-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! ARTICLE 9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Air Force: Air Combat Readiness and Safety in Question ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: We have received similar concerns from multiple sources. Quality of personnel and quality of training are the key ingredients for air traffic safety and air combat readiness. This safety issue deserves a much closer look by our Air Force, the department of Transportation, and the media. *************************************************************************** By a Senior Airman We hear about Army divisions not ready for battle, sailors at sea for periods longer than the Vikings, or the chronic pilot shortages that threaten our ability to dominate the air. Do we hear about the support networks that make all this possible? Air Traffic Controllers are one of the combat support systems that are vital. Air traffic controllers played an important part in the air war over the Gulf; not just as controllers, but as combat airspace managers who helped devise the execution of the air order. They were called into Sarejevo, Taszar, Tuzla, Albania, Mogadishu, and every other campaign imaginable. On a much greater scale USAF air traffic controllers control more than just the taxpayers' F-16s, F-15s, and transports--they control a large number of flights that carry your loved ones, friends, and politicians. So what's the problem? Ask the USAF what's the status of its air traffic controllers. You will find a qualified pool of about 55% of what the USAF says they need to support the mission (military and civilian aviation). This comes even after the USAF dramatically downsized its requirements in 1992. Ask about the average age and experiences of the airman providing this uniquely difficult and potentially hazardous task. You will find the front line controllers are about 19 years old, and the average experience even when you add what's left of the old-timers is probably about 5 to 6 years. Ask them if this is safe? You'll get a standard reply. Finally ask them what they are doing about it. They will tell you that they are stepping up training (and they are), that they are providing reenlistment incentives (and they are). If you scratch deep enough, you might discover that the standards have drastically declined. You will discover that entrance scores on the ASVAB are less than AFSCs (MOS) that require little thinking when compared to an air traffic controller. You might find some units are getting kids with speech impediments, learning disorders, and mental diseases. Finally, ask them if their plans are working, what the retention rates are like, and the big question...why are they getting out? Why doesn't this issue does not get more attention? Why doesn't the Department of Transportation take a closer look? One has to wonder why the news media hasn't discovered this skeleton, and why the USAF hasn't stepped up in a very aggressive manner to tackle the problem. You know you can have all the pilots you need, but without air traffic controllers where are they going to go? I'm still comfortable that safety can be maintained, but you wonder for how long? ============================================================ ARTICLE 10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Voices from the Frontlines ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dismounted Infantry a Rare Commodity --------------------------------------------------- Ed.: Ask who does the Patrolling and Peacekeeping? By a Sergeant stationed in Europe Please, the talk about Brads being zeroed out for lack of personnel and other Brads having 2 soldiers in the back is old news. Hell, when I deployed my platoon to Bosnia in 96, I only had 12 soldiers, including my Lieutenant on the Friday we received the order. Monday morning, I had 30. To get there, we raided 1st Infantry Division and our C Company that had just returned from Macedonia. After we came back, I was back down to 12 soldiers. By our rotation to the CMTC (training center) the next year I was back up to 20 soldiers, but that was after we turned our second platoon into a "Cav" platoon, and took all their dismounts. Add it up, with 2 Lieutenants (don't ask!), I still had less than a full squad, 3rd platoon had less than a full squad, and our "CAV" platoon was 12 deep. Same story today! ----------------------------------------------------------- Digital Unit in Despair ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: Report from the recent National Training Center rotation by the 4th Infantry Division: Multiple Sources Seven tanks caught on fire in four days. The rotation shut down for three days so the brigade could perform maintenance, a considerable loss of valuable training time. Within one week, 35 of 44 tanks were "deadlined" before participating in any maneuver training. The high tech digital gear was rarely used because operators were not thoroughly trained. ----------------------------------------------------------- Everything normal in SWA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By