-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! ARTICLE 11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ More Voices from the Frontlines ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: Honest opinions of people who want to vent... *********************************************************** More Training Horror Stories ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An Army Sergeant Loved the article about the civilian weenie who apologized to everyone for forwarding the article. I guess the PC garbage is rather widespread where you can't ruffle a few feathers without apologizing to the whole flock of turkeys... My comments on training: I was with the 47th CSH, Ft. Screw-loose (Lewis) WA. Got in a PV2 fresh from basic and during SGTs' time (official time we NCO's get to be NCO's...like we aren't supposed to be the Backbone of the Army 24/7!) and after a class on map reading, she demonstrated her inability to find her butt with both hands and a flashlight. Dumbfounded, we asked the miserable gal why. "We weren't taught it, Sergeant." Further questioning brought out that she was in the hospital for the three days her buddies were taught land navigation and she was never brought up to speed. Never re-taught, she didn't even know what a four, six or eight digit was, much less how to find it. I helped teach her the basics of the compass, land nav and a bunch of stuff navigational for the rest of the day. To our great relief (and perchance our teaching skills) she was a quick learn. This was in 1997. I'm only hearing more and more horror stories since then. ----------------------------------------------------------- Refocus on Quality vs. Quantity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By A Senior NCO I noted with interest Mr. Hackworth's report on the training at Fort Jackson. I received a similar briefing from Fort Jackson last year while attending the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. I would agree that we need more focus on warfighting. I feel that this shift in emphasis is a result of the recruiting lag we suffered in the late 90s. As a former Drill Sergeant I frequently speak with Drill Sergeants who are currently at the training base or who have recently departed. The focus seems to be on numbers and graduation. There is a lot of pressure out there to sustain the force and not graduating soldiers once they arrive is just not acceptable. I receive correspondence frequently from other leaders in the field about training shortcomings. I will tell you that there is a core of concerned leaders still present in our Army who understand the importance of readiness. I would also tell you that there are those with rank and position that you have to battle with daily to create hard warfighting scenarios in your training execution. It seems to me that we have developed a certain group of officers and senior NCOs for that matter who would make great corporate leaders. This troubles me. We are very politically correct, environmentally sensitive and safety oriented. This is, of course, not all bad if you can balance these challenges while maintaining your warfighting edge. ----------------------------------------------------------- The Russians Suck...But... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Paratroop Infantryman at Ft Bragg. I recently had a chance to see and train with some Russian troops. To be blunt "they suck". I think brining them into the NATO fold would result in millions of dollars to modernize their equipment and train them to our standards. Things like radios -- theirs are still 1960's technology, to trucks (same thing) need to be replaced and fixed. I see it as a potential money trap. On the other hand if we want to avoid confrontation in the future and put them in the trenches in Bosnia and Kosovo, then I'm all for it. Better them than me. =========================================================== ARTICLE 12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Troop Health Issues: "Bad Order and Discipline" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: The Anthrax battle continues. With its serious impact on troop morale and retention, it should get immediate attention by the new administration. In the fall of 1998, Majors Russell E. Dingle and Thomas L. Rempfer were tasked to investigate concerns about the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP). Absent a response from the medical leadership of the USAF and the National Guard, the officers were among the one-quarter of the pilots in the 103rd Fighter Wing to be ordered to transfer or resign when unwilling to submit to anthrax inoculations. This pattern of coercion reoccurred in one dozen Guard and Reserve units. The Air Force lost 250 pilots at a conservative cost of one billion dollars until the policy effectively became optional due to lack of vaccine and failed inspections. The officers testified to Congress in the first AVIP oversight hearing, along with Col. Redmond Handy. Their fight continues. http://www.sftt.org/articles/shooting_straight.shtml *********************************************************** By Russell Dingle, Redmond Handy, Thomas Rempfer The three-year-old Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP) appears to be replete with serious legal implications. The dubious directive being forced upon the nation's Service members, by the threat of punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), presents a moral impasse for the troops, as well as an ethics case study for the soldiers of tomorrow. The facts in this military dilemma are compelling, disturbingly contrary