Military Officer - February 2008 - (Page 16) yourviews MILIT ARY DECEMBER 2007 $4.50 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MOAA | ONE POWERFUL VOICE® W W W. M O A A . O R G Supporting the Guard OFFICER The Future Is Now G-8 Lt. Gen. Stephen Speakes equips the U.S. Army for today and tomorrow 52 BENEFIT DECISIONS DUE How could Congress’ latest actions affect you? 29 KEEPING THE FAITH Experts debated servicemembers’ health care needs at an MOAA-USNI event 70 “No matter what and how much equipment … we must have wellqualified and trained personnel.” — Maj. H.E. McLendon, AUS-Ret. Dec_Cover.indd 1 Army Modernization Unquestionably, modernization is necessary to keep our military edge in the international community, but regarding Lt. Gen. Stephen Speakes and the Army’s current vehicle modernization effort [“Balancing Act,” December 2007]: It is untimely, too costly, and unnecessary. The most critical issue for me is the survivability of our soldiers, but the Army is building a new fleet of vehicles not out of necessity but because of flawed tactics. The more misguided money we allow the Army and other services to spend for Iraq, the more strain we will put on future resources and initiatives. I spent 27 years on active duty, and I experienced firsthand the difficulties of equipping and training soldiers when debts of previous engagements overshadowed current requirements. Undoubtedly, maintaining a military technological edge is vital to our 16 MILITARY OFFICER FEBRUARY 2008 nation’s safety and status in the world, but each initiative (such as the Army’s new fleet of vehicles) needs to be thoroughly weighed and examined before the magic wand of approval is waved. … Our current fleet of vehicles, if employed correctly, is sufficient. —Lt. Col. Robert G. Raye, USA-Ret. via e-mail 11/1/07 11:03:45 PM I am very glad that we have woken up to the fact that you can’t fight the next war with the last war’s materials and operations. I think those responsible have chosen a general who can get the job done. … The powers that be must support the fact that we do need modernization; that the troops need what is necessary to do the job (mission) given them; and all of this takes money. … One can’t fight a battle without the means to do it … [but] no matter what and how much equipment you have, the overriding fact is that we must have well-qualified and trained personnel. — Maj. H.E. McLendon, AUS-Ret. Gadsden, Ala. I am responding to Col. John P. Lawton’s e-mail [“No Sympathy for the Guard,” “Your Views,” December 2007]. I find it puzzling that a retired senior Army officer would make such a comment to a deployed soldier’s spouse. This really supports troop morale! Then on page 33, I read about [MOAA’s] Col. Bob Norton testifying to Congress on the inequities of the GI Bill for Guard and Reserve personnel. [I] wonder if Colonel Lawton has taken the time to be informed of the issues before he writes such a condescending response? The Guard and Reserve soldiers are not looking for sympathy but equity for their service. … Bravo to Colonel Norton and MOAA for their understanding and response to the concerns of Amanda Griffiths and the soldiers of the Guard and Reserve component. Perhaps one day we will be a total force, but until then, we need more leaders like Colonel Norton and fewer like Colonel Lawton. —Col. David T. Yohman, AUS-Ret. via e-mail Colonel Lawton’s response to Amanda Griffiths perfectly illustrates her point. Colonel Lawton, when you and I were deployed, we knew that our military community was there for our families. We knew that our house and car payments would continue to be made; in most cases, we actually had an economic edge while deployed. We knew that all of the health needs of our families would be met. We knew that we would not lose our job and/or chance of advancement because of the deployment. Nothing could make Vietnam fun, but we knew our families and prop- http://WWW.MOAA.ORG
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