tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26747255563152486982012-01-19T12:13:11.306-06:00This blog is a project of a few field grade military officers attending the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. We created a blog in order to facilitate a forum of discussion between us and anyone with an interest in the military. Oh, and to have a bit of fun. The publications by the officers on this site do not represent official military views, rather a candid & open discussion based on individual experiences.Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.comBlogger401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-34557788258885551682009-04-18T11:54:00.001-05:002009-04-18T11:56:51.778-05:00

The Challenge of Retaining Majors in Our ArmyA recent article in the Armed Forces Journal by MAJ Myles Caggins, III, discussed possible incentive plans to retain U.S. Army majors. Caggins asserts that qualified enlisted recruits receive up to $40,000; Army captains $35,000; Navy officers $121,000; and a typical Army major – nothing. He offers some creative proposals he believes would help retain

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-63588347498224337282009-01-16T09:02:00.002-06:002009-01-16T09:04:01.886-06:00

Major's thesis cites impending officer crisisBy Melissa Bower Staff WriterPublished: Thursday, January 8, 2009 8:51 AM CSTA recent graduate of the Command and General Staff College is concerned the Army's shortage of majors may be sooner and more serious than originally thought."I'm mainly putting this out there," said Maj. George Brown, who graduated in the 2008-02 class. "It's kind of like the

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-32801017928184641282008-12-02T18:11:00.000-06:002008-12-02T18:12:35.622-06:00

From USAToday.comEnlisted soldiers and Marines divorced their spouses at a higher rate in fiscal 2008 than at any other time in at least 16 years, according to Pentagon data released Tuesday.About 4% of married enlisted troops in the Army and Marines, or 8,842 GIs and 2,842 Marines, obtained divorces during fiscal 2008, the numbers show. The data reflect a steady upward trend in divorce among the

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-19891140054019150462008-12-02T12:08:00.005-06:002008-12-02T19:38:56.453-06:00

ALERT:There is a request to congress to take away military retirement payments at 20 years of service.I have written about this (from the Report of the Tenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation dated July 2008) in my thesis: the concept is to bring equality to the Reserve/National Guard and the active Army and also to allow those with 10 years of service to eventually receive part of

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-62154784737715056092008-11-29T13:31:00.002-06:002008-11-29T13:59:10.667-06:00

All,As Thanksgiving is coming to an end I just wanted to bring attention to and give thanks for our Soldiers who are deployed. Equally important are the families of those Soldiers who are overseas. For the first time in two years I was able to spend Thanksgiving with my family, and while we were eating I could not forget about the Soldiers who are overseas away from their families. I also could

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15230761627862077248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-59651261739702863022008-11-22T17:01:00.003-06:002008-11-22T17:07:22.121-06:00

The Army has scheduled the execution of Army Pvt. Ronald A. Gray for Dec. 10, the first of a servicemember since 1961.The DB does not have the ability to handle the execution, so Gray will be put to death at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Ind.Gray was convicted in civilian and military courts on charges stemming from four murders and eight rapes that occurred around Fayetteville

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-69231207869972088952008-11-17T13:15:00.002-06:002008-11-17T13:42:33.286-06:00

One of the requirements to graduate CGSC is to post to a blog, so here I go. Below is an article by Ben Stein that I think is pretty good.How Can Someone Who Lives in Insane Luxury Be a Star in Today's World?As I begin to write this, I 'slug' it, as we writers say, which means I put a heading on top of the document to identify it. This heading is 'eonline FINAL,' and it gives me a shiver to

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15230761627862077248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-47670220478213433232008-11-14T08:26:00.001-06:002008-11-14T08:35:29.786-06:00

The government is set Monday to unveil a significant shakeup to a federal law that lets more than 77 million eligible employees across the USA take unpaid time off to care for family medical needs.The new provisions, which follow two years of wrangling, institute first-ever leave for military family members and establish new rules on how employees must notify employers about their need for time

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-38397196810103897342008-10-22T20:20:00.004-05:002008-10-22T20:53:36.959-05:00

A few days ago, I did a guest speaking gig in an undergraduate Spanish class taught by my brother. I was assured that this being a 200 level class, the students were passed simple things like introductions, asking directions, colors, etc, in Spanish. The point of my visit was to share with the students my own experience of the utility that knowing Spanish and having knowledge of various South

Sammihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09800208527392026334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-14191470622334479732008-09-18T13:10:00.002-05:002008-09-18T13:19:15.835-05:00

Counterinsurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan has become the US Army’s primary training mission, but does our military have the ability to prepare to fight the next war? This is a very complicated and complex issue that requires input from many experienced leaders; many of these leaders are busy fighting, recovering or preparing to fight one of the two wars. Priory of the manning resources of the US

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-45248016066980959602008-09-09T20:59:00.003-05:002008-09-09T22:50:11.613-05:00

This has been out for a while but now appears to be drawing the ire of lawmakers such as Rep. John Murtha and Army retirees. In my opinion this decision follows a trend of a few progressive leaders that are looking at new and innovative ways to conduct Information Operations at the strategic level at a time where recruiters are struggling to fill the roles of an expanding Army. Marketing the

BigXII better than SECnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-16512280768857348552008-09-03T22:52:00.006-05:002008-09-03T23:16:02.732-05:00

As I monitor the blog posts on CNN's coverage of the Republican Convention, in particular Gov. Palin's speech I am absolutely appalled by the biased one sided coverage they present on their website. Approximately 98% of the posts are negative towards the Palin, McCain, and the Republican party. Really only 2% of the people who watched the speech and then checked the coverage on the various news

unclejbgdnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-44253060317340347652008-09-01T10:16:00.001-05:002008-09-01T10:18:42.008-05:00

The US military has handed over security control of the western province of Anbar to Iraqi forces. This is the type of news that is hard to find on the front page of any newspaper or even talked about on the ABC/CBS/NBC/CNN. The province was once a hotbed of the Sunni Arab insurgency, and the scene of some of the bloodiest battles of the Iraq war.The handover marks a major milestone in the US

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-66870276684858104722008-08-29T10:47:00.004-05:002008-08-29T10:57:51.428-05:00

The draft thesis and summary on the US Army field grade officer shortage can be found at:https://forums.bcks.army.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=644864&lang=en-USComments (positive and negative) are welcomed to help improve on this draft.GEORGEIf you want to make enemies, try to change something.Woodrow Wilson

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-53311911679054853312008-08-20T10:52:00.002-05:002008-08-20T19:22:30.467-05:00

The days of the green Class A’s are over.The Army’s plan to make dress blues the only Army Service Uniform has been approved and soldiers who own the uniform are encouraged to begin wearing it now, the Army announced Wednesday.The move to eliminate the green uniform is designed to streamline soldiers’ clothing bags while modernizing the way the traditional blue uniform is worn.The new wear policy

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-508067748138650102008-08-16T21:30:00.007-05:002008-08-17T11:43:42.511-05:00

The story that is loosely based on my MMAS thesis has been published by the Washington Post. It missed the mark, but not by much. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/25/AR2008072502976.html?hpid=moreheadlinesIn this military school of higher learning, the combined education and experience of the officers in our staff group often produces some powerful discussions. The

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-24522896629607015292008-08-13T10:53:00.002-05:002008-08-13T11:03:27.922-05:00

ILE maybe stuck in the old. When we first started ILE we discussed the next kind of war and the potential for a new revolution in military affairs. We discussed counter terrorism and the COIN fight. But when it comes to exercises we are fighting a conventional HIC war. We are fighting an armored horde that uses conventional soviet tactics. Really what changes has ILE made? When we leave ILE

Moose Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663669254704512244noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-67788585305243608642008-08-10T10:49:00.002-05:002008-08-10T10:57:40.473-05:00

The exert below is taken from the Reuters report posted on Yahoo News:Potentially widening the conflict, the leader of Abkhazia, a second pro-Russian breakaway Georgian region, said on Sunday he had ordered 1,000 troops to push Georgian forces out of part of his territory and called up reservists.Georgia quickly denounced what it termed "new aggression" prepared by Moscow in Abkhazia, a strip of

Moose Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663669254704512244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-402595521683944772008-08-08T23:07:00.010-05:002008-08-09T00:30:41.738-05:00

What did you see my blue eyed son? As I just finished watching the Opening Ceremonies to the Beijing Olympics, I wonder why can't the world get a long as harmoniously as it did this magical night. Yes I am quite aware that as I type Russia and Georgia are now involved in a very intense conflict, but that action did not prove to be the overture for the ceremony. Why is it that we scoff at the

unclejbgdnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-3736947078348336942008-08-07T21:27:00.003-05:002008-08-07T21:37:20.298-05:00