and unsatisfied by a rationalizing and rhetorical mantra of "good order and discipline." A stark dichotomy exists between the DoD's claims of safety, efficacy and legality compared to information readily available in medical literature, government reports, and citations of the law. This contradiction creates a challenge for commanders and subordinates. The disconcerting facts include: 2 Congressional reports, one in 1994 (SR103-97) and one in 2000 (HR106-556), critical of the vaccine's experimental nature, and the DoD's lack of compliance with military and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. (See: www.house.gov/reform) 6 General Accounting Office (GAO) reports critical of the AVIP based on the lack evidence of long-term safety, stockpile exhaustion, affects on morale and readiness, and embellishment of the threat. (See: www.gao.gov) DoD Inspector General (IG) criminal investigation following extraordinary financial relief and alleged misuse of government funds, as well as multiple DoD IG level complaints by Service members. Institute of Medicine (IOM) preliminary report questioning proof of long-term safety, and 2 pending recently chartered studies to determine the safety and efficacy of the almost forty-year-old vaccine. (See: www.nap.edu) 2 FDA reports deeming the vaccine's manufacturing process "not validated," as well as a notice of intent to revoke the license (NIOR) and multiple warning letters. (See: www.majorbates.com) The FDA's official opinion on the vaccine, published in the Federal Register, that, "no meaningful assessment of it's value against inhalation anthrax is possible due to its low incidence." (The 13 DEC 85 Federal Register product review is linked at: www.anthrax.osd.mil) The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will not stockpile the anthrax vaccine for the nation's bio-terrorism stockpile and the FDA has not validated the manufacturer, citing dozens of deviations that violate current good manufacturing practices (CGMP's) according to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR's). The message from Government agencies, independent from the DoD, is consistent and condemning, inspiring little confidence for the troops under the needle of a questionable order. Add to this ordeal the recent testimony by military lawyers to Congress concerning the illegal nature of the AVIP mandate, citing Title 10 of the US Code, Section 1107, and Executive Order 13139, and a peacetime predicament emerges. The testimony raises questions of legality that go straight to the core of the oath of office to defend the Constitution and to obey lawful orders, and fly in the face of the Orwellian education campaign crafted by a small core of Pentagon officials, mostly veterinarians. Disappointingly, the core values provided by modern military leaders, ensuring a paradigm shift away from the blind obedience of the Vietnam era, have been forgotten in the midst of a duplicitous dogma of force protection against anthrax. Despite the legitimate and documented concerns of safety, efficacy and legality, soldiers continue to be coerced, disparaged, punished, and even imprisoned and discharged if they honestly question the AVIP order. Clearly, the anthrax vaccine affair, which should elicit the same critical analysis as any operational safety issue, such as an aircraft accident, instead pits power and arrogance against an intellectually honest internalization of the US Air Force's core values of integrity, service and excellence by soldiers throughout the ranks, privates to Colonels. Perhaps the US Armed Forces senior leadership, in the interest of the reputation and credibility of the military, should consider abandoning an uncertified and suspect product promoted by a very small group of military support personnel using misleading propaganda and expensive sales pitch mottos and gimmicks such as coffee mugs, mouse pads, pens, and web sites? This ethical dilemma is clearly causing a breakdown morale and readiness as combat resources are sacrificed in order to prop up a policy based on an unsatisfactory and uncertified 1950's vaccine technology. The incalculable loss of the DoD's most valuable commodity -- its' integrity -- may indeed inflict the greatest battle damage of all on the military institution. This is not healthy for a democracy or the profession of arms, and not fair for Field Commanders left holding an empty bag of spin supported by embellishment of the "threat." An honest and critical cost benefit analysis will ultimately find that the Anthrax Vaccine is what should be discharged and quarantined instead of the troops serving the nation. Therefore, it is crucial that the chain of command represents their troops legitimate concerns, upholds the law, protects Service member's health rights, and demonstrates loyalty to both those they serve and those they lead. Senior military leaders must refocus on prudent force protection initiatives that are doctrinally sound, safe, effective, and legal. This will garner the essential trust of the nation's Service members prior to future conflicts. =========================================================== ARTICLE 13 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GI HUMOR - WWII: Escaping the British Way ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: Not politically correct... ********************************************* During WWII, a British flyer was shot down over Germany and was taken prisoner. He suffered severe injuries when his plane was hit, and was taken to a German military hospital. A German doctor said to the prisoner, "I'm sorry to say that