A disturbing e-mail from the Army today.

[TomSlick]

I looked for another post on this but didn't find one. If I'm repeating someone else, I'm sorry.

I received an e-mail today from the Army G-1, the head of Army personnel. The e-mail was sent through the Defense Finance and Accounting System (military pay) system and appears to have gone to all retired Army personnel.

The e-mail was asking for retired Army medical personnel (doctors, nurses, medics, etc.) to volunteer for recall to active duty if needed. My assumption is they are looking at how to staff the field hospitals going up across the country. The e-mail said the Army is looking for medical types but would like to hear from any other retirees interested in recall. I can see a use for medical services types (the people who actually run hospitals), engineers, and maybe MPs (for hospital security). I cannot see much need for retired judge advocates, so my conscious is clear (so far).

Understand that the Army is big on planning before the need arises. I did not read the message as offering to start recalling retired folks - just putting together a list. Nevertheless, someone at the Army staff level thinks this cheese may get binding.

[pat_k]

1. Nice to see some part of our government is showing some forethought. (nt)

[TomSlick]

5. Roger, that.

The Army wants to have a plan on the shelf for everything.

It is not inconceivable that there will be a need. The Army staff will not get caught with their collective trousers around their ankles.

[benld74]

2. Ooh boy,,,,,

[TygrBright]

3. Thanks for sharing. I find it more reassuring than disturbing.

The military is a hydra with benficient and maleficent heads, but in a time of existential crisis, few organizations are better equipped or prepared to undertake the kind of massive, coordinated action focused on survival.

I'm glad to know they are thinking ahead.

interestedly,
Bright

[TomSlick]

6. I agree it is reassuring.

I didn't find many evil people in the Army. Those that were certainly did not have any supernatural powers. (You made me look up maleficent.) Some few that were less competent than others but few really evil.

I can assure you that the Army does planning better than any other organization I have seen.

[dware]

37. Except for the Marines.

Of course I had to get that dig in, you know, that service rivalry, but you are correct in as much as the US Army is well equipped to handle the medical services that is needed, along with the US Navy.

Semper Fi my friend.

[Hekate]

4. As I've observed before: the Pentagon isn't run by stupid people...

...however much I might disagree with their share of the national budget. They look at things in their own particular way, and make plans.

[TomSlick]

7. Roger, that.

[getagrip_already]

8. I wouldn't be surprised if they started calling up merchant marine officers either.....

One of the catches to holding a merchant mariners certificate is that while you are a civilian, the armed forces still has a hook into you, and can call you up if required.

For those unfamiliar with them, an MMC is what is issued when you get a coast guard license as either a master (ships captain) or oupv operator (charter captain), or one of the other designated roles like engineer.

Those are required if you work on a ship or run a boat commercially. Why MMC holders? Well, if they end up converting cruise ships into hospitals, they are going to need bodies. Lots of them.

Lots of people are going to get into this game, willingly or not.

Fwiw, my father got his MD through the army in WWII. He ended up in the army air corp which became the us air force. He served in the pacific theater and was almost out of the reserves when Korea popped up. I have a very interesting series of letters from the dod to him trying to get him to report. He never ended up going, but the letters were a hoot.

He basically gave them the big middle finger saying he was done with service. Somehow, he got away with it. Times have changed I'm sure.

[TomSlick]

9. Actually, calling up Merchant Marine officers would be comforting.

I think that would mean that Trump had agreed to accept medical supplies from overseas - and a lot of them.

[getagrip_already]

10. possibly, but more likely

it would mean they were converting cruise ships into hospitals. They will need bodies for that. Lots of them.

[TomSlick]

12. If a cruise ship is used essentially for housing,

do you need ship's masters, etc.? Wouldn't you just need the maintenance folks to keep the HVAC and plumbing working, food preparation, custodial, etc.?

I'm retired Army. I don't know from ships.

[mercuryblues]

32. My guess is yes

You would need a crew on those ships. They know how to operate it and what to do if something goes wrong, even if it is in port.

There is a lot more to a ship than navigation. They know how to load for even weight distribution, ballast, checking equipment to make sure it is operational, electrical engineering, evacuations if necessary, and maintenance. The Masters are all trained to do just that.