A panel looking at military compensation has recommended dramatic changes in the military retirement system. The defined benefit would be 2.5 percent of the average basic pay for the highest 36 months of the individual's career multiplied by the number of years of service, with service members vested at 10 years of service. Payments to retirees would begin age 57 for those with 20 years of

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-51154843751090939292008-08-01T17:15:00.003-05:002008-08-01T17:27:27.086-05:00

Yes, Defense Secretary Gates asked both our top civilian and our Chief of Staff for their resignations. Yes, a nuclear-loaded B-52 flew from Minot to Barksdale, and then the wing failed a subsequent inspection. Yes, a missile crew didn’t properly secure a crypto device before they went to sleep. Yes, we shipped nuclear missile fuses to Taiwan. Yes, DoD and the GAO are taking over the

Air Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08408631814951137798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-11210174175223073692008-08-01T08:02:00.002-05:002008-12-09T01:37:13.467-06:00

In a recent article in Navy Times, sailors sound off on "shipmate" -- a term that to many has come to mean "screw-up." Talk of heritage and tradition is taking a back seat as some compare the word’s current usage to an insult. Who's to blame? How can the Navy rescue "shipmate"? Or should the term just be sunk?

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-81395206112280139952008-07-31T08:09:00.003-05:002008-12-09T01:37:13.682-06:00

Wanted to post this under the comments below about Obama, but the pictures would not show up.Repaint your plane to remove the flag. Complain about wearing the flag on the lapel. Not showing up at a hospital, seems like a trend...Below is a message found out in web land, this time with a picture from another website....WHAT A DISGRACE!!! Snopes says this is true!http://www.snopes.com/politics/

Frozen Turkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08020578880691661356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-48623815438842851662008-07-31T05:29:00.005-05:002008-12-09T01:37:13.807-06:00

Smoking appears to have sparked a fire that caused $70 million in damage to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington.The announcement by the Navy came as Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, relieved the carrier's commanding officer, Capt. David C. Dykhoff, and the executive officer of duty, Capt. David M. Dober.Adm. Willard cited lost confidence in the

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-70498660956498728722008-07-29T21:31:00.003-05:002008-12-09T01:37:13.933-06:00

After I saw first hand how the Iraqi soccer team was able to help bring together this new democratic nation last, I thought it was distressing when I learned that Iraq could not participate in the Olympic being held in CHINA… is this not ironic?UPDATE: The International Olympic Committee ruled today that Iraq could participate in the Beijing games, reversing itself after Baghdad pledged to ensure

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-34109197379543569312008-07-28T19:14:00.002-05:002008-12-09T01:37:14.064-06:00

President Bush on Monday approved the execution of an Army private, the first time in over a half-century that a president has affirmed a death sentence for a member of the US military.Private Gray was convicted of committing brutal crimes, including two murders, an attempted murder and three rapes. Gray has been on death row at Ft. Leavenworth since April 1988.The military also has asked the

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-4819962802559659722008-07-25T11:01:00.003-05:002008-07-25T11:12:37.310-05:00

We had a panel of PhDs a coupld of months back and they lectured the CGSC Majors on the need for us (the Majors) to be sure and educate ourselves on our proper place in the Civil Military relations continuum.A thought occurred to me: I know for a fact we're getting educated on that topic, heck, it's part of our credentialing process if we want to continue up the ranks. What standards and

Sammihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09800208527392026334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-75921922142923093202008-07-25T10:35:00.002-05:002008-12-09T01:37:14.154-06:00

Politics is largely about priorities; so is life, for that matter. Barack Obama's priorities were put into sharp relief today when he canceled visits to two American military bases in Germany. He still has time, of course, to play the "rock star" in front of cheering multitudes of Germans. Ed Morrissey broke the story: Der Spiegel’s blog reports on Obama’s priorities:1:42 p.m.: SPIEGEL ONLINE

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-14142079410455323082008-07-24T08:24:00.002-05:002008-07-24T08:26:11.825-05:00

The news article on Early Bird from the LA Times says that Washington DC is relooking the don't ask don't tell.Do you think it is time to allow gays and lesbians to serve openly?

