things worth doing, watching, reading

[Infrequent Shooter]

Watching The Pacific for the 10th time. Excellent. The more I watch it, the more I like it.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

very subtle, how it shows progress, growing sophistication of war fighting methods in Pacific. Japan and Germany were fucking crazy to go to war with the West. US industrial capacity, big picture thinking, won that war. That, and Russia absorbing the brunt of German war making efforts!

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

PS, in all my venting, I think it is time for universal draft in US. Two-four years of some kind of service, maybe starting as young as 16!!

 

[Clancy]

PS, in all my venting, I think it is time for universal draft in US. Two-four years of some kind of service, maybe starting as young as 16!!

Interesting take. No thanks.

 

[ELR LVR]

PS, in all my venting, I think it is time for universal draft in US. Two-four years of some kind of service, maybe starting as young as 16!!

Might cure their fidgeting problem
(need for a stupid fidget spinner)
I'm for it
let's weed out the weak

 

[brokeasajoke]

Land is a pretty good movie. 2021 film. Grief brings a woman to leave her old life behind and retreat to a mountain wilderness cabin and now must survive. Learned about it over on castboolits.

 

[sw282]

PS, in all my venting, I think it is time for universal draft in US. Two-four years of some kind of service, maybe starting as young as 16!!

Age 18 for males with a 2 year commitment. Simply because America's youth needs the discipline they don't
get at home or school. A need this country will never address.

 

[SmittyJon]

Watching The Pacific for the 10th time. Excellent. The more I watch it, the more I like it.

Being a lifelong Science Fiction reader and the author of two Sci-Fi novels* myself, the 2016 movie "Passengers," starring Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence is a hands down winner. I've watched it several times and am just stunned at the quality of the acting, the sets, and the visuals. Not to mention - but mentioning anyway - the heart warming and uplifting story.

SJ

* My two Sci-Fi novels: More Than Human and Mirnerva's Children are both available in quality paperbacks on Amazon. Folks that have read and reviewed them said they were excellent and amazing. If you enjoy convoluted and complex Science Fiction, these won't disappoint.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=More+than+human+by+christopher+b.+mitchell&crid=36PIQ19G8CJY6&sprefix=more+than+human+by+christopher+b.+mitchell%2Caps%2C110&ref=nb_sb_noss&tag=accuratescom-20&tag=accuratescom-20

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mirnerva%27s+children+by+christopher+b.+mitchell&crid=2WI3CG5LDP48L&sprefix=mirnerva%27s+children+by+christopher+b.+mitchell%2Caps%2C94&ref=nb_sb_noss&tag=accuratescom-20

 

[CharlieNC]

PS, in all my venting, I think it is time for universal draft in US. Two-four years of some kind of service, maybe starting as young as 16!!

Common in a number of countries and probably "saves" a number of lost youth, but only if every politician is required to serve prior to taking office (and not as a jag officer).

 

[357Mag]

Age 18 for males with a 2 year commitment. Simply because America's youth needs the discipline they don't
get at home or school. An need this country will never address.

Sw282 -

Howdy !

IMHO -

Enlistments need to be longer than 2yr, if for no other reason than mechanical /
technical MIL carreer fields can require multiple tech schools; spaced over multiple years…in-addition to self-paced,self-study “ carreer development courses “.

In the Air National Guard experience that I had ( as an example ), aircraft mechanics entered tech school for their “ Air Force Speciality Code “ ( AFSC ) immediately after graduation from basic. Thereafter, they graduated from tech school with a “3 skill level“…. basically “ apprentice “ level. As they advanced through their enlistment, part of being promotable…besides “ time in grade/time in service “…was mechanics also completed extra skills training through self study “carreer development courses”
( CDCs ). After completion of the required CDC, the mechanic was awarded a 5 skill level.

At the end of an initial 6yr enlistment, it was not uncommon within most aircraft systems repair specialities for the mechanic to be an E-5 with a 5 skill level, or “ Journeyman “
The Air Force, ANG, and Air Force reserve get a lot of stuff done, via the contributions of their assigned 3 and 5 skill level enlisted personnel.

But, higher skill levels and higher levels of supervision are also required, and that leads to things like “ 7 level “ E-6s and above. But, ya gotta be first an 3 level, and then progress to being a 5 level…. before you can become trained to the 7 skill level or
“ Craftsman “. The services have to “ grow their own “. “ On-the-job-training “ ( OJT ) is the axle that the trainig wheel rotates on, and 7 levels train 5 skill levels and 3 skill levels; with the help of 5 levels passing on what they know by helping train 3 levels.

In the “ Air Guard “, “ weekenders “ could/ would many times stay in for 20yr, and could see themselves reach E-6 and above pay grades, and 7 skill level.

My point:
The Air Guard ( and other services ) can’t operate with forces predominantly occupied by troops w/ just 2yr commitments. There has to be a reasonably sized pool of highly trained/highly skilled “ journeymen “ and “ craftsmen “ on-strength; also.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[gkgeiger]

“Your Honor “ Netflix, “Untamed “ Netflix.

 

[PhilC]

Sw282 -

Howdy !