I don't believe they will use cruise ships, as they don't have the medical facilities needed to care for thousands of patients.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

52. The Army has some.

Meet The Biggest And Baddest Ships In the US Army

The US Navy doesn’t have a monopoly on big boats.

BY TYLER ROGOWAY NOVEMBER 23, 2016

When you think of the US Army, large seagoing vessels don’t come to mind. Maybe they should; the service has its own expansive fleet of boats and ships, and the USAV SSGT Robert T. Kuroda and its sister ship the USAV Major General Robert Smalls are the biggest of them all.

While the Marines have their own specialized high-end armada of Navy ships, sometimes referred to as the “Gator Navy,” to support their amphibious operations, the Army has no such luxury. But what the Army does have is a far more understated beach landing and logistics naval force that relies on a simpler sea-bound logistics concept.

At the heart of this concept are the Army’s largest class of ships, the Logistic Support Vessels (LSVs) of the General Frank S. Besson class. Eight of these ships are in service with Army, six of which were built between 1987 and 1994. Following the retirement of the Newport class Landing Ship Tank (LST), they are now the largest of their kind within the Pentagon's inventory and are reminiscentof Russia's massive amphibious landing ships.

{snip}

Is that crazy, or what?

[TomSlick]

55. Not crazy at all.

I probably didn't learn much in the Army but I did learn that trigger-pullers win battles but logisticians win wars. The Merchant Marine is good at deep water haul. The Army and Marines often need stuff far away from a secure deep water ports.

I seen articles about the Army's "fleet" in the past. Not surprisingly, this retired Army JA has never seen an Army vessel, much less been on one.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

57. There was an Army ship in port in Baltimore some, I don't know, four or five years ago. NT

I can't recall the reason. I think it was happening at the same time that Army was playing Navy in lacrosse. There are too many cobwebs that far back.

[Baclava]

11. Interesting, retired medical specialties for manning field hospitals, expecting many new hotspots?

[TomSlick]

13. The point is that the Army staff is big on planning for any mission that might arise.

I doubt the Army staff knows anything more about potential new hot spots than anyone else in government. If there is a need, the Army wants a list of potential volunteers ready to go.

[Baclava]

14. The Air Force has large Air Transportable Hospitals, set up all over the world, them too?

[TomSlick]

16. The e-mail came through DFAS - the Defense Finance and Accounting Service - a DoD agency but

was directed only to Army retirees. I would not be surprised if similar e-mails went to retirees from the other services. It makes sense that DFAS is the best way DoD has to reach out to retirees.

[dware]

38. I haven't gotten anything yet from the USMC,

but then I don't really expect to, I'm 74 y.o. and my MOS was as a combat engineer.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

41. Does the USMC have any medical MOS? I thought the Navy filled those roles. nt

[dware]

66. They did have Navy trained combat medics in Vietnam, at least when I was in,

but I don't know about now.

[GulfCoast66]

58. I bet dollars to donuts, that if for some reason they decided a 74 yo with you MOS could help

Fight this pandemic, and you agreed, you would go if physically able.

[dware]

67. Absolutely I would agree to go,

you know, once a Marine, always a Marine and I'm still in pretty good shape and healthy as a horse.

[Hortensis]

15. Very interesting to hear, thanks! nt

[helpisontheway]

17. Yes..my friend said she volunteered to return. My husband

is retired Navy and he has not received a message. He has 5 more months before he will be out of the fleet reserve (think that is what it is called). That is the time period when they could recall you to active duty. It lasts for 10 years.

[TomSlick]

18. Good on her!

[NBachers]

19. Thanks for sharing this- I feel reassured that competent people are planning and looking out for us.

[Baked Potato]

20. Part of the Steady State operating independently of Trump.

Just a little

[TomSlick]

22. I agree, without sarcasm - not even a little.

[mercuryblues]

33. More like the Deep State

looking to undermine trump and making him look bad. With all their preemptive planning and stuff.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

42. That is the Deep State: a corps of career people competently doing their jobs.

The Trump organization resents anything resembling "competence".

[Baked Potato]

43. Yeah, a small bit of competency makes Trump look bad.

Of course Trump calls it the Deep State, but we know they are the career professionals he loathes.