your injuries are so bad that I'll have to amputate your leg." The Brit replied, "That's terrible news; but if you have to remove the leg, there's nothing that can be done about it. However, I have a request: On your next bombing mission over England, I would like to request that you take my leg and drop it over England as a token of my love for my homeland." The doctor said, "That is an unusual request; but I think there would be no harm in our doing this favor for you. We'll drop it over England on our next mission." The next week, the German doctor again spoke with the British flyer and said, "I really hate to tell you this; but your arm is also badly wounded, and I'll have to remove the arm in order to save your life." The Brit replied with a stiff upper lip, "I understand; but if you have to amputate, so be it. I would ask, however, that you would also have my arm taken on your next trip over England, and drop it from your plane as a favor to me. After all, it should make no difference to you, one way or the other." Again, the German doctor agreed that he could have his body part taken back to England. Lo and behold, the doctor had to tell the prisoner the next week that his other leg was worse than had been diagnosed, and that it, too, would have to be amputated. When the flyer heard this, he said, "I realize that you have done me a favor twice already by taking my amputated limbs and dropping them over England; but I would hope that I could implore you once again to take my remaining leg with you and let it fall in my dear native land." Whereupon the German doctor leaned over his English patient and said, "Lieutenant, it seems to me that you are trying to escape!" =============================================================== ARTICLE 14 - MEDAL OF HONOR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: December 19Th: It was freezing cold with dark gray skies, blowing snow, and ice over everything - and the chapel was nearly full. William Crawford was a well-liked and respected guy. There were four MOH recipients there to see him off. He was buried at the Air Force Academy cemetery with full honors. We may have told you once before about the Medal of Honor recipient who lived in Palmer Lake near Monument, CO -- Bill Crawford. Crawford had spent 19 months as a POW in Germany, re-enlisted in the Army after the war, served until 1967 and retired as a Master SGT. He then worked at the Academy as a janitor until he retired. Imagine a MOH recipient as a janitor at a service academy. I wonder how many of the cadets knew his story. President Reagan honored him in 1984 at that year's graduation saying he embodied the best of what it is to be an American. 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] *********************************************************** CRAWFORD, WILLIAM J. Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, 36th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Altavilla, Italy, 13 September 1943. Entered service at: Pueblo, Colo. Birth: Pueblo, Colo. G.O. No.: 57, 20 July 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Altavilla, Italy, 13 September 1943. When Company I attacked an enemy-held position on Hill 424, the 3d Platoon, in which Pvt. Crawford was a squad scout, attacked as base platoon for the company. After reaching the crest of the hill, the platoon was pinned down by intense enemy machinegun and small-arms fire. Locating 1 of these guns, which was dug in on a terrace on his immediate front, Pvt. Crawford, without orders and on his own initiative, moved over the hill under enemy fire to a point within a few yards of the gun emplacement and single-handedly destroyed the machinegun and killed 3 of the crew with a hand grenade, thus enabling his platoon to continue its advance. When the platoon, after reaching the crest, was once more delayed by enemy fire, Pvt. Crawford again, in the face of intense fire, advanced directly to the front midway between 2 hostile machinegun nests located on a higher terrace and employed in a small ravine. Moving first to the left, with a hand grenade he destroyed 1 gun emplacement and killed the crew; he then worked his way, under continuous fire, to the other and with 1 grenade and the use of his rifle, killed 1 enemy and forced the remainder to flee. Seizing the enemy machinegun, he fired on the withdrawing Germans and facilitated his company's advance. =========================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EDITOR'S NOTE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For Article Submissions: 1. Try to keep articles to 700 words or less. SUBMIT IN WORD FORMAT, if possible! 2. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ***** HACK 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. Hack is offering them at a special SFTT price. ==================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Defending America Newsletter Administrative Volunteers: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ R.W. Zimmermann, Chief Editor/President of SFTT and Ace Tank Commander David H. Hackworth, Spirit Guide, and undisputed Y2K Expert Bill Rogers, Assistant Editor and Vice President 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] James H., MOH Editor and NCOIC Jim Leach, News Research Snoop, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Pat Hays, Zimm's Right-Hand Grammar Guru =================================================== 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, procurement expert, grammarian, spell-checker and other odds and ends non-expert. 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