U.S. general warns Army Reserve is being 'broken'

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N05504230.htm

The U.S. Army Reserve, tapped heavily to provide soldiers for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is "degenerating into a 'broken' force" due to dysfunctional military policies, the Army Reserve's chief said in a memo made public on Wednesday.

"I do not wish to sound alarmist. I do wish to send a clear, distinctive signal of deepening concern," Lt. Gen. James Helmly said in a Dec. 20 memo to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker.

<snip>

"While ability to meet the current demands associated with OIF (Operational Iraqi Freedom) and OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan) is of great importance, the Army Reserve is additionally in grave danger of being unable to meet other operational requirements including those in named OPLANS (operational plans) and CONUS (continental United States) emergencies, and is rapidly degenerating into a 'broken' force," Helmly wrote.

Helmly said military leaders had rebuffed his proposals for change. The memo's purpose was to inform Schoomaker of the Army Reserve's "inability -- under current policies, procedures and practices governing mobilization, training and reserve component manpower management -- to meet mission requirements" for the two wars, Helmly wrote.

<snip>

"We must consider the point at which we confuse 'volunteer to become an American Soldier' with 'mercenary,'" Helmly said.

Link to the memo.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/acrobat/2005-01/15715020.pdf

Baltimore Sun Story

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/iraq/bal-te.reserves05jan05,1,551065.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

[gumby]

1. George Bush is breaking EVERYTHING.

ON PURPOSE................sad...........

[Seabiscuit]

2. Sheeesh... yet another case of MIHOP n/t

[gumby]

7. What? Do you think Bush or the Cabal behind him

is STUPID?

edit: the ONLY army that benefits the Bush Cabal is the one they own.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Is that Bush's plan?

To break the military so we have to hire outside contractors to do our fighting? If we do, there will be no rules, and the abuses that will result boggle the mind.

[bahrbearian]

5. Bremmer's Rule #39, outside contractors can not be put on Trail

during the occupation.

[Demit]

4. wonder when they'll announce the Lt. General's "retirement"?

[RamboLiberal]

6. And Rummy will refuse to attend the retirement

When are all those folks with "W" on their cars going to sign up or send their kids?

[tabasco]

8. Lurking freepers ....get your ass to the recruiters NOW !!

I put in 12 years in the Regular Army infantry and I am still in the reserves. Now it is time for all you super-patriots to get your fat asses away from your computer and pick up an M-16 !

[RamboLiberal]

10. BTW beside Ollie have any of the yapping RW pundits

taken their fat butts over to Iraq to check out the "good things we're doing that are not reported" for themselves?

I'd be interested in DU Military or ex-military assessment of the General's memo.

I just printed it out to take home and read.

[Massachusetts]

9. FUBAR

I want OUR country back. STAY OUTRAGED!:mad:

[Kolesar]

11. Should have said it ten weeks ago...eom

[Gloria]

12. Who cares? We have the Air Force which is pretty intact and

can just bomb anything Bushco wants to bomb....

[Moderator]

13. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1123969