New Development in Scottish "Super-Regiment" Story

[Mike n NC]

I'm at a Joint Command and have not heard anything about the Army trying to absorb the Marines from the Navy. On September 30, General Peter Pace will be the first Marine to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He is moving to that postion from Vice Chairman. The Chairman JCS is the senior officer of the US Military regardless of his service. General Hagee is still going to be the CMC.
But if you don't know whats going on in the Navy these days I'll fill you in. The outgoing CNO wants more ships and less sailors and is cutting manpower by about 125,000. (I guess he wants to sail the ships with Windows XP, but who is gonna paint the damn things?) Just recently a policy went into effect that if you want to make First Class or Chief you are going to need an associates degree (possible a bachelors for Chief but I haven't followed up on the final decision), but a bachelors for Senior and a masters for Master Chief. (I know..you think I'm smoking crack). With all the time they will have to spend at sea how are you going to find time to get a degree.
The army is currently running a "blue to green" program taking in personnel that the Navy and Air Force are not letting re-enlist due to manpower cuts. They retain rank and time in service but learn to speak Army, etc.
(I haven't even started on the uniform changes)!

I guess I got in a little closer to what was going on since I wasn't with a joint command, I was attached directly to the MC. That fight has been in progress since korea, got really hot after nam and then heated up again after storm chapter 1. The Army really, really wants the Marines, something about teaching the right way to fight? Fight my big'ol butt, most of them can't even dress themselves and they are going to teach a Marine to fight?

Now I got some scuttlebutt to pass on too. You think the politics in the top 3 enlisted are getting bad? Here is a quick and dirty on the Chair going to a Marine. Never before has the Marine Corps had an officer eligible to hold that position, reason...they never had a 5 star. Sooooo, even though he will be the SOPAA, he will be the junior in both rank and positon (new kid on the block kinda thing) and don't think the others will ever let him forget. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes, would be like a me having that BMCM we were talking about earlier working under me. He might put up with it, for a while, until I screwed up but he would never, ever let me get a minute of peace in the goat locker.

And while I'm at it, a thought on the degree requirement...bulls**** :smile: Just what the Navy needs, more over educated pinheads. I see the idea of equating education with intelligence hasn't changed...

Just one more question...Are PO1s in the goat locker yet? (Tell me it ain't so)

I remember back in the old Navy... How old? Why sonny I done wore out more seabags than you have socks...

Mike