Moose Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663669254704512244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-29850600136184911682008-07-24T08:22:00.005-05:002008-12-09T01:37:14.341-06:00

Just as a side note, how could the Army allow this bad press on 2LT Caleb Campbell? *Safety Caleb Campbell became the first Army player to be drafted by the NFL in 11 years when the Detroit Lions selected him in the seventh round last April. Does this decision help or hurt our Army in getting quality members to join USMA or ROTC? We may have gained one good officer, but lost many, many more. This

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-86707171192131948512008-07-24T08:15:00.001-05:002008-07-24T08:17:44.106-05:00

Afghan Shift Could Be NearGates awaits report; units likely to be small.By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated PressWASHINGTON - Top Pentagon leaders are expected to recommend soon to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates which additional U.S. troops could be sent to Afghanistan in the next month or so, according to a senior military official.The units are likely to be small and could include engineers,

Moose Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663669254704512244noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-70473954631245384652008-07-23T08:29:00.003-05:002008-12-09T01:37:14.706-06:00

The Air Force has stealth planes:.The Navy has stealth ships:The Zumwalt was conceived as a stealth warship with massive firepower to pave the way for Marines to make their way ashore. It features advanced technology, composite materials, an unconventional wave-piercing hull and a smaller crewNow the Army needs a stealth tank:

Moose Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663669254704512244noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-10056683458218464092008-07-20T10:22:00.006-05:002008-12-09T01:37:14.817-06:00

(The following is a summary of a master’s thesis titled “Major Crisis: An Analysis of the Critical Shortage of US Army Officers in Year Groups 1991-1997” (pp125) by Major George B. Brown III)There is a potential crisis in the US Army that has received little attention, but is having a critical effect on the military and its ability to continue its high operational tempo: a shortage of US Army

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-52026994118617318382008-07-06T22:13:00.006-05:002008-12-09T01:37:14.943-06:00

The truth is out there… but not from the liberal media. The blogs have it:Iraq's efforts on 15 of 18 benchmarks are "satisfactory" — almost twice of what it determined to be the case a year ago. The May 2008 report card, obtained by the Associated Press, determines that only two of the benchmarks — enacting and implementing laws to disarm militias and distribute oil revenues — are

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-55019754680266039592008-07-03T08:59:00.011-05:002008-12-09T01:37:15.157-06:00

Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Four of the signers were captured by the British as traitors, and at least two tortured. Twelve had their

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-53557712783951800642008-06-27T11:38:00.003-05:002008-12-09T01:37:15.437-06:00

This photo is from the UK/US CGSC exercise held the last week of June 2008.

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-34069393690057007402008-06-27T08:15:00.002-05:002008-06-27T08:20:46.801-05:00

The army has lost its way with Future Combat Systems. As Sec. Gates annonces another round of changes to the program, I have to ask are we developing systems because we can or are we developing systems because they will help prepare us for the next war. Technology will not solve the problems the army has with preparing soldiers for war, it is not a substitute for training and discipline. More

Moose Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663669254704512244noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-91067806095801348202008-06-26T10:44:00.005-05:002008-12-09T01:37:15.604-06:00

It has been six months now since my return from Iraq. As I look back on the last few months, my time in Iraq seems so many, many years ago… almost a different lifetime. I get the same feeling now as I got when I had returned from Desert Storm… remembering is like recalling an old movie; an actor I saw, not really something I did. I guess the mind has its own way with dealing with memories.15

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-21330695161226853712008-06-25T14:39:00.001-05:002008-06-25T14:44:45.311-05:00

Where can you find pleasureSearch the world for treasureLearn science technologyWhere can you begin to make your dreams all come trueOn the land or on the seaWhere can you learn to flyPlay in sports and skin diveStudy oceanographySign of for the big bandOr sit in the grandstandWhen your team and others meetIn the navyYes, you can sail the seven seasIn the navyYes, you can put your mind at easeIn

Shipwreckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12580080628220347426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674725556315248698.post-25937766029212258332008-06-25T12:59:00.003-05:002008-12-09T01:37:15.782-06:00

This blog is a project of a few field grade military officers attending the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.The Command and General Staff College is a one year graduate level course with a mission to prepare students for the future by providing an accredited education with emphasis at the operational & tactical levels of war. The typical attendee is the US Army major

Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756752533455024207noreply@blogger.com2