A Military Cuts Question

[volinbham]

For those with knowledge of the particulars help me out on this one.

I was talking to a retired Army guy the other night (20+ years). The last part of his career was spent on the Army racquetball and golf teams in addition to one of the musical arms (drum and fife?). Likewise, my cousin's son was in a Navy band for the duration of his enrollment (he has since entered and is completing the Naval Academy).

Do the Armed Forces need multiple bands, racquetball teams, golf teams and whatever other recreational roles? Do these perform some strategic role in the military? What would be the impact of reduction in forces focused here?

I'll hang up and listen.

 

[Pepe_Silvia]

I'm currently serving a 4-year sentence in the Air Force. From personal experience and observation, I can confidently say there are many things that could be cut. In fact, the AF is currently going through a significant downsizing. A lot of people with bad paperwork are being discharged early and civilian positions are being cut.

 

[cd12]

For those with knowledge of the particulars help me out on this one.

I was talking to a retired Army guy the other night (20+ years). The last part of his career was spent on the Army racquetball and golf teams in addition to one of the musical arms (drum and fife?). Likewise, my cousin's son was in a Navy band for the duration of his enrollment (he has since entered and is completing the Naval Academy).

Do the Armed Forces need multiple bands, racquetball teams, golf teams and whatever other recreational roles? Do these perform some strategic role in the military? What would be the impact of reduction in forces focused here?

I'll hang up and listen.

Morale plays a vital role in the military and these type roles play their part in that. Now is it over board? yes but i think it got to the point of "keeping up with the Jones' "

 

[YorkVol]

At the unit level, Army Divisions and Corps and their counterparts in other services, the military bands are mostly ceremonial, but in theory they also are responsible for defending the HQ when deployed. Do we always let them? Not really, if we have an infantry or armor company handy, we'll task them, but if the entire force was deployed I guess they would do it.

Above that, they are important ceremonial units. Without them, you lose the ability to honor fallen comrades, foreign dignitaries etc. As a country we put some emphasis on those high level ceremonies because it keeps up our image as the number one super power. Comparatively the resources we put into those units is small compared to other parts of the force.

Now, the military "sports" teams? Those are just recruiting gimmicks that could be cut. Why do we need to have a fulltime Army Triathalon Team?

 

[MG1968]

indeed, an Army triathlon team is ballooning the defense budget to unheard of levels

 

[YorkVol]

indeed, an Army triathlon team is ballooning the defense budget to unheard of levels

Not necessarily the point. It isn't the amount of resources, just wondering if it is good use of any resources. What is the pay back for supporting amateur athletes pursuit of their personal goals? Sure they wear black and gold sweats as they wrestle or box their way to the Olympics, but do we really get enough press out of that to make it worth any amount of resources?

One of my good friends was a guy named Mike Hagen, who won the Armed Forces Triathlon 6 times. He was a great classmate, especially when I was prepping for Ranger School. But I told him I would never want to serve in a unit with him because I would have had to do his work while he was out training.

When a unit deploys and it is missing its most athletic soldier who is playing on the Army Softball Team, they are weaker at the most critical time.

Now, if you took those same individuals and assigned them to the service academies instead of line units, then I might have a different opinion.

 

[BeecherVol]

For those with knowledge of the particulars help me out on this one.

I was talking to a retired Army guy the other night (20+ years). The last part of his career was spent on the Army racquetball and golf teams in addition to one of the musical arms (drum and fife?). Likewise, my cousin's son was in a Navy band for the duration of his enrollment (he has since entered and is completing the Naval Academy).

Do the Armed Forces need multiple bands, racquetball teams, golf teams and whatever other recreational roles? Do these perform some strategic role in the military? What would be the impact of reduction in forces focused here?

I'll hang up and listen.

And miss out on images like this?

Haters.....

 

[BeecherVol]

I'm currently serving a 4-year sentence in the Air Force. From personal experience and observation, I can confidently say there are many things that could be cut. In fact, the AF is currently going through a significant downsizing. A lot of people with bad paperwork are being discharged early and civilian positions are being cut.

...."Freezins the reason."

 

[Pepe_Silvia]

...."Freezins the reason."

Ugh...

At least this winter has been mild, by ND standards.

 

[BeecherVol]

Here too.

Had a good friend stationed up there for a while.

My cousin is a chaplain in the AF (soon to be up for Col.) stationed in Montgomery.

 

[MontereyVol]

My sister in law is on the Navy Basketball team. She is a SWO officer who gets a waiver for a month or so to go practice/play and you only get to do it twice in your career. Its not her actual job.

The band is the only one I can think of that is an actual job.

 

[Bill Braske]

Complete waste of money, imo. Has never raised my morale, probably lowered it due to being voluntold to help with set-up/tear down. I think it's absolutely ridiculous for someone to sing songs or play softball while folks deploy for the umpteenth time.

What makes it ridiculous to me is having multiple bands/teams for different regions. Have your main band or whatever and be done with it. To clarify, i have no problem with post/base level teams who pay their own way and still deploy when theyre supposed to. Its the folks who do it as a special duty or play instruments for their jobs that i have a problem with.

Anyway, just my opinion.

 

[The Ron Mexico]

Complete waste of money, imo. Has never raised my morale, probably lowered it due to being voluntold to help with set-up/tear down. I think it's absolutely ridiculous for someone to sing songs or play softball while folks deploy for the umpteenth time.

What makes it ridiculous to me is having multiple bands/teams for different regions. Have your main band or whatever and be done with it. To clarify, i have no problem with post/base level teams who pay their own way and still deploy when theyre supposed to. Its the folks who do it as a special duty or play instruments for their jobs that i have a problem with.

Anyway, just my opinion.

Consider this my opinion as well. Intramural sports are important. Outside of that, whatever. By the way, don't look at my avatar.