Just a veteran's report

Just a veteran's report

            1) I am age 65.

            2) I am a retired Marine who draws a military retirement.

            3) I still don't know, or am even confident of knowing, the present "rules" that affect me.  They seem to change all the time these days.

            4)  I've been shot at more than once. Not everyone gets hit.

            5) I was draft motivated when I joined.

            6) I was surprised when I stayed in because I wanted to. In other words, my obligation to my Country was up.

            7) I was getting out at around 10 years of service, but the retirement rules at the time were one incentive that kept me around to go for 20 years of service. Not all made it.

            8) Off and on, I've got a lot direct recruiting experience (around  9  years).

            9) While we may recruit an individual, we usually retain a Family.

            10)  Changing the "rules" to save money now, will probably cost more later just to man our military in the future.

            11)  In the end, it is a job. Dangerous at times, but still a job. Realistic training can be pretty dangerous, too. I've got my own stories, also.  And it is always safer than real combat.

            12)  Having a Family to feed and grow changes a lot of priorities. So it probably goes for the spouse, too. Hence the retain a Family idea. Retirement incentives are part of retention. And much as I think, I suspect many of our own children will go through the same mental process when they leave the nest, including those in the military, too.

            13) Nobody expects to get rich in the military.

            14)  Many military people don't vote in Federal elections as a way to show they will serve any Commander-in-Chief.

            15) I suspect many more will start voting in future Federal elections.

            16)  I've got years of schooling and scores of read books to convince me that unilateral disarmament is usually a short term gain followed by a longer term loss.

            17) Now  somebody else gets to pay. When it is my children and grandchildren, then extra antennas go up.

            18) Crying wolf, or being chicken little saying the sky is falling, is generally ignored in today's world. So be it. I accept that, mostly because I have to.

            19)  At least I can presently grow some of my own food, and make some electricity. I did not plan on that when I made my decision to stay in.

            20) Change can be tough. I have a Marine Corps' lifetime of exploiting change.

            21)  Do your own math. The initial draw down will save money, mostly in less capability during  the unilateral disarmament period. It is the later half that will cost a lot of money and American lives, or so is my opinion.