[keithbvadu2]

21. When they brought back the battleships, they recalled some old fart gunner's mates.

When they brought back the battleships, they recalled some old fart gunner's mates.

There just weren't many people qualified on 16 inch guns anymore.

[TomSlick]

23. Don't underestimate Old Farts.

Says an old fart.

[keithbvadu2]

24. (Me too)

[GeoWilliam750]

25. Don't bet against old people

Not only is it kind of rude, but you lose more often than not.

There is a reason we got to be old.

[TomSlick]

48. Well......

I know a lot of old farts that I'm surprised have the brain power to breath. Then again, I live in a very red state with a lot of old fart Trump supporters, so maybe my perspective is skewed.

[calimary]

26. And Old Fartettes!

[dware]

39. +100. nt

[marybourg]

27. I can conceive of a need for retired JAs in this

dangerous situation. The same need that occurs before a deployment, especially a sudden and unexpected one.

[TomSlick]

44. If Uncle needs me, he knows how to contact me.

I'd have to buy new uniforms (I'm more man than I used to be).

[2naSalit]

28. Someone on either Rachel Maddow or Lawrence O'Donnell talking about it this evening.

That was the letter they sent out and they are hoping for a lot of response. There were several thousand who already responded in 24 hours, they said.

[Sgent]

29. Rachael said

they had 9,000 volunteers in less than 24 hours. Also keep (according to Rachael) they don't want people that are active in that role in civilian life.

[BootinUp]

30. honestly, im not surprised. math is math

and refrigerator trucks with bodies are starting to appear. Its going to get baaaad like the SGEN said.

[Delphinus]

35. I want

the news media to show those bodies. We have to get the seriousness of this pandemic through to the millions of scoffers - perhaps pictures will tell the story that words cannot?

[bobbieinok]

31. 80's too old, right? Boyfriend in college was dr in air force in VietNam

[Delphinus]

34. Happy to read this.

Glad someone is paying attention.

[nitpicker]

36. Link to Army Times

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/03/25/army-gauges-interest-in-voluntary-recalls-of-medical-soldiers/

[muriel_volestrangler]

40. Maybe truck drivers too

Quite a few in the military get a license to drive heavy vehicles; if the civilian truck drivers start going off sick in a big way, it'd be good to have a reserve.

[TomSlick]

45. I see that.

Logistics is going to be a big issue.

[DeminPennswoods]

46. When I retired,

I was asked if I'd be willing to return to my civilian logistics/inventory job if needed and replied in the affirmative. Nobody does inventory management better than the Navy.

[TomSlick]

49. Well, having once been the JAG for an Army Theater Sustainment Command,

I take some exception to the suggestion the Navy somehow does logistics better than the Army. Let's just say that nobody does logistics better than the military.

[DeminPennswoods]

65. Ok

I've seen Army and USAF supply systems and the Navy, which includes the USMC, system is outstanding. Of course the Navy is sea-based and the Army has much more experience with preparing for and sustaining big ground operations.

[dware]

68. If the Marine Corps needed truck drivers, I would gladly be activated

and drive trucks, after all, that's my specialty in my civilian life.

Of course, they would have to issue me new uniforms, I have, after all, gained just a wee bit of weight since I retired from the Corps.

[panader0]

47. I'm a bit worried about CV-19 hitting the services.

My son was at Ft Bragg until a few days ago and said there were several cases on
the base. He boarded a bus to Camp McKall, a Bragg extension for Special Forces
school, and said all aboard had their temps taken first and were quizzed about
symptoms. A lot of close quarters in the Army, no social distancing is possible.

[TomSlick]

50. I hear ya.

I will assure you that the number one concern for the Army is force protection - taking care of soldiers and their families. Your son was as safe at Ft. Bragg as anywhere else.

Being an Army mom is a tough gig. Thank you for your service - whether you meant to serve or not.

[panader0]

51. Army dad. My son, at 6'3", is an inch taller than I am. 210, all muscle.

The next Special Forces guy. I don't know where he got it. I was a hippie.