a forward deployed Air Force Officer A friend sent me your article, "Air Force: AirMEN preferred for SWA deployments" by a senior airman. I'm wondering where this airman is getting his information. >From where I'm sitting, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this guy doesn't know what he's talking about. The devil is in the details, which our writer conveniently left out. In what country did this alleged rape take place? What was the nationality of the alleged rapist? His suggestion that a drivers' license be a requirement for deployment is way off as women are definitely allowed to drive ON BASE in Saudi Arabia; that argument was made about 10 years ago when the Army showed up here for Desert Storm with many female truck drivers. It's OFF BASE where the Saudis prohibit women from driving. The Air Force has definitely NOT banned women from deployment to Southwest Asia. Here are many women of all ranks and all services in many different career fields, and more rotate in all the time. Sounds to me like this airman has some other issues. Maybe he needs to be put into the next AEF rotation, possibly to a garden spot like PSAB or Ali Al Salem, then put to work for a female master sergeant or captain. Then he'll have a clue. =========================================================== ARTICLE 11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cultural values: Appropriate Role Models? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: The following document is proof that the Pentagon bureaucrats are relentlessly continuing their divisive diversity campaigns (DDC). When are we beginning to stress the things that unite us: Our Constitution, the Flag, our language, ideals etc.? I couldn't say it better than Paul Viscovitch, so I left his accompanying commentary intact. ********************************************************* By Paul Viscovich, Jr. CDR/USN (Ret) The following is an extract from the Navy PAO Newsletter of 09/15, which reports the Secretary of the Navy's proclamation of Hispanic Heritage Month. While I lament DoD's continuing need to celebrate that which separates rather than unites us, I laud the contributions of Americans of Hispanic (or any other) descent in the defense of our great nation and am concerned by Secretary Danzig's singling out of Coronado, Cortez, and Pizzaro as Hispanic role models. These conquistadors of a reactionary regime came not to liberate but to enslave the indigenous ancestors of today's Hispanic-American citizens. Celebration of their memory invites an antidemocratic and schizophrenic memorial of Hispanic identity. I think recognition of those Mexican Texans and Californians who resisted Generalissimo Santa-Ana, and those Hispanics who paid the ultimate price for our freedom from Belleau Wood to Khe San would've been far more appropriate than the authoritarian bigots chosen by Secretary Danzig. ----------------------------------------------------------- The Message: SECNAV's message to the Navy about Hispanic Heritage Month 2000 >From the Office of the Secretary of the Navy WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The following is the text of a message to the Navy from Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig: In order to commemorate the importance of Hispanic culture and heritage and to recognize the many contributions Hispanics have made in building our great nation, Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 is designated National Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Americans have served with great distinction and extraordinary courage in the Department of the Navy (DON), reflecting unsurpassed dedication to our core values of honor, courage, and commitment. This year's theme, "Children: Our Hope for the Future," encourages us to look at children not only as future citizens, but also as future members of the military. Hispanics have enjoyed a rich military heritage in defense of this nation, and we are proud to say that today's force continues to follow in the historic footsteps of the early Hispanic explorers, such as Coronado, Cortez, and Pizarro. Present day DON Hispanic leaders like Rear Adm. Alberto Diaz Jr. and Major Gen. (select) Christopher Cortez, and this year's National Image, Inc. Meritorious Service Award winners Capt. Henry Gonzales Jr. and IT2(SW) Maria Campos from the Navy and Capt. Guillermo Mezaortega and Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Rivera from the Marine Corps, continue the tradition of service to country. We in the Department of the Navy capitalize on the strength of our diversity. Our respect for one another is essential to our success. As we enter this new millennium, our focus is clearly to remain the best Navy and Marine Corps the world has known. To accomplish this, we must focus on our future leaders, the children. Let us not forget that the youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow and the Hispanic demographic group is the fastest growing in our country. I encourage widest participation in events sponsored by Navy and Marine Corps communities in honor of our Hispanic