Role of Navy in Iraq: IA

[Afterburner76]

Poll:

Do you support the idea that the Navy should be responsible for ground ops (i.e. IA billets) in Iraq? Is this the future of a "sailor's" role? Is that not why we have an Army and Marine force? The same goes for National Guard. International deployment is not part of their intended purpose. What do you think?

 

[HAL Pilot]

I have some poll ideas too!

Poll: Do you support whining about what the Navy decides is part of your duty?

Poll: Do you think an ENS or LTJG that has never done anything as an officer other than be a student has the knowledge and experience to best decide where and how the Navy should use its officers?

Poll: Do you think the Navy really cares that some of its officers do not want to do IAs or feel IAs are not an appropriate assignment?

Poll: Who really gives a shit what a bunch of JOs, wanna-a-bes and retired fucks think?

Poll: Do you think that since you joined the Navy, you should realize that you volunteered to go where the Navy wants to send you and that STFU and accepting it is the best course of action?

 

[robav8r]

I have some poll ideas too!

Poll: Do you support whining about what the Navy decides is part of your duty?

Poll: Do you think an ENS or LTJG that has never done anything as an officer other than be a student has the knowledge and experience to best decide where and how the Navy should use its officers?

Poll: Do you think the Navy really cares that some of its officers do not want to do IAs or feel IAs are not an appropriate assignment?

Poll: Who really gives a shit what a bunch of JOs, wanna-a-bes and retired fucks think?

Poll: Do you think that since you joined the Navy, you should realize that you volunteered to go where the Navy wants to send you and that STFU and accepting it is the best course of action?

You know HAL, have you considered being a "mentor" for the U.S. Navy's Sensitivity Club ??? You would be perfect !!!

 

[HAL Pilot]

You know HAL, have you considered being a "mentor" for the U.S. Navy's Sensitivity Club ??? You would be perfect !!!

If you're sensitive, you don't belong in Naval Aviation (or the airline world either). :banghead_

 

[Afterburner76]

I have some poll ideas too!

Poll: Do you support whining about what the Navy decides is part of your duty?

Poll: Do you think an ENS or LTJG that has never done anything as an officer other than be a student has the knowledge and experience to best decide where and how the Navy should use its officers?

Poll: Do you think the Navy really cares that some of its officers do not want to do IAs or feel IAs are not an appropriate assignment?

Poll: Who really gives a shit what a bunch of JOs, wanna-a-bes and retired fucks think?

Poll: Do you think that since you joined the Navy, you should realize that you volunteered to go where the Navy wants to send you and that STFU and accepting it is the best course of action?

Nice hostility. You seem like a very likable and stable person.

But I digress. It's a very complex argument. Similar to the "living Constitution" one. The Navy was created to to maintain, train and equip Naval forces capable deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. Just because our current administration believes otherwise, is that enough to change our fundamental heritage? Could it be that we are stretching so thin and just grasping at whatever manpower we can find? Maybe. That's the point of the poll. I'm interested to know what you think. Not just interested in your hostile bashing. But hey, if you can't formulate thoughts on your own...go ahead and slam.

 

[nittany03]

I have some poll ideas too!

Poll: Do you support whining about what the Navy decides is part of your duty?

He asked a question. Where is he whining? I didn't read "I just got ordered to an IA in Djibouti, my God the Navy sucks! I hate my job." I read "What is the rationale behind this policy?"

Poll: Do you think an ENS or LTJG that has never done anything as an officer other than be a student has the knowledge and experience to best decide where and how the Navy should use its officers?

Where did he say he had all the answers? Is it a crime to start a discussion? Isn't that part of why this site exists?

Poll: Do you think the Navy really cares that some of its officers do not want to do IAs or feel IAs are not an appropriate assignment?

Probably not. But as long as we suck it up and do our jobs, and refrain from publicly undermining our chains of command, what's wrong with having an opinion or a professional discussion? Should we shut down Proceedings because no one cares about the opinions of junior and mid-grade officers?

Poll: Who really gives a shit what a bunch of JOs, wanna-a-bes and retired fucks think?

Probably no one in a position of authority. Does that mean the discussion can't be had? Maybe some of us who haven't been around the PERS side of the house could learn something here from those who have or who are currently IA. Maybe the Army guys who post might have something to contribute.

Poll: Do you think that since you joined the Navy, you should realize that you volunteered to go where the Navy wants to send you and that STFU and accepting it is the best course of action?

Naturally. But I fail to see where the OP is whining about his lot in life. He's in Advanced right now, not on the IA bubble. I think the poll is ill advised (you don't get to vote on the CO's policy or any other higher-up, so what's the point), but other than that, I think you're going off high and right here, HAL.

 

[bert]

HAL,
Since you were on a "role" you ought to have suggested a poll on whether or not spell check is the JO's best friend.

