Thursday, September 30, 2021

 


"Here We Go Again?"

Admittedly I have lived a long and reasonable life.  I am troubled with what I see happening in our United States of America.  The President and the Secretary of Defense are once again engaged in what I consider "Social Engineering."

I have a vivid recall of what happened back in the late 1960s and early 1970 when the President and the Secretary of Defense developed "Project 100,000"

Here is what I found on a Wikipedia Site:

"Project 100,000, also known as McNamara's Folly, McNamara's Morons and McNamara's Misfits, was a controversial 1960s program by the United States Department of Defense to recruit soldiers who would previously have been below military mental or medical standards. Project 100,000 was initiated by Defense Secretary Robert McNamara in October 1966 to meet the escalating manpower requirements of the American government's involvement in the Vietnam War. Inductees of the project died at higher rates than other Americans serving in Vietnam and following their service had lower incomes and higher rates of divorce than their non-veteran counterparts. The project was ended in December 1971 and has been the subject of controversy, especially during the manpower shortages of the Iraq War."

As I recall it the Project was sold to the People of America as an opportunity for those less qualified to serve the country, receive skills training and upon discharge from the Military be ready to be productive citizens.  A noble and certainly a worthwhile goal.  Unfortunately, in most cases the lower mental requirements for enlistment resulted in the situation where many were unable to receive appropriate training.  

As the quote above indicates this Program was discontinued in late 1971, but the consequences lingered.  For example in a recently issued book in the 2000s by Gregory A. Freeman entitled "Troubled Waters" we can read about the results of the Project 100,000  in 1972 on the USS Kitty Hawk, an aircraft carrier involved in the Vietnam War and a longer than usual deployment.  This resulted in a restless crew and also a very disappointed group of Sailors who too action in what some consider a "Riot" or even a "Mutiny," as the Kitty Hawk was sailing toward "Yankee Station" for yet another period of engagement in the War.  The U. S. Military finally admitted in the early 1990s that the "Project 100,000" was a failure and certainly contributed to many of the racial conflicts among the troops in the Military.  

I would think that our Military Establishment and the "Staff of the Commander in Chief" would engage in appropriate research prior to implementing another program which I consider "Social Engineering."  Admittedly these announcements appear to have lofty goals to improve the lot of all who serve in the U. S. Military.  

In recent months we have all heard the announcement by our Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III regarding unity and the need to appropriately recognize more members of our Society who may desire to serve our Nation.  Recently I have heard that our U. S Government now possibly recognizes about 70 gender classifications.  When I joined our U. S. Military, specifically the U.S. Navy there were two recognized genders that were allowed.  You were classified as a male or female depending on how you were delivered in to Society at Birth.  

If  I have heard correctly it is now possible to join our U. S. Military and claim one of almost 70 gender classifications.

So the concern I have as I develope this post is:  How does our Commander in Chief and the Secretary of Defense think that they can meet the personnel requirements of our Military when they have developed this "Social Engineering" concept?  

Certainly a situation that just may have a negative influence on the number of potential Recruits that our U.S.A. needs to protect our Country and our Society.  This is also a readiness concern.  Our History correctly points out that we Must have Heroes trained and ready to put their life/lives on the line.  If you do not believe me, may I suggest that you visit your local Cemetery and observe the number of Veterans buried there.  If you live near a National Cemetery such as Andersonville in Georgia or Arlington in the District of Columbia or any other National Cemetery please observe the number of tombstones of Heroes who have Served Us All, and I might ad "Served Us Well."  I do not think it is possible for all now approved genders to stand up for us or to defend us as our Heroes of the past!!

From My point of view this situation needs to be corrected and the duly elected Leaders in our U. S. Congress must take action to eliminate this "Yet another Attempt on Social Engineering."

Thank You!!!!

2 comments:

Alan said...


After I posted this I gave more consideration to this issue. I have come to believe that those who have served, are serving, or will serve in our Military have a higher purpose for their life! While this may not be true at the time of their enlistment Serving our U.S.A. soon becomes a call for all. They have found a purpose in their life, serving God, serving Country and upholding Values instilled by their upbringing cause each of us to to our best to protect our Way of Life in the U. S. A. The bond of brotherhood/sisterhood makes each of us stronger for the good of the U.S.A.

At this time and also in the years past we learn of the rate of Veteran Suicide which happens every day. I would suggest that these Heroes take this action in response to the role of our elected leaders in the conduct of our Foreign Policy and involvement in Crisis/War situations. I suspect that the question that many of these Heroes ask them selves is: "What good was My Service to the U.S.A? or "What did I accomplish during My Service?" These questions remain to be answered by our Elected and appointed Leaders at the very highest levels of our Government.

Alan said...

I just completed reading an article entitled "My Dad, My Hero." In it the author stated: "My father accepted his responsibility to protect his country with the same zeal he would have had if he was defending his own family. ....

Dad helped me understand that American freedom is a previous gift"