home for us. HW's dad was forced out after 32 years (he snuck by because of the Gulf War) He practically begged to stay in. He was happy, he was an outstanding 1SG and because of his age/time in service/time in rank, he was forced out.

I think the Army needs to not only rethink the max age limit but bring back the Spec ranks. Some guys are great Specialists and some guys make fantastic 1SGs. Telling them they have to get promoted or get out is not using the force to it's best capacity. Let soldiers serve as lower enlisted, keep the trained competent leaders and don't set blanket rules to promote idiots!

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Abanamore

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Reply #6 August 3, 2005 2:23:22 PM
from JoeUser Forums

There's nothing like preaching to the converted. Let's have a real dialogue about what is really going on. Hawks on both sides inciting each other to the common purpose of annihilation and thepeaceful majority being deluded into complacency.

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Dr Guy

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Reply #7 August 3, 2005 2:29:29 PM
from JoeUser Forums

There's nothing like preaching to the converted. Let's have a real dialogue about what is really going on. Hawks on both sides inciting each other to the common purpose of annihilation and thepeaceful majority being deluded into complacency.

How about responding to the article instead of pontificating your own agenda. If you want to do the latter, get an account and write your own articles.

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Abanamore

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Reply #8 August 3, 2005 2:37:00 PM
from JoeUser Forums

That was a response. Just not the one you wanted to hear. Why am I your agenda?

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dharmagrl

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Reply #9 August 3, 2005 2:39:38 PM
from JoeUser Forums

Let's have a real dialogue about what is really going on.

Ooh, there where a lot of long words in your comment. Did you have to go look them up in the dictionary, or did you just repeat them parrot fashion? I suspect it's the latter.

Grow some balls, get an ID, and then join in a proper debate - one where you'll have to use your own words and thoughts. Blind repetition doesnt work in the grown up world.

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Dr Guy

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Reply #10 August 3, 2005 2:41:39 PM
from JoeUser Forums

That was a response. Just not the one you wanted to hear. Why am I your agenda?

That was grandstanding and evading the article. If you cant tell the difference, you are not too bright.

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Abanamore

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Reply #11 August 3, 2005 2:56:14 PM
from JoeUser Forums

If one has trouble arguing an idea, it's always helpful to attack the person.

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dharmagrl

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Reply #12 August 3, 2005 3:09:52 PM
from JoeUser Forums

If one has trouble arguing an idea, it's always helpful to attack the person.

A tactic you demonstrate very well.

So, are you going to discuss the original article, or are you just going to spout off anti-war sentiments? The article in question isn't about the war.....perhaps you should read again.

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foreverserenity

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Reply #13 August 3, 2005 3:14:39 PM
from JoeUser Forums

This is most definately very enlightening Shadow! Thanks so much for sharing!

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Lee1776

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Reply #14 August 3, 2005 3:27:40 PM
from JoeUser Forums

I think the Army needs to not only rethink the max age limit but bring back the Spec ranks. Some guys are great Specialists and some guys make fantastic 1SGs. Telling them they have to get promoted or get out is not using the force to it's best capacity. Let soldiers serve as lower enlisted, keep the trained competent leaders and don't set blanket rules to promote idiots!

I agree with you here, because I have met some Sergeant First Classes that have years of good service and provide massive amounts of experience. But I would not want them to lead troops.

On the other side of the coin I have known soldiers that either had no upward mobility for their job skill (but don't wish to change MOSs) or the soldier lacks the leadership traits that the command requires to be boarded for promotion (no matter how many schools we send them to), but is technically proficient in his present job. But both types of soldiers still should be retained past eight years and paid more then an E-4 pay grade (in some places E-4s are eligible for food stamps).

As for the over 30 year’s thing, IMO keep the limit in place. From my personal experience, 80% of troops over 30 years are unable to physically survive the riggers of combat. Those over 30 are also holding a position that could be filled by an eager qualified soldier that is presently deciding to retire at twenty because of no upward mobility. After a soldier reaches twenty years, their really evaluate weather to either leave service while they are still young to get another career or stick it out hoping to be retained every two years by a review board for basically a half pay job (they would normally receive the other half if retired).