[TomSlick]

53. Sorry, I don't know why I assumed you were an Army Mom. No excuses, sir.

My father was a Korean War draftee. When he got home, he took everything he had that the Army had issued him, soaked it all in kerosene, and set it ablaze. He never had anything nice to say about the Army. He really had nothing nice to say about Army officers. Nevertheless, his two sons are both retired Army officers.

Our children tend to set their own paths.

As a career REMF (your son will know what that means), I've always had the highest respect for the special operators. You should be proud.

[panader0]

54. I am very proud of him. My dad was Army Air Corp.

50 bombing missions in WWII. First daylight bombing raid, early in the war.
I grew up on AFB bases all over the place, two years here, two years there.
When I was in high school in Hawaii, the Vietnam War was raging (class of '68).
I encouraged my son to join the Coast Guard, as he was hell bent to serve.
He did, and said it wasn't tough enough. Now he's in Special Forces selection.
One of the toughest things in the Army. He loves it. He'll make it. I'll let you
know in 24 days,

[TomSlick]

56. Good on him!

Tell him there is an old REMF in the piney woods of Arkansas pulling for him.

[GulfCoast66]

62. Piney woods of Arkansas? You near Magnolia in Columbia county? That where my family lives.

I deer hunt there every year. But I pity you the politics!

My dad was raised in an IP paper mill town just over in Louisiana right on the boarder between Louisiana and Arkansas about an hour north of Shreveport. Mill closed in the 70’s. I imagine you know where I’m talking about. Of course the piny woods stretch from the Mississippi to Texas!

His time at LSU was interrupted by a stent in the Army in Korea. Back then all LSU boys had to be ROTC or so I think he told me. Never once talked about his time in Korea so I can’t tell you what he did except I know he was a corporal in the infantry. Mother said he had a bad time. Unfortunately he died young when I was 22 from a heart attack. I have a photo of him in his dress uniform. Those were sharp.

He Ended up getting a PhD and mother told me Vietnam really shook him. As did Wallace since dad was a liberal journalism major who supported integration. In 84 I was set to go to college on an ROTC thing and was surprised when he advised against it. I remember it as the first time he treated me like a man rather than a boy. Told me if there was a conflict that threatened the US I had a duty join up. But did not think that was the case at the time. He hated Reagan who I at the time loved.

Surprisingly I listened to him.

We rural southerners have an ingrained respect for those that serve that transcends politics. Actually I think all Americans do.

[TomSlick]

63. I'm about 75 miles from Magnolia.

Politics in these parts are kinda flaky. Then again, there is no challenge paddling in the main stream.

I don't know anywhere I'd rather live - well, at least not in the continental US. If you can get me an appointment as the US Attorney or a federal judge in the US Virgin Islands, I swear I be packed and ready to go in fifteen minutes.

[GulfCoast66]

64. Yeah. I still love it there.

I have a great High school friend I grew up with and took him there to experience something completely different. None my family have seen him since he was the best man in my wedding 27 years ago. But if his car broke down 100 miles away any of them would immediately drive up to help him out. Politics be damned. They are some good people. But if you crossed them 25 years ago they would drive that far to thrash you!

Unless you are from a place like that you can’t understand.

I own 40 acres there I inherited and could retire to the area if I wanted. But I too in love with the gulf coast.

I love my yearly deer hunting week. We drink bourbon around the fire and I’m the only democrat there. I give my uncles and cousins hell! Which isn’t hard with a bunch of Baptist drinking bourbon!

I always enjoy your post. You should post more often.

Have a nice evening and stay safe.

[crickets]

59. I'm not disturbed, TomSlick. I am comforted to hear this.

I'm a big old peacenik from way back, but...

Dad was Navy, uncle was Air Force, and I know to expect the best from all branches of service. Defending the country isn't always about guns and bombs, and military training is so much more than war. To know that the discipline and expertise of the Army medical staff, retired or not, is being prepared to help soon makes me feel much better tonight.

It appears a big beast of competence is stirring.

Thank you for sharing this. Thank you so much.

[TomSlick]

60. "Disturbed" was a poor choice of words.

I am disturbed by the necessity of the Army's action. I am greatly relieved the Army is taking the step.

[crickets]

61. I get you. We are on the same page. nt