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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA disturbing e-mail from the Army today.
I looked for another post on this but didn't find one. If I'm repeating someone else, I'm sorry.
I received an e-mail today from the Army G-1, the head of Army personnel. The e-mail was sent through the Defense Finance and Accounting System (military pay) system and appears to have gone to all retired Army personnel.
The e-mail was asking for retired Army medical personnel (doctors, nurses, medics, etc.) to volunteer for recall to active duty if needed. My assumption is they are looking at how to staff the field hospitals going up across the country. The e-mail said the Army is looking for medical types but would like to hear from any other retirees interested in recall. I can see a use for medical services types (the people who actually run hospitals), engineers, and maybe MPs (for hospital security). I cannot see much need for retired judge advocates, so my conscious is clear (so far).
Understand that the Army is big on planning before the need arises. I did not read the message as offering to start recalling retired folks - just putting together a list. Nevertheless, someone at the Army staff level thinks this cheese may get binding.
pat_k
(9,313 posts)TomSlick
(11,109 posts)The Army wants to have a plan on the shelf for everything.
It is not inconceivable that there will be a need. The Army staff will not get caught with their collective trousers around their ankles.
benld74
(9,909 posts)TygrBright
(20,763 posts)The military is a hydra with benficient and maleficent heads, but in a time of existential crisis, few organizations are better equipped or prepared to undertake the kind of massive, coordinated action focused on survival.
I'm glad to know they are thinking ahead.
interestedly,
Bright
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)I didn't find many evil people in the Army. Those that were certainly did not have any supernatural powers. (You made me look up maleficent.) Some few that were less competent than others but few really evil.
I can assure you that the Army does planning better than any other organization I have seen.
dware
(12,429 posts)Of course I had to get that dig in, you know, that service rivalry, but you are correct in as much as the US Army is well equipped to handle the medical services that is needed, along with the US Navy.
Semper Fi my friend.
Hekate
(90,793 posts)...however much I might disagree with their share of the national budget. They look at things in their own particular way, and make plans.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)getagrip_already
(14,837 posts)One of the catches to holding a merchant mariners certificate is that while you are a civilian, the armed forces still has a hook into you, and can call you up if required.
For those unfamiliar with them, an MMC is what is issued when you get a coast guard license as either a master (ships captain) or oupv operator (charter captain), or one of the other designated roles like engineer.
Those are required if you work on a ship or run a boat commercially. Why MMC holders? Well, if they end up converting cruise ships into hospitals, they are going to need bodies. Lots of them.
Lots of people are going to get into this game, willingly or not.
Fwiw, my father got his MD through the army in WWII. He ended up in the army air corp which became the us air force. He served in the pacific theater and was almost out of the reserves when Korea popped up. I have a very interesting series of letters from the dod to him trying to get him to report. He never ended up going, but the letters were a hoot.
He basically gave them the big middle finger saying he was done with service. Somehow, he got away with it. Times have changed I'm sure.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)I think that would mean that Trump had agreed to accept medical supplies from overseas - and a lot of them.
getagrip_already
(14,837 posts)it would mean they were converting cruise ships into hospitals. They will need bodies for that. Lots of them.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)do you need ship's masters, etc.? Wouldn't you just need the maintenance folks to keep the HVAC and plumbing working, food preparation, custodial, etc.?
I'm retired Army. I don't know from ships.
mercuryblues
(14,537 posts)You would need a crew on those ships. They know how to operate it and what to do if something goes wrong, even if it is in port.
There is a lot more to a ship than navigation. They know how to load for even weight distribution, ballast, checking equipment to make sure it is operational, electrical engineering, evacuations if necessary, and maintenance. The Masters are all trained to do just that.
I don't believe they will use cruise ships, as they don't have the medical facilities needed to care for thousands of patients.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,600 posts)The US Navy doesnt have a monopoly on big boats.
BY TYLER ROGOWAY NOVEMBER 23, 2016
When you think of the US Army, large seagoing vessels dont come to mind. Maybe they should; the service has its own expansive fleet of boats and ships, and the USAV SSGT Robert T. Kuroda and its sister ship the USAV Major General Robert Smalls are the biggest of them all.
While the Marines have their own specialized high-end armada of Navy ships, sometimes referred to as the Gator Navy, to support their amphibious operations, the Army has no such luxury. But what the Army does have is a far more understated beach landing and logistics naval force that relies on a simpler sea-bound logistics concept.