If you really think about keeping people past 30 then they need to be hired back on as civilian contractor and away from combat (which many do already).

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JollyFE

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Reply #15 August 3, 2005 3:34:46 PM
from JoeUser Forums

Check out this blog

http://michaelyon.blogspot.com

It's related to question Sergeant Major [Pritsing] asked the SecDef.

JollyFE

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Dr Guy

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Reply #16 August 3, 2005 6:36:02 PM
from JoeUser Forums

A tactic you demonstrate very well.

So, are you going to discuss the original article, or are you just going to spout off anti-war sentiments? The article in question isn't about the war.....perhaps you should read again.

Ouch! Remind me never to make you mad!

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Evorg

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Reply #17 August 3, 2005 7:18:38 PM
from JoeUser Forums

Even the Soldiers are getting pissed off...

It's been a long time coming.
They’ve earned a lot more recognition for the job they are doing then what they’ve received.

Recently 350 ANG from Louisiana reenlisted in- theatre. This shows the type of dedication the troops have.

I kind of have mixed feelings about changing the HYT. The last thing I want to see is the slow down of upward progression. I also don’t want to lose the experience or create a vacuum because of it.

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Slanderer

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Reply #18 August 3, 2005 11:35:09 PM
from JoeUser Forums

I'm curious where you pulled that article from. I took 'Rumsfeld COSCOM Town Hall Meeting in Balad, Iraq' in the google engine and came up with this unflattering piece from a year ago. Link

A shorter combination yielded this Link Again, not a flattering view.

I searched on the DoD site and came up with nothing.
The closest I came up with was an army news bulletin Link and the ever-shoddy newsmax Link

I could not find the specific quotes. Where did you get them?

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Evorg

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Reply #19 August 4, 2005 5:33:10 AM
from JoeUser Forums

I don’t know where he gets his information from, probably CentCom, but he’s not making this stuff up. If you can’t verify it from the all mighty Google, it’s a good argument that the MSM is not telling you everything in regards to Iraq. Also be aware that not all briefings from VIPs are open for the press, some are just for the troops.

If you’re interested in the briefing from the SecDef that have the specific quotes that Shadowar wrote about here is the B-roll of that.
Video from the 27th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

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Island Dog

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Reply #20 August 4, 2005 7:56:49 AM
from JoeUser Forums

'm curious where you pulled that article from. I took 'Rumsfeld COSCOM Town Hall Meeting in Balad, Iraq' in the google engine and came up with this unflattering piece from a year ago. Link

How pathetic.

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Slanderer

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Reply #21 August 4, 2005 12:10:51 PM
from JoeUser Forums

Also be aware that not all briefings from VIPs are open for the press, some are just for the troops.

I had a suspicion of just that. Today I'm going to try another search engine.

BTW thx for the video Evorg.

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ShadowWar

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Reply #22 August 4, 2005 2:45:47 PM
from JoeUser Forums

I am very sorry I did not get back to you all faster, I was in an armorer course all day. I am on the DOD mail list(actually a few) and some others that are not so widely distributed. Here is a link to the DOD news Release I got my Information from, sorry I did not post it when I posted my orignal:

http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2005/tr20050727-secdef3581.html
Link

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Dr Guy

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Reply #23 August 4, 2005 3:15:51 PM
from JoeUser Forums

I am on the DOD mail list(actually a few) and some others that are not so widely distributed. Here is a link to the DOD news Release I got my Information from, sorry I did not post it when I posted my orignal:

I think someone just got slam dunked!

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Dr Guy

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Reply #24 August 5, 2005 11:42:11 AM
from JoeUser Forums

I could provide just as many (a whole 2)

If you could only provide 2, then you are not doing your homework. And you miss the point. This is anti-propaganda. This is what you will not find in the biased reporting of the MSM. SO in your lame attempt, you just validated that these articles are needed, if for no other reason than to show idiots like you that the pablum you are being fed is not the whole story.

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Slanderer

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Reply #25 August 5, 2005 3:23:45 PM
from JoeUser Forums

I could provide just as many (a whole 2)

Who are you addressing?

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