We are in trouble.
Our national security agencies seem out of control, hunting down fake Russian plots, spying on and bullying ordinary Americans, and allowing their own computers to be hacked. Our Congress, Democrats and Republicans, seems more and more a collection of boobs capable only of attacking one another or the President. The bureaucrats who run everything from the Veteran’s Administration to health care and education often come across as either incompetent or corrupt. Many of the governments in our larger cities run on the same byways of corruption and waste as the federal government.
And now it’s the turn of the American military.
Our national security agencies seem out of control, hunting down fake Russian plots, spying on and bullying ordinary Americans, and allowing their own computers to be hacked. Our Congress, Democrats and Republicans, seems more and more a collection of boobs capable only of attacking one another or the President. The bureaucrats who run everything from the Veteran’s Administration to health care and education often come across as either incompetent or corrupt. Many of the governments in our larger cities run on the same byways of corruption and waste as the federal government.
And now it’s the turn of the American military.
Our armed forces are in sad shape these days. President Obama gutted the top brass of the American military, shedding general officers who disagreed with some of his decisions. This year the Air Force is short 1,500 pilots. When the Navy isn’t running ships into foreign boats, or throwing sex parties at exclusive hotels, the skippers are complaining that they lack both ships and qualified personnel to cover their assignments. The Army this year once again reduced standards for its recruits. Even the Navy Seals haven’t escaped this downward slide. Two of them were recently arrested for the suspected murder of a Special Forces sergeant who had discovered their thievery while serving alongside them in Africa.
And then there’s the United States Military Academy at West Point.
From 1969 to 1971, I attended that Academy. I had dreamed of going to West Point for many years, and though after eighteen months I decided against a career in the military—I resigned honorably in January 1971—I respected the institution. We members of the class of 1973 went through the rigors of Beast Barracks and Plebe Year, we attended mandatory chapel, we adhered strictly to the Honor Code, we took rigorous courses, mostly in match and science. (When I left and entered Guilford College, I brought with me nineteen hours of math, which qualified as a minor at that college. This was after just three semesters at West Point). Leaves and other privileges were strictly limited. There were no female cadets. Members of the Corps, some of whom I knew, were routinely dismissed for honor violations or for academic failure.
How things have changed.
Copy and paste the article below from Military Affairs. If you don’t want to read the whole article, scroll down and read the controversial letter from Lieutenant Colonel Robert Heffington blasting the current state of affairs at the Academy. If half of what the Colonel says it’s true, it’s time either to close the Academy or to send in some soldiers who will take the place by the scruff of the neck, give it a good hard shaking, and restore the rigor that once produced fine officers. These young men and women are supposed to be the elite of our military. If there is truth in the article, they sound more like a bunch of bums.
We Americans are paying around $450,000 for every cadet graduated from this place. We should be getting warriors for that money, not arrogant twits.
One last note: the military can only be as strong and as qualified as the civilians from whom it draws its men and women. We can point a finger at the military. But perhaps we should be pointing at ourselves.
Please read the Colonel’s letter.
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2017/10/exclusive-former-west-point-professors-letter-exposes-corruption-cheating-and-failing-standards-full-letter/
And then there’s the United States Military Academy at West Point.
From 1969 to 1971, I attended that Academy. I had dreamed of going to West Point for many years, and though after eighteen months I decided against a career in the military—I resigned honorably in January 1971—I respected the institution. We members of the class of 1973 went through the rigors of Beast Barracks and Plebe Year, we attended mandatory chapel, we adhered strictly to the Honor Code, we took rigorous courses, mostly in match and science. (When I left and entered Guilford College, I brought with me nineteen hours of math, which qualified as a minor at that college. This was after just three semesters at West Point). Leaves and other privileges were strictly limited. There were no female cadets. Members of the Corps, some of whom I knew, were routinely dismissed for honor violations or for academic failure.
How things have changed.
Copy and paste the article below from Military Affairs. If you don’t want to read the whole article, scroll down and read the controversial letter from Lieutenant Colonel Robert Heffington blasting the current state of affairs at the Academy. If half of what the Colonel says it’s true, it’s time either to close the Academy or to send in some soldiers who will take the place by the scruff of the neck, give it a good hard shaking, and restore the rigor that once produced fine officers. These young men and women are supposed to be the elite of our military. If there is truth in the article, they sound more like a bunch of bums.
We Americans are paying around $450,000 for every cadet graduated from this place. We should be getting warriors for that money, not arrogant twits.
One last note: the military can only be as strong and as qualified as the civilians from whom it draws its men and women. We can point a finger at the military. But perhaps we should be pointing at ourselves.
Please read the Colonel’s letter.
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2017/10/exclusive-former-west-point-professors-letter-exposes-corruption-cheating-and-failing-standards-full-letter/