Army Community - Army Discussions - Army Times

Letters

THE SEAL SOLUTION

There’s been a lot of talk about putting the right sailor in the right place at the right time, so let’s apply that methodology to the standardized servicewide PT uniform issue. Let’s take a lesson from those sailors whose collective PT experience exceeds 20,000 years. I’m referring to SEALs, divers and explosive ordnance disposal personnel. Why not go with their simple and highly durable uniform that’s been wear-tested on grinders, on dunes and in small-arms repair lockers around the world? Specifically, black Dolfin swim/run shorts and a blue or brown T-shirt. Yes, the same T-shirt we use with our battle dress uniform.

A PT uniform that sailors want to wear must look cool. Commands could be given the option to silk-screen items with a logo and authorize blue tank tops for hotter climates, thus enhancing style and functionality.

As a chief, it’s not incumbent upon me to be the soul of tact. Anyone who thinks the Naval Academy’s PT gear is a prime candidate for adoption gets a down check from me for assignment to deep blue. John Paul Jones didn’t mention humility, but one quick peek and it’s obvious nothing’s been overlooked at the academy.

NDC (DSW) Jose Castilla III

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Motivation matters

Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Andres Zayas writes, “It appears that chiefs no longer wish to motivate the E-6 sailor” [“E-6 leadership,” Letters, May 14]. But I for one look for motivated first class petty officers and give them assistance.

If you are not a self-motivator, then you do not deserve, in my humble opinion, to be part of the chief’s mess. By the time a sailor has achieved first class, he should have shown his salt, and while those sailors often need and deserve guidance, they do not need to be held by the hand. So, as far as the motivating goes, are you stepping up and acting like a chief, showing the chief that you can operate on a chief’s level? If not, you probably are just fine where you are and don’t need to become a chief.

My first classes are routinely involved in the decision-making process. But at each level, people need to understand their place within the chain of command. As a chief, I am able to make certain decisions and influence certain people by virtue of my place within the chain of command. A first class will not have as much influence or even be invited to the decision-making process at the level of a chief, nor will a chief have as much influence as a master chief, and so on.

So, where is the failure? Is it that the first class is not being invited in on making “command” decisions? Are those decisions ones in which a first class should be involved? Is the first class stepping up? The bottom line is that while the chief petty officer community is not perfect, it is not appropriate to condemn a whole community for what one person has experienced. If you don’t feel like the leadership is being provided to you, why don’t you step up and take charge?

MMC (SW) Curt Rasmussen

Agana, Guam

Chiefs’ degree requirement

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa is exactly correct with rescinding the degree requirement for chiefs [“Sources: MCPON lobbies to drop college degree requirement,” May 28].

I am a storekeeper senior chief petty officer with over 22 years’ experience. I will start by saying I am not against higher education, but Campa has a correct vision of what is expected of a CPO.

If you are not a CPO, then you are not familiar with our “CPO pledge”; if you are, then you need to remember that pledge: “I am charged with a leadership role like no other in the world. I develop and train junior officers and mold our sailors.”

My job is not to debate theories, concepts or strategies; my job is to provide the instructions and my best experience to a situation for my division officer or department head and assist them in making an informed decision. Let’s remember who is the responsible and the accountable person.

And finally, what separates an officer from an enlisted person? A degree. Which brings me to my first question: If I am a CPO with a bachelor’s or master’s degree and more than 20 years of experience, let’s pay me what you would a officer with that same degree and 20 years’ experience. I think that that should bring me a captain’s or, at the minimum, a commander’s pay.

Campa is right — you need us on the deck plates. If a CPO earns a degree, that’s great, but don’t penalize the ones who don’t and are “leading” on the deck plates. Remember this line: “Officers lead us into battle. Chiefs ensure victory”

SKCS (SW/AW) Lawrence Burns

Norfolk, Va.

Death by paperwork

In late May, I was notified by a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs that they had extended their condolences about my reported demise and asked my estate to reimburse them for two months of overpayment of disability benefits.

I called VA and talked to a nice gentleman who said he could fix it. He also said this kind of thing happens periodically.

“It’s as easy as something like a widow calling to give us a name and a Social Security number, and either the widow gives us the wrong number or we input it incorrectly,” he said.

He told me it could take a few weeks to bring me back to life.

So, I had my death all fixed, right? Wrong.

A letter came from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service addressed to my wife, informing her about procedures for collecting death benefits. This immediately made me suspicious that my death had been reported to DFAS and that my retired pay had stopped.

When I called DFAS, I was indeed dead. VA apparently had notified the DFAS of my untimely demise. I convinced a nice lady at the DFAS that I was indeed alive, and she restarted my retired pay.

A few days later, I received a phone call from Navy Federal Credit Union, telling me they had heard from DFAS that I was dead. DFAS was apparently reclaiming two months of retired pay I had collected while I was supposedly dead.

The bank thought my death was unusual, as there had been significant activity in my account during the two months I was dead. I got DFAS and Navy Federal on the phone at the same time so we could all establish the fact that my heart is still beating.

Then, on June 1, no retired pay from the DFAS. I called to find that when I was brought to life again, the paperwork to get me paid for June was not done. So another nice lady helped me with that.

And for one last insult added to injury, all my DFAS allotments stopped. I had to call DFAS to restart them and work with Delta Dental to restart my dental insurance.

While I hope you all can see some humor in this, I’d like all my fellow retirees and career military members to be aware of this potential snakebite out there. I have written VA to ask how a veteran can be killed with a phone call without any additional verification, but to date I have received no response.

I’m now waiting to see if my death notice shows up in the U.S. Marine Corps retiree newsletter.

Marine Col. Dirk Ahle (ret.)

Alexandria, Va.

Emancipation Day

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday in 14 states. It celebrates the freedom of over 250,000 slaves at the end of the Civil War.

Research from Internet sources such as Wikipedia and the University of Kansas Medical Center Web site indicate the holiday is based on events that occurred mainly in Texas.

The celebration takes its name from June 19, 1865, the day federal troops arrived in Galveston to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had been announced Jan. 1, 1863, it had little effect on most slaves’ day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control.

There is much debate regarding why the news of freedom reached Texas nearly 2½ years after the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. Many believe the news was deliberately withheld so slave owners could maintain the labor force on plantations. Other attempts to explain the delay include speculation that the original messenger was murdered en route to Texas.

When the slaves finally received the news of their freedom, it was celebrated with great jubilation. According to Texas State Library records, large celebrations on June 19 began in 1866 and continued regularly into the early 20th century. African-Americans treated this day like the Fourth of July, and festivities included picnics, parades, inspirational speeches and sports.

The celebration of June 19 was shortened to “Juneteenth,” and participation increased as former slaves from Texas migrated to neighboring states.

Today, Juneteenth is observed locally and nationally as a day of reflection, empowerment and recognition of future challenges. In addition, it is promoted not only as a commemoration of African-American freedom, but as an example and encouragement of self-development and respect for all cultures.

LNCS Carla Smith

San Diego