American Sailors, Marines and civilians. Each installation is encouraged to conduct programs, create exhibits, publish items of interest in command bulletins, and solicit individual participation in appropriate observances of Hispanic Heritage month. Richard Danzig Secretary of the Navy ===================================================================== ARTICLE 12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Quality of Life Update: More odds 'n ends ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed: An interesting mix of issues. On Gulf War syndrome - why aren't the investigators not looking at the general level of pollution that existed in the desert, the impact of the rain of oil, smoke caused by the fires and the accidental explosion of chemical weapons storage facilities? In my six months on the ground, I was much more worried about those factors than depleted uranium ammunition. But I guess all the reporters and folks who weren't there know much better, as always! *********************************************************** By Pete Peterson, Quality of Life Editor Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web Site: The British press is reporting that there is new evidence that Gulf war syndrome, or GWI as we know it, exists and was caused by radiation poisoning, specifically from the depleted uranium (DU) shells fired during the Gulf war. Depleted uranium does not occur naturally. It is the by-product of the industrial processing of waste from nuclear reactors and is better known as weapons-grade uranium. It is used to strengthen the tips of shells to ensure that they pierce armor. Zimm, and others have told me that special handling of such rounds was always required. Gloves were to be worn at all times when handling this ammo. Our own government tells us that despite efforts to investigate the health claims of Gulf War veterans, there have been no patterns of illnesses, no common medical trends among troops serving together, nor has any evidence of Iraq's use of chemical or biological weapons been discovered. So, the mystery of what is causing GWI goes on, with many conflicting reports as to cause. Some, of course, still think it was the "shots" the troops had to take that is causing GWI. We'll keep you posted. Remember the San Francisco VA Hospital announcement asking for Russian and eastern European linguists? Well, after three tries, I did get an answer from DVA's Public Affairs/Consumer Service folks, of sorts: "I can respond that VA is not treating anyone but veterans in VA emergency rooms, except in the rare circumstance when a person (whether SSI recipient or not) is in extremely dire straits and VA is the closest emergency room. Then, as I understand it, we'd treat someone on a humanitarian basis." They still haven't told me why they asked for linguists in the first place though! Any of you using the VA facilities hear Russian being spoken, let me know. I don't think they're supposed to be there unless it's some of the VA's "humanitarian" health care being dispensed. I'm getting feedback regarding about all the former military facilities that are being turned over to local communities. Not only are these "free and clear" deals, but some of the facilities are even being upgraded to serve other State and Federal purposes. If anybody can confirm this, let me know. The most recent rumor I've heard has the old Army Hospital at Fort Devens being turned over to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The Feds apparently have gutted the facility to bring it up to standard for treatment of rapists, murderers, thieves, etc. This former MTF was good enough for us (or, at least those active and retirees within 40 miles), but it wasn't good enough for our federally incarcerated criminals! The turnover of all the facilities DOD doesn't need anymore to support its active duty and retiree populations may be "free" to the local communities, but you can bet your MasterCard, some new millionaires are being made. I wonder which politician's campaigns the new millionaires are donating to? The Office of Personnel Management just released the 2001 premiums for the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), and the news isn't good for civil servants. They'll pay an overall average increase of 10.5 percent. TRICARE Standard beneficiaries, on the other hand, are still looking for doctors who will take TRICARE. Remember the fake emails being sent out using "the Colonel" and my names? "The Colonel" was also falsely accused of spamming and sending viruses. Well, "the Colonel" got an answer from CG, Army Medical Command (who's up for a 3rd Star as Army's Surgeon General, nominated by this administration). The General wrote: "This matter appears to be one of simple misunderstandings. I am satisfied that (name omitted) has not acted inappropriately. I consider this matter closed." I don't think so! "The Colonel" isn't buying that and neither am I. While I have yet to receive my answer to my request for a full investigation, I anticipate the same "schmaltz" will come my way. "The Colonel" is already digging deeper into these "cybercrimes." I get my next turn when I get my letter. Congress / DOD: FIX TRICARE NOW! =========================================================== ARTICLE 13 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GI HUMOR - Don't mess with a Vet ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: SFTT does not endorse the overuse of alcoholic beverages to boost morale or combat courage...