Monthly Archives: January 2008

The Crux of Leadership

Posted on January 9, 2008 by CJ| 3 Comments

Ask any NCO who has worn the diamond what his/her favorite job in the Army was and the response you’ll probably get is “First Sergeant”. Not because it was the easiest job. The myriad list of activities that a 1SG must accomplish can be mind-staggering. He or she has to monitor, inspect, mentor, establish, revamp, assess, organize, evaluate, manage, maintain, emphasize, plan, process, arrange, review, investigate, mitigate, and counsel among other things. Does that mean that the 1SG is the smartest peson on earth? To casual observers, it may seem like “Tops” possess a super-human ability to withstand high levels of stress and have all the answers. Not quite. After all, I got the job!!
Continue reading →

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Top Posts

This Is Taking Care of Troops?

Posted on January 2, 2008 by CJ| 1 Comment

The Army has had to suspend reenlistment bonuses for more than 20 job specialties because Congress has not passed legislation to fund the programs. Or, put another way, President Bush thinks Soldiers make enough money.
Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Top Posts

Looking for a Surge

Posted on January 1, 2008 by Troy| 2 Comments

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20071217_More_troops_urged_for_Afghanistan.html

They are looking for a surge in Afghanistan now and I must say that this is easily a year overdue. I have been saying this for a long time, actually since I was over there. I distinctly remember sitting around talking to Smoke and Mouse one day and telling them at the time that we needed at least another Brigade Combat Team in country to perform full spectrum operations, if not at least two more Brigades and another Division HQ. Well not long after that conversation we found out they were going to put two full brigades in country (which is what they have had since last March). At the time they said it was only a temporary thing, but then soon changed it to be a long term strategy.

This year has been the deadliest so far with just over 100 Americans killed in Afghanistan and hundreds more wounded and hundreds of Afghan forces killed. The Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Anti-Coalition Forces, whatever you want to call them, continue to strengthen more and more as they get farther away from 2001 when we gave them a hell of a whoopin. They continue to learn tactics from insurgents in Iraq and the weapons coming in from Pakistan and Iran are getting better and more sophisticated.

The time for the US to act is now. Strengthen the forces on the ground through the winter lull months. Flood the country with combat fighting forces and release them to decimate the enemy fighters in Afghanistan in the Spring of 2008. If we continue to have a half-staffed Army and Police training Task Force and not enough warfighters on the ground to cover as much terrain as possible then 2008 will be deadlier than 2007….mark my words. When I was there, 2006 was the worst year ever, now it is 2007…it only makes sense that the trend will continue until we give the enemy no place to hide, no refuge, no escape routes.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Military Life