At the heart of this concept are the Armys largest class of ships, the Logistic Support Vessels (LSVs) of the General Frank S. Besson class. Eight of these ships are in service with Army, six of which were built between 1987 and 1994. Following the retirement of the Newport class Landing Ship Tank (LST), they are now the largest of their kind within the Pentagon's inventory and are reminiscentof Russia's massive amphibious landing ships.
{snip}
Is that crazy, or what?
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)I probably didn't learn much in the Army but I did learn that trigger-pullers win battles but logisticians win wars. The Merchant Marine is good at deep water haul. The Army and Marines often need stuff far away from a secure deep water ports.
I seen articles about the Army's "fleet" in the past. Not surprisingly, this retired Army JA has never seen an Army vessel, much less been on one.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,600 posts)I can't recall the reason. I think it was happening at the same time that Army was playing Navy in lacrosse. There are too many cobwebs that far back.
Baclava
(12,047 posts)TomSlick
(11,109 posts)I doubt the Army staff knows anything more about potential new hot spots than anyone else in government. If there is a need, the Army wants a list of potential volunteers ready to go.
Baclava
(12,047 posts)TomSlick
(11,109 posts)was directed only to Army retirees. I would not be surprised if similar e-mails went to retirees from the other services. It makes sense that DFAS is the best way DoD has to reach out to retirees.
dware
(12,429 posts)but then I don't really expect to, I'm 74 y.o. and my MOS was as a combat engineer.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,364 posts)dware
(12,429 posts)but I don't know about now.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)Fight this pandemic, and you agreed, you would go if physically able.
dware
(12,429 posts)you know, once a Marine, always a Marine and I'm still in pretty good shape and healthy as a horse.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)helpisontheway
(5,008 posts)is retired Navy and he has not received a message. He has 5 more months before he will be out of the fleet reserve (think that is what it is called). That is the time period when they could recall you to active duty. It lasts for 10 years.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)NBachers
(17,136 posts)Baked Potato
(7,733 posts)Just a little
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)mercuryblues
(14,537 posts)looking to undermine trump and making him look bad. With all their preemptive planning and stuff.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,364 posts)The Trump organization resents anything resembling "competence".
Baked Potato
(7,733 posts)Of course Trump calls it the Deep State, but we know they are the career professionals he loathes.
keithbvadu2
(36,906 posts)When they brought back the battleships, they recalled some old fart gunner's mates.
There just weren't many people qualified on 16 inch guns anymore.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)Says an old fart.
keithbvadu2
(36,906 posts)GeoWilliam750
(2,522 posts)Not only is it kind of rude, but you lose more often than not.
There is a reason we got to be old.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)I know a lot of old farts that I'm surprised have the brain power to breath. Then again, I live in a very red state with a lot of old fart Trump supporters, so maybe my perspective is skewed.
calimary
(81,466 posts)marybourg
(12,634 posts)dangerous situation. The same need that occurs before a deployment, especially a sudden and unexpected one.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)I'd have to buy new uniforms (I'm more man than I used to be).
2naSalit
(86,775 posts)That was the letter they sent out and they are hoping for a lot of response. There were several thousand who already responded in 24 hours, they said.
Sgent
(5,857 posts)they had 9,000 volunteers in less than 24 hours. Also keep (according to Rachael) they don't want people that are active in that role in civilian life.
BootinUp
(47,186 posts)and refrigerator trucks with bodies are starting to appear. Its going to get baaaad like the SGEN said.
Delphinus
(11,840 posts)the news media to show those bodies. We have to get the seriousness of this pandemic through to the millions of scoffers - perhaps pictures will tell the story that words cannot?
bobbieinok
(12,858 posts)Delphinus
(11,840 posts)Glad someone is paying attention.
nitpicker
(7,153 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,361 posts)Quite a few in the military get a license to drive heavy vehicles; if the civilian truck drivers start going off sick in a big way, it'd be good to have a reserve.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)Logistics is going to be a big issue.
DeminPennswoods
(15,290 posts)I was asked if I'd be willing to return to my civilian logistics/inventory job if needed and replied in the affirmative. Nobody does inventory management better than the Navy.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)I take some exception to the suggestion the Navy somehow does logistics better than the Army. Let's just say that nobody does logistics better than the military.
DeminPennswoods
(15,290 posts)I've seen Army and USAF supply systems and the Navy, which includes the USMC, system is outstanding. Of course the Navy is sea-based and the Army has much more experience with preparing for and sustaining big ground operations.
dware
(12,429 posts)and drive trucks, after all, that's my specialty in my civilian life.