IMHO -

Enlistments need to be longer than 2yr, if for no other reason than mechanical /
technical MIL carreer fields can require multiple tech schools; spaced over multiple years…in-addition to self-paced,self-study “ carreer development courses “.

In the Air National Guard experience that I had ( as an example ), aircraft mechanics entered tech school for their “ Air Force Speciality Code “ ( AFSC ) immediately after graduation from basic. Thereafter, they graduated from tech school with a “3 skill level“…. basically “ apprentice “ level. As they advanced through their enlistment, part of being promotable…besides “ time in grade/time in service “…was mechanics also completed extra skills training through self study “carreer development courses”
( CDCs ). After completion of the required CDC, the mechanic was awarded a 5 skill level.

At the end of an initial 6yr enlistment, it was not uncommon within most aircraft systems repair specialities for the mechanic to be an E-5 with a 5 skill level, or “ Journeyman “
The Air Force, ANG, and Air Force reserve get a lot of stuff done, via the contributions of their assigned 3 and 5 skill level enlisted personnel.

But, higher skill levels and higher levels of supervision are also required, and that leads to things like “ 7 level “ E-6s and above. But, ya gotta be first an 3 level, and then progress to being a 5 level…. before you can become trained to the 7 skill level or
“ Craftsman “. The services have to “ grow their own “. “ On-the-job-training “ ( OJT ) is the axle that the trainig wheel rotates on, and 7 levels train 5 skill levels and 3 skill levels; with the help of 5 levels passing on what they know by helping train 3 levels.

In the “ Air Guard “, “ weekenders “ could/ would many times stay in for 20yr, and could see themselves reach E-6 and above pay grades, and 7 skill level.

My point:
The Air Guard ( and other services ) can’t operate with forces predominantly occupied by troops w/ just 2yr commitments. There has to be a reasonably sized pool of highly trained/highly skilled “ journeymen “ and “ craftsmen “ on-strength; also.


With regards,
357Mag

Yep, that's how it used to be, whether still the same today I can't say. There has been a LOT of change since my retirement 30years ago. Same process applied to any specialty - admin to cops to cooks to CE to aircraft maint to electronics (my career field), etc.

Ours is a different world today and I saw the change coming during the latter years of my career. Transitioning from being a maintainer with the skill and knowledge to troubleshoot to component and repair, to glorified parts changers where you pulled an assy and replaced. The vast majority of parts replaced were disposed of vs repaired and returned to inventory, simply more economical to buy a new one vs repair the old.

I have 4 brothers and 3 sisters. All 5 of us guys served at least one tour, I chose a full active career. Three brothers served at least one full enlistment, 2 of the 4 continued on in the Guard or Reserve, one for 20yrs the other for 30.

 

[butchlambert]

My thoughts are all, male and female, should either serve in the military or disciplined public service after high school.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I have seen some good kids get a great start from the Military that otherwise would have just fallen in with the regular crowd. But these were the types that were smart and wanting a way out.

 

[K22]

PS, in all my venting, I think it is time for universal draft in US. Two-four years of some kind of service, maybe starting as young as 16!!

Be careful what you wish for. I was drafted in 1970 after graduating from college delaying the pursuit of my career. It was not my choice, but my number was drawn in the first draft lottery. However, I served.

On balance, the Army was a very positive experience for me, but I was one of the lucky ones who didn't get sent to Vietnam. I had a friend killed at Khe Shan in 1968. Many who served over there suffered with the effects of Agent Orange exposure and some of those who survived still suffer with it today.

I do not know how many draftees are on "The Wall" but I am sure there are some.

 

[redrockranger]

Might cure their fidgeting problem
(need for a stupid fidget spinner)
I'm for it
let's weed out the weak

Can you clarify "lets weed out the weak "

 

[Clancy]

Really sounds to me like a bunch of people don’t spend enough time with the young men in their lives and want Uncle Sam to straighten them out.

And, like the distinguished Sergeant Gump once said, that’s all I have to say…. About that.

 

[M-61]

I do not know how many draftees are on "The Wall" but I am sure there are some

I do. 30% of draftees were KIA in VietNam. The remainder enlisted of a total of on the the wall of 58000+.
2.7 million men served in VietNam. Be wary when looking these numbers up. They’ve once again cooked the books. They love to quote 13 million served. NOPE. They’ve included VietNam ERA military. Of course they were needed for the armed forces throughout the world. But 2.7 is the number that actually stood on the ground in VietNam. Only 22% are alive today. A horribly low number for a variety of reasons. But cooking the books makes things sound better. 22 veterans commit suicide each day. That’s a number that drives the VA crazy. They have enormous support to lower that number but are basically unsuccessful.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Over half the guys in my unit are now gone, the culprit is Agent Orange that killed them here on US soil years after returning from RVN. My best friend I served with has had over 12 related surgeries, and is not doing well today.

 

[butchlambert]

Major Jimmy White, brother of Astronaut Ed White, lost over Laos in his F105. Their Dad was General White who was base commander at Sheppard AFB when I was there. Jimmy was an baseball, basketball, and football team mate and school mate. Bill Hull was my traveling mate to BR shoots and ran the Shilen barrel shop. Bill was a tunnel rat and demolitions guy in the Marines. Bill passed away with transplanted kidneys and brain cancer. Agent orange!