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Letters

WANT OUT OF BCT? GRADUATE

While I applaud any U.S. citizens who volunteer to serve their country during a time of war, I must admit something still boggles my mind.

I have recognized that so much of the younger generation long to escape what they feel to be the “biggest mistake” they ever made by joining the Army. Granted, it is a quick transformation from civilian to soldier. I would even go so far as to say it’s a shock to the system for many.

But seriously, Basic Combat Training was really not that difficult — nowhere near unbearable.

I remember so many 18-year-olds trying to go AWOL, and we hadn’t even finished in-processing. I asked myself many times, had they never seen a movie about basic training, war, or the Army? I understand the challenge. Heck, I was 5 foot, 8 inches tall and 242 pounds — way overweight — but I was motivated to get the weight off and finish my 15 weeks.

I lost 35 pounds in basic and another 15 pounds in Advanced Individual Training. Maybe it’s because, along with wanting to serve my country, I knew this was the best way to support my family.

But I recognize a trend, having made one year this June 17, that a lot of younger soldiers still feel like the Army owes them something.

Pfc. Joshua Bryson [“The making of a soldier,” June 29] should be proud of himself for joining the Army at 27. Completing BCT is a great accomplishment for everyone that undertakes it. It is equally important, now that we are soldiers, that when we come across those wanting to join that we tell them the truth about sacrifice and driving on. Because those drill sergeants were right when they said the easiest way to get out of BCT is to graduate.

It can be done, and it will be rewarding, no matter what your age. I know because I graduated Basic Combat Training as an infantryman at age 36.

Pvt. 1st Class Christopher W. Browne Sr.

Fort Irwin, Calif.

VETS DESERVE MORE

I was disgusted to see in your June 22 issue of Army Times [“Some promises left out of budget”] that the provision for medically discharged vets to receive concurrent receipt was cut because [congressmen] can’t find the money. While I knew in the back of my mind they would back out of this, I am still [angry] knowing that Congress and the Senate will vote themselves a healthy cost-of-living raise and the retired soldier will get nothing.

It’s the same old thing, no matter who’s in the White House: Do what you need to in order to get in the chair, then forget about the people who put themsevles on the line for this country and are then thrown away and forgotten like yesterday’s trash.

I hope that somewhere in our government there is someone who will fight this injustice. These veterans earned every bit of their retirement and veterans benefits and should be entitled to both without the offset. Let’s take care of those who took care of us by placing themselves in harm’s way.

I’m sure if you cut the $500 a month for stop-loss soldiers, or pay Guard and Reserve soldiers money to make up the difference between their military and civilian pay, the money would be there. Guard and Reserve soldiers knew what they were in for when they signed their contract. And stop-loss is the same situation. You know these things are possible when you put your name on the dotted line.

Staff Sgt. Steven L. Jones II (ret.)

Willard, Mo.

GROW OR SHRINK?

I am a Vietnam vet who always wondered during my time in country why we didn’t have more troops. Of course, now I know that the armed services are like any other organization. They only deploy the number of personnel they think they feel can complete the mission.

If a project works, great. If not, regroup and try again. For the past few years we have been told that the deployments of troop units were too long and the dwell time between was too short. Then Congress, the armed services and the administration said, “Add more troops to the bottom line.”

In a letter in the June 22 issue of Army Times [“Grow the force”], retired Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., president of the Military Officers Association of America, stated, “The only way to ease the stress on today’s forces is to grow those forces beyond the current plan.”

I agree. Sitting out there at some guard post alone, night after night, is not fun.

But just a week ago I noticed in this same paper that they are cutting three brigade combat teams out of the current plan. That is lot of people-power that will not be out there to ease the stress of today’s forces.

Former Spc. John Lee Otto

Greensburg, Pa.

LOST ON STOP-LOSS

I am an infantry soldier who has completed one 15-month tour. I initially signed for four years, 16 weeks.

When I returned from Iraq, I was sure I had one more tour left because of stop-loss. Then I read the April 6 Army Times article about Defense Secretary Robert Gates putting an end to it [“After stop-loss”].

Since I have become aware of the new policy, I have done my best to gather more information from my chain of command so that I may take the proper steps on my part to separate from the Army. However, my unit not only acts as if there is no new policy, but they are actually preparing as if I will deploy with them in January 2010.

That is the exact time that Gates has said the regular Army will cease deploying with stop-loss soldiers. I am worried about two things.

First, that no matter how my unit acts, I will get out according to the new policy but will not be prepared for the adjustment of civilian life because I have been spending all my time training for a deployment.

Second, that my unit has found some loophole and I will go no matter what the new policy says. I wonder if I am the only soldier facing this problem. Are units just trying to bluff us to get us to re-enlist or to completely set us up for failure outside the Army so we will have to come back in?

Cpl. Richard Howard

Fort Stewart, Ga.

A PROMOTION POINT

I am a 63B (light-wheel vehicle mechanic) promotable specialist chasing promotion points every month. I add points from college classes every month, and the points keep increasing. Now they are maxed out.

I disagree with what Staff Sgt. Nicholas Cottrill said in his letter about the infantry [“The heart of the Army,” June 29].

If you ask anyone in a different MOS, they would say that they are the heart of the Army. When I was enlisted in the Army in 1992-96, the infantry was getting fast promotions then, too. If a soldier that was infantry just coming into the Army happened to get stationed with a unit that just came back from a deployment, that soldier would still make sergeant without deploying.

I went to Warrior Leader Course this past spring and a classmate was an 11B who already made E-5 in under three years time in service, with no deployments, was stationed at Fort Irwin [Calif.] playing opposition forces, and he planned on getting out of the Army.

All he did was show up to work and play in the field and he made rank. Mechanics show up to work, get greasy, irritated and tired of working on vehicles that the infantrymen break because they do not know how to operate the vehicle correctly — and that’s because they were taught by soldiers who were promoted too quickly. I am not angry at the infantry. I am angrier at the points system. After being out of the Army for 11 years and coming back in, I was hoping that some things would have changed. Unfortunately, the points system has not.

Spc. Philip Bouffard

Fort Bliss, Texas