(maybe 1x six-pack...) *********************************************************** A teacher gave her fifth grade class an assignment: Get their parents to tell them a story with a moral at the end of it. The next day the kids came back and one by one began to tell their stories. Kathy said, "My father's a farmer and we have a lot of egg-laying hens. One time we were taking our eggs to market in a basket on the front seat of the pickup when we hit a bump in the road and all the eggs went flying and broke and made a mess. "And what's the moral of the story?" asked the teacher. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket!" "Very good," said the teacher. "Now, Lucy?" "Our family are farmers too. But we raise chickens for the meat market. We had a dozen eggs one time, but when they hatched we only got ten live chicks. And the moral to this story is, don't count your chickens until they're hatched." "That was a fine story Lucy. Johnny do you have a story to share?" "Yes, ma'am, my daddy told me this story about my Uncle Bob. Uncle Bob was a pilot in Vietnam and his plane got hit. He had to bail out over enemy territory and all he had was a bottle of whiskey, a machine gun and machete. He drank the whiskey on the way down so it wouldn't break and then he landed right in the middle of 100 enemy troops. He killed seventy of them with the machine gun until he ran out of bullets, then he killed twenty more with the machete till the blade broke and then he killed the last ten with his bare hands." "Good heavens," said the horrified teacher, " what kind of moral did your daddy tell you from that horrible story?" "Don't mess with Uncle Bob when he's been drinking." =============================================================== ARTICLE 14 - MEDAL OF HONOR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: This great hero and exemplary citizen, passed away on August 20, 2000 at age 74 and will be buried October 27, 2000 with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery. For a picture of Douglas Jacobson visit http://www.directcon.net/bcarr/jacobsond.html In an excerpt from a recent newspaper article, his wife describes the man: "He never wanted to talk about the war. He just didn't want to do that. It just brought back too many memories. If someone asked him, he would reluctantly tell what he did when he got the Medal of Honor, but he wouldn't volunteer it." He and his family lived in New Jersey, where he practiced real estate, before moving to Florida in 1987. "He was very caring and interested in talking with children in high schools about the war, and history," his wife said. "He was a real history buff. during the Civil War. Note: If you know of any MOH recipient who is hospitalized or has passed recently, please write James H. Also, if you would like more info on MOH recipients and their stories, please email James H at [EMAIL PROTECTED] *********************************************************** JACOBSON, DOUGLAS THOMAS Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 3d Battalion, 23d Marines, 4th Marine Division. Place and date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 26 February 1945. Entered service at: New York. Born: 25 November 1925, Rochester, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3d Battalion, 23d Marines, 4th Marine Division, in combat against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Island, 26 February 1945. Promptly destroying a stubborn 20mm. antiaircraft gun and its crew after assuming the duties of a bazooka man who had been killed, Pfc. Jacobson waged a relentless battle as his unit fought desperately toward the summit of Hill 382 in an effort to penetrate the heart of Japanese cross-island defense. Employing his weapon with ready accuracy when his platoon was halted by overwhelming enemy fire on 26 February, he first destroyed 2 hostile machinegun positions, then attacked a large blockhouse, completely neutralizing the fortification before dispatching the 5-man crew of a second pillbox and exploding the installation with a terrific demolitions blast. Moving steadily forward, he wiped out an earth-covered rifle emplacement and, confronted by a cluster of similar emplacements which constituted the perimeter of enemy defenses in his assigned sector, fearlessly advanced, quickly reduced all 6 positions to a shambles, killed 10 of the enemy, and enabled our forces to occupy the strong point. Determined to widen the breach thus forced, he volunteered his services to an adjacent assault company, neutralized a pillbox holding up its advance, opened fire on a Japanese tank pouring a steady stream of bullets on 1 of our supporting tanks, and smashed the enemy tank's gun turret in a