Comments

You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name

Your e-mail (optional)

Website (optional)

	My Original Nic Pic-a-Nic Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Foto

Submit your comments on this article

Government

Champ gives 500 Army majors pink slips.

2015-11-20

[Truth and Action] Earlier this month, the Army said that at least 48 of the 1,100 captains handed "pink slips" had been serving in Afghanistan.

Campbell spoke at an off-camera briefing with reporters that was his last as vice chief at the Pentagon. He was taking a brief leave before reporting to Afghanistan later this month to replace Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford as ISAF commander.

Immediately following Campbell's briefing, the Army put out a release stating that majors receiving notices who are now serving in Afghanistan or other areas overseas "will be returned to the United States within 30 days of their notification to begin their transition from active duty and ensure they have the maximum time and resources available for a successful transition."

The cutbacks were part of the Army's plan "to draw down its end-strength to 490,000 active-component soldiers by the end of Fiscal Year 2015," the statement said.

The so-called "hit list" for the 500 majors was determined by decisions of recent Officer Separation Boards and Enhanced Selective Retirement Boards, the Army said.

The Army suggested that more cuts were coming: "As a result of future budget restrictions previously passed by Congress, the active Army will further reduce its end-strength by 20,000 Soldiers in both 2016 and 2017" to an Army force of about 450,000, the Army statement said.

Campbell said there were opportunities for majors transitioning out of the active-duty service to take positions in the Reserves and the National Guard.

The Army also pointed to the new "Shifting Gears" partnership of the Army, Raytheon and General Motors to allow transitioning troops to receive training and possibly be placed in service technician jobs at GM dealerships.

Posted by:Besoeker

#11 I never knew you could get laid off from the Army.

I wonder if we will see an influx of conservative people with leadership experience getting in to politics.

Posted by: SteveS 2015-11-20 21:53

#10 Yep sounds familiar, I got my pink slip after being promoted to major out of zone of consideration...

I was bitter for a long time. I went through so much crap and went so many places not on most maps "to protect my country" and after all of that I got put out like the Saturday trash after a bad Friday night

Posted by: Bill Clinton 2015-11-20 20:47

#9 *sigh* Thanks, Pappy. You're so much better at that than I am.

Posted by: trailing wife 2015-11-20 18:58

#8 It's our illustrious Hemingway, my dear tw. Perhaps his meds have kicked in. He's usually more... slobbery... than that.

Posted by: Pappy 2015-11-20 16:28

#7 And now you suspect the Country really doesn't like you, or respect you...and may ( just a little ) regard you as un-needed garbage ( just a little ).

The entire country, Mr. Unoluth Omusons4219? Perhaps you are giving too much credence to that part of the country that writes for the newspapers and appears on television, and not enough to your neighbours.

Posted by: trailing wife 2015-11-20 16:13

#6 And I might suggest that when it comes time to Vote you remember. And one thing to remember is that Hillary never has been the soldier's friend.
And another thing to remember might include that when you joined the military it wasn't for the big money then or the safety involved it was because perhaps ( just a little ) it was where you felt you could do the most for a Country you wanted to serve. And now you suspect the Country really doesn't like you, or respect you...and may ( just a little ) regard you as un-needed garbage ( just a little ).
And not to forget how the MS Media pictures you and the Democrats have always backed you and praised you. Democrats have made it very clear how they like and trust you, yeah? Democrats are always in a hurry to bugger off and leave your sorry ass hanging. Or am I wrong?

And when Obama salutes you with a white styrofoam coffee cup ( he really MEANS it. ) But maybe you will be much happier selling appliances or making your quota in Linoleum sales instead of commanding a Battalion. Who knows.

And like I say ....you can keep the memories.

Posted by: Unoluth Omusons4219 2015-11-20 15:08

#5 Majors as service techs in GM dealerships?

Posted by: Gerthudion Platypus6525 2015-11-20 14:13

#4 ...When the post-mortem for this nation is written, historians will point out that as we were fighting two wars, we were cutting troop levels.

Mike

Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2015-11-20 12:16

#3 Don't tell me the Donks don't know how to cut government.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2015-11-20 08:45

#2 I have to admit, my first thought was "How many of them 'African-Americans', how many 'Gay-Americans'?".

Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2015-11-20 03:41

#1 TOMMY

WENT into a public 'ouse to get a pint o'beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, ``We serve no red-coats here.''
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' ``Tommy, go away'';
But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music 'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' ``Tommy, wait outside'';
But it's ``Special train for Atkins'' when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's ``Special train for Atkins'' when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' ``Tommy how's yer soul?''
But it's ``Thin red line of 'eroes'' when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's ``Thin red line of 'eroes'' when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an ``Tommy, fall be'ind,''
But it's ``Please to walk in front, sir,'' when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's ``Please to walk in front, sir,'' when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an'schools, an' fires an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' ``Chuck him out, the brute!''
But it's ``Saviour of 'is country,'' when the guns begin to shoot;
Yes it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool--you bet that Tommy sees!

Rudyard Kipling

Posted by: Lone Ranger 2015-11-20 01:38

00:00