 

[Afterburner76]

HAL,
Since you were on a "role" you ought to have suggested a poll on whether or not spell check is the JO's best friend.

haha, glad you caught that... i changed it right before you posted. nice catch.

 

[HAL Pilot]

I think the poll is ill advised (you don't get to vote on the CO's policy or any other higher-up, so what's the point), but other than that, I think you're going off high and right here, HAL.

My point (in my eloquent way)...the poll is ill advised. I'll expand, it's also stupid and meaningless. I have a low tolerance for stupid and meaningless (unless of course it is humor). Normally I just ignore it but today......

It's a very complex argument. Similar to the "living Constitution" one. The Navy was created to to maintain, train and equip Naval forces capable deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. Just because our current administration believes otherwise, is that enough to change our fundamental heritage? Could it be that we are stretching so thin and just grasping at whatever manpower we can find? Maybe. That's the point of the poll. I'm interested to know what you think. Not just interested in your hostile bashing.

If this is what you want, then start a discussion using this as the basis. Your poll does not address these questions and is meaningless.

But hey, if you can't formulate thoughts on your own...go ahead and slam.

Pot <> Kettle. Your simplistic poll obviously does not convey what you now say it was intended to convey.

 

[bert]

Make sure you get the title of the thread also - otherwise it will be quite difficult for us old cranks to comment on your thread vs. make fun of another JO spellcheck cripple.

For what it is worth, I do not think the presence of Navy folks on IA's has anything to do with our "culture" for lack of a better term, but instead has everything to do with being a convenient solution to two different problems (the over-extension of the Army and a potential perceived lack of contribution of the Navy).

And if that in turn can be used to the Navy's advantage in the budget process, then I guess everybody wins, don't they?

 

[Afterburner76]

My point (in my eloquent way)...the poll is ill advised. I'll expand, it's also stupid and meaningless. I have a low tolerance for stupid and meaningless. Normally I just ignore it but today......

how is it meaningless? The idea is to get a feel for how the "troops" think. While I appreciate your service and history, you are not affected by the choices that are made for us. (please, no disrespect inteneded). While we do exist to follow orders, etc. We are also the future leaders of the Navy and have thoughts of our own. If you feel this discussion is worthless, then I suppose you don't read the Navy Times (because they discuss it too), or agree with any study of the current situation in ROTC classrooms either (God forbid a discussion on IA takes place there as well)...

 

[HAL Pilot]

how is it meaningless? The idea is to get a feel for how the "troops" think. While I appreciate your service and history, you are not affected by the choices that are made for us. (please, no disrespect inteneded). While we do exist to follow orders, etc. We are also the future leaders of the Navy and have thoughts of our own. If you feel this discussion is worthless, then I suppose you don't read the Navy Times (because they discuss it too), or agree with any study of the current situation in ROTC classrooms either (God forbid a discussion on IA takes place there as well)...

Discussion - meaningful. Yes or No poll - meaningless.

If you want to discuss an issue, start a discussion.

 

[raptor10]

The Navy was created to to maintain, train and equip Naval forces capable deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.

The Navy was created to kick the British out of America... It evolved into the above "role." IA is another tool to make all of the armed forces more flexible, 4GW warfare requires it, and possibly other (more extraordinary)game changing strategies.

 

[robav8r]

On Thursday evening, over 30 members of the CENTCOM J5 Coalition Coordination Center stood in formation at the veterans hospital here in Tampa to give tribute to the many wounded veterans and their families returning from the WOT. Following the formation, I had the opportunity to speak with the father of an Army Ranger who was one of 17 soldiers killed or seriously wounded when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter went down. I asked the father how his son was doing. His son was clearly struggling to maintain even a small amount of consciousness. His father started to break down and started to wheel his son back up to his room without saying a word to me. He didn't have to - I saw everything I needed to know in that mans face.

Afterwards, we had a dinner in one of the hospital cafeterias with the other veterans and their families. As I sat there, I couldn't think of anything other than the Army Ranger in his wheel chair and the look of his fathers eyes. Needless to say, I didn't eat very much that night.

No disrespect to the OP, but instead of a poll on what we may or may not think about the Navy's contribution to the WOT through IA's, how about a poll on how we can better support our combat veterans and how we can win this God Damn war . . . . .

 

[bert]

Slight threadjack (or tangent, at least) that rob's post inspired me to want to chime in with (not fully relevant, but not worth a new thread):

I don't like the tendency some people have to claim that disagreement with the administrations policies or conduct of the war somehow demeans the sacrifice so many of our veterans have made. NOTHING can diminish what they and their families have given to our country. Our entire government could go batshit crazy tomorrow, pull us out of Iraq with no preparation and give free nuclear weapons and hand jobs to the ayatollahs in Iran, and that would not in any way make their courage or sacrifice any less.

End of rant, nothing to see here, go back to your threads....