brief but furious action culminating in a single-handed assault against still another blockhouse and the subsequent neutralization of its firepower. By his dauntless skill and valor, Pfc. Jacobson destroyed a total of 16 enemy positions and annihilated approximately 75 Japanese, thereby contributing essentially to the success of his division's operations against this fanatically defended outpost of the Japanese Empire. His gallant conduct in the face of tremendous odds enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. =========================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EDITOR'S NOTE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For Article Submissions: 1. Please try to keep articles to 700 words or less. SUBMIT IN WORD FORMAT, if possible! 2. Please submit your piece to one of our subject matter experts who can assist you in pre-editing prior to final publication decision, unless you feel strongly that your issue is so hot that Zimm needs to see it personally and immediately. SFTT is not trying to duplicate a rigid chain of command with titles and perks. R.W. Zimmermann [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================================= GLOSSARY OF MILITARY ACRONYMS: We've had numerous requests from troops in different branches of the military to establish this link so that we will all know how "all you others" talk that talk. Please see below: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/acronym_index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ***** BOOK SALES ***** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hack's books About Face*, Hazardous Duty*, The Price of Honor* and The Vietnam Primer can be found at www.hackworth.com. They make a great addition to any library. We are offering them at a special SFTT price. ==================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Defending America Newsletter: Administrative Volunteers: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ R.W. Zimmermann, Chief Editor/President of SFTT and Tank Commander David H. Hackworth, Spirit Guide, and undisputed Y2K Expert Bill Rogers, Senior Assistant Editor and SFTT Vice President Kate Aspy, Contributing Editor and Oracle Barry "Woody" Groton, Chief TECH DROID and Medicine Man John Cloven, Master web manager Ed "Edgar" Schneider, Copy Editor, Man of Letters and gentleman: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kyle Elliott, Book List Editor and Most Over-worked James H., MOH Editor and NCOIC =================================================== Defending America VOLUNTEER EDITORS/SPECIALISTS NOTE: The following list only includes the two primary assistant editors for each service or special area. Please refer to our WEBSITE -- www.sftt.org, for the complete listing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL Letters and Articles for considered publication should be submitted to one of our brave, resolute and caring volunteers. **************************************** U.S. Army: Tig Dupre, Civil-Military relations, weapons expert and Senior Editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] CPT Scott Key, Armor, Generalist, Assistant to Chief Editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] Robert L. Duecaster, Legal [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************** U.S. Navy: Mark Crissman, Naval Aviation, Generalist and Senior Editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] Pat Nisley, Navy Generalist and XO [EMAIL PROTECTED] John J. Vanore, Surface Warfare, Reserve and Intelligence issues [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************** U.S. Air Force: Paul Connors, Senior Editor, AF Historian, Grunt experience, Procurement and AirCrew issues [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sean Fermat, Fighters, WSO, Weapons, C&C, Generalist [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************** U.S. Marines: Maj. Gordon Todd, USMCR, Communications & Tech., Small Arms Training, Senior Editor. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Capt A. McRae, Marine generalist [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************** US Coast Guard Tom Grabowski [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************** Department of Defense Mike St.Clair Acquisition and Quality Assurance [EMAIL PROTECTED] *COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] Want to be on our lists? Write at [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a menu of our lists! ****************************************************************************** ******************* A vote for Bush or Gore is a vote to continue Clinton policies! A vote for Buchanan is a vote to continue America! Therefore a vote for Gore or Bush is a wasted vote for America! Don't waste your vote! Vote for Patrick Buchanan! Today, candor compels us to admit that our vaunted two-party system is a snare and a delusion, a fraud upon the nation. Our two parties have become nothing but two wings of the same bird of prey... 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