<ul>
<li> joined the reserves for all the normal reasons (I assume)</li>
<li> got some interesting training at the start (I presume DLI is still decent?)</li>
<li> was sent to Afganistan and survived and learned from the experience</li>
<li> is using the benefits to attend college now.</li>
</ul>
<p>As some of us veterans have said repeatedly, military service is a mixed bag. There are great aspects to it and some that are not so great. Do one's homework, be realistic about the limitations and then decide.</p>
<p>When I hear from a local psychologist (that I respect enormously) that 40% of the returning soldiers have such severe trauma that they are having trouble functioning, and discover that a former student is one of those soldiers, I worry about this generation of "volunteers."</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think a few generals need a bit of disciplining, as it is obvious this complaining in the AF about doing its part in Iraq comes from the top.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>They are complaining about some their skilled folks (people who the AF has spent $$$ training) are leaving for jobs to support the war running truck convoys. I am not talking EOD people, but aircraft crew chiefs.</p>
<p>Currently there are units deployed to throught the mid east region. We have people teaching the Iraqs to maintain the C-130s we gave them, building radar air traffic control, medical, air traffic controllers, and the list goes on.</p>
<p>The AF and all the services are by law only allowed to have a certain amount of people on Active Duty at any one time. To pay for the war and new aircraft the AF has cut 40,000 people and is suppose to drop even more. We really don't have enough people now. If you steal people from a unit what it means, that the people left behind are expected to pick up the slack. Most folks already work 10-12 days, many work weekends too. They bring their paper work home and work. Many people lose their leave because they can't get away. </p>
<p>The Generals are trying to shine a light the personnel storage. They are trying to protect their people. They are speaking out.</p>
<p>I had nightmares for about ten years after I got off active duty. I suspect by today's psychology standards, I would have been judged to have PSD or something similar. And yes, when I had a nightmare, I would not sleep well that night, so I might have been judged to have trouble functioning. But in the long run (heck, even at the time) it did not make much difference.</p>
<p>I don't mean to downplay the problems some Iraq vets have, as some are truly troubled and damaged. But a lot of the difficulty is just the adjustment back to civilian life. and I bet your psych fried has no military experience, right?</p>
<p>AFA81, if AF life is so tough now, please tell me how many AF folks are transferring to the army? None? They don't want the stress and combat? Surprise.</p>
<p>So give us a break. When will the AF realize the AF, Navy and Army are ALL part of the same military? And sometimes that means doing their part to help another service. You think the AF does not have enough people? Try the Army. They are spending more time in Iraq now than at home. Don't see the AF doing that. </p>
<p>Yes, the AF Generals are speaking out, and in doing so they show terrible leadership.</p>
<p>You may not be aware, but officers are trained to not question or argue about the mission (imagine if they did during wartime. Oops, that's exactly what the AF generals are doing...). They are trained to get it done. Don't see that here.</p>
<p>I wish all "trouble functioning" were solved so easily. However, while my friend doesn't have military experience, she's spent the last fifteen years doing drug and alcohol abuse counseling. If she's worried about the vets she's seeing... I'm worried.</p>
<p>Smiledarling says "By joining the military it doesn't necessarily mean that you support the war. It means you're looking for everything the military can provide you. The military is not political - it is not a liberal tool or a conservative tool - it is a national tool. Just because we have to obey the president doesn't mean we have to agree with him. "</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>NewMassdsd says "You may not be aware, but officers are trained to not question or argue about the mission (imagine if they did during wartime."</p>
<p>This is what I found to be the most troubling intrapsychic coflict to deal with when working with active duty military.</p>
<p>Again, it is often too late when this hits home. At a certain level, service, location, it may not mean having to kill someone you don't believe is your enemy, but it seems worse sometimes, to be making decisions that contribute to others doing it for you. For me, that meant doing what I was trained to do, sending a whole lot of people back to fight when they said they were willing to kill themselves to get out.</p>
<p>Second have been a grad from USAFA and just ended my career after 26 plus years. I know what is expected of officers. As leader you are expected to among other things protect your folks. Army officers do not bed down themselves until their men are taken care of, the same can be said for any military service. Your people will work harder for you if have their backs. </p>
<p>Another strong leadership skill is listening, if the people below you are telling you they can't do more with less anymore, you need to make sure it is understood at the civilian leadership level. This why mission ready rates have been drop for most aircraft systems.</p>
<p>This is about money, the money that it takes to train people who are then sent away and you need to replace them, you need to send more to school and spend more money. It is money and tech slots that we don't have.</p>
<p>You act as if the AF does nothing, who flys close air support for troops on the ground, brings fresh troops, new equipment, running the airfields and evac the wounded, the Air Force. Currently about a third of the force is deployed/remote somewhere.</p>
<p>Generals are not robots, they speak out and argue all the time. It is just behind closed doors not generally to the press. </p>
<p>Another loss to Navy today....go Army beat Navy.</p>
<p>Well right now, I'm in the DEP awaiting a ship date. Tried the ROTC route, but I've missed the Field Training portion, waiting till next summer would mean I have to blow off nearly a year since earning anymore credits would DQ me from ROTC. So yeah I'm enlisting, most likely going in with an Intel job.</p>
<p>Good luck and stay safe. With your college credits you should go in as an E-3 I think. Double-check this! If they say no do your best to look online for a "second opinion."</p>