Of course, they would have to issue me new uniforms, I have, after all, gained just a wee bit of weight since I retired from the Corps.
panader0
(25,816 posts)My son was at Ft Bragg until a few days ago and said there were several cases on
the base. He boarded a bus to Camp McKall, a Bragg extension for Special Forces
school, and said all aboard had their temps taken first and were quizzed about
symptoms. A lot of close quarters in the Army, no social distancing is possible.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)I will assure you that the number one concern for the Army is force protection - taking care of soldiers and their families. Your son was as safe at Ft. Bragg as anywhere else.
Being an Army mom is a tough gig. Thank you for your service - whether you meant to serve or not.
panader0
(25,816 posts)The next Special Forces guy. I don't know where he got it. I was a hippie.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)My father was a Korean War draftee. When he got home, he took everything he had that the Army had issued him, soaked it all in kerosene, and set it ablaze. He never had anything nice to say about the Army. He really had nothing nice to say about Army officers. Nevertheless, his two sons are both retired Army officers.
Our children tend to set their own paths.
As a career REMF (your son will know what that means), I've always had the highest respect for the special operators. You should be proud.
panader0
(25,816 posts)50 bombing missions in WWII. First daylight bombing raid, early in the war.
I grew up on AFB bases all over the place, two years here, two years there.
When I was in high school in Hawaii, the Vietnam War was raging (class of '68).
I encouraged my son to join the Coast Guard, as he was hell bent to serve.
He did, and said it wasn't tough enough. Now he's in Special Forces selection.
One of the toughest things in the Army. He loves it. He'll make it. I'll let you
know in 24 days,
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)Tell him there is an old REMF in the piney woods of Arkansas pulling for him.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)I deer hunt there every year. But I pity you the politics!
My dad was raised in an IP paper mill town just over in Louisiana right on the boarder between Louisiana and Arkansas about an hour north of Shreveport. Mill closed in the 70s. I imagine you know where Im talking about. Of course the piny woods stretch from the Mississippi to Texas!
His time at LSU was interrupted by a stent in the Army in Korea. Back then all LSU boys had to be ROTC or so I think he told me. Never once talked about his time in Korea so I cant tell you what he did except I know he was a corporal in the infantry. Mother said he had a bad time. Unfortunately he died young when I was 22 from a heart attack. I have a photo of him in his dress uniform. Those were sharp.
He Ended up getting a PhD and mother told me Vietnam really shook him. As did Wallace since dad was a liberal journalism major who supported integration. In 84 I was set to go to college on an ROTC thing and was surprised when he advised against it. I remember it as the first time he treated me like a man rather than a boy. Told me if there was a conflict that threatened the US I had a duty join up. But did not think that was the case at the time. He hated Reagan who I at the time loved.
Surprisingly I listened to him.
We rural southerners have an ingrained respect for those that serve that transcends politics. Actually I think all Americans do.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)Politics in these parts are kinda flaky. Then again, there is no challenge paddling in the main stream.
I don't know anywhere I'd rather live - well, at least not in the continental US. If you can get me an appointment as the US Attorney or a federal judge in the US Virgin Islands, I swear I be packed and ready to go in fifteen minutes.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)I have a great High school friend I grew up with and took him there to experience something completely different. None my family have seen him since he was the best man in my wedding 27 years ago. But if his car broke down 100 miles away any of them would immediately drive up to help him out. Politics be damned. They are some good people. But if you crossed them 25 years ago they would drive that far to thrash you!
Unless you are from a place like that you cant understand.
I own 40 acres there I inherited and could retire to the area if I wanted. But I too in love with the gulf coast.
I love my yearly deer hunting week. We drink bourbon around the fire and Im the only democrat there. I give my uncles and cousins hell! Which isnt hard with a bunch of Baptist drinking bourbon!
I always enjoy your post. You should post more often.
Have a nice evening and stay safe.
crickets
(25,983 posts)I'm a big old peacenik from way back, but...
Dad was Navy, uncle was Air Force, and I know to expect the best from all branches of service. Defending the country isn't always about guns and bombs, and military training is so much more than war. To know that the discipline and expertise of the Army medical staff, retired or not, is being prepared to help soon makes me feel much better tonight.
It appears a big beast of competence is stirring.
Thank you for sharing this. Thank you so much.
TomSlick
(11,109 posts)I am disturbed by the necessity of the Army's action. I am greatly relieved the Army is taking the step.