Painful Cuts Starting...

 

If you have been following my for any length of time, then you know that last year when the issue of thte ERB came out, I was all over it. It is bad when the Fleet 4 Star is on the cover of Navy Times talking about it.

Do you notice the bottom line?

"How it could break the Navy"

 

The ERB has not only caused pain and suffering, but it has caused suicides and divorces. From what I am also understanding, if you got ERB'd and received severance, before you start getting any sort of disability, you first have to pay back the severance..

If you were some one that was cut, let this serve as a reminder that no one is safe, not the little E-1 or all the way up to Admiral. They dont care about all your awards and accolades, they don't care what merits and medals you have received. You are open game and your neck is on the chopping block.

 It makes these guys feel like their years of service and sacrifice has meant nothing.

 

Our military is getting slapped in the face, because this administration cares more about the welfare state, and entitlements then it does national defense. It wants to deplete this Nation of its great military might, and open us up to forward more of his agenda.

 

I am so thankful that Senior got out when he did. I really feel for these guys and their families. The part about longer deployments is correct...Our neighbor leaves this week he will first be gone from Feb-August. Home for 2 months. Then back out again until March of 2014.

 



My Rant....The Governments Assault on Our Military

Had things going on today, but its  all been in the back of my mind, and trying to find ways to put it down in to a post. I want to rant and rave, but not sound like I am whinning. It is hard for me to find ways to share my thoughts in an accurate way and try to sound intelligent.  Senior did 20 years, I did most of those along with him as a Navy Wife...It is something I am very proud of. We both have seen a lot, and been through a lot.There are lots of things about active duty life I miss...like seeing that ship pull in from a deployment, or watching the guys stand and raise "The Colors" in the mornings, and lower them in the evenings. I really miss visiting Senior on his duty days and eating dinner with him in the Chiefs mess. But now, the all out assault  by the Left on our military makes me glad we are retired.
For me, it all started with the ERB, basically laying off our active duty who have between 5-15 years in. I have made several posts on here about the subject, asking for readers to sign a petition. So now Congress has recently approved the 15 year retirement. So out of the 2947 who got pink slips, only about 300-350 will qualify for this. Okay, thats great...its better then nothing right?  wrong! Now, the Navy has given pink slips to 2200 officers, and hired 2100 new enlisted personal ranks E4-E6, why? to fill "Undermaned" rates ...but wait! You just layed off 2947 in rates that were "overmanned" ...it makes me want to say WTF!

And now on to the most recent issue...our TRICARE Health Insurance. This is another assault by the administration against our military. Lots of civilians believe that our insurance is free...I am here to tell you that is Wrong.Those enrolled in TRICARE Standard must carry a TRICARE supplemental policy or they risk facing major costs for their medical care since they are liable for at least 25% of their health care costs without a supplement. Those in TRICARE Prime already pay enrollment fees. And those in TRICARE For Life must pay the annual Medicare Part B enrollment fee. But to see the rates for the DoD civilians is not going to increase, is nothing short of absurd, and purely unfair.

The VA and TRICARE are an earned benefit, from serving this country in time of need and laying their lives down for our freedom. To take this away will threaten our all volunteer force, they are breaking a promise to those who sacrificed so much to defend a "grateful nation". Politicians, including Obama have not missed a chance to show their gratitude to our countrys veterans, but now all that praise is just mere words during a photo op.

In the words of Senator Jim Webb: "  lifetime health care for career military personnel is part of a moral contract between our government and those who have stepped forward to serve"

I remember in 2008, then candidate Obama during a stop in Florida talked of the need for a "Civil Police Force" I recall it very clearly because of how it scared me. He said the state and local agencies are under manned to handle the increase of crimes across this country.  Is this his goal? Abolish the all volunteer force by any means neccessary ?, I feel they want to reinstitute the draft and create this so called "civil force"  and enforce the policies of the left by any means neccessary upon the people of this great country.

I am starting to bang my head against the wall here, it is so frustrating to me how anyone can vote for this...but alas, I know all too well, there are many of those out there who don't care, they think things in this country are fine, and are pretty much uneducated on the issues. And  yes unfortuantly..there are those even in our military that will still vote for this President or for any liberal for that matter.

Navy Times Front Page!

The word has gotten out and voices heard, the unfair treatment of so many of our men and women in uniform made the front page of navy times....

Discriminatory ERB Process...a new petition

As most of you that follow my blog know, I am a veteran Navy wife, Senior retired in 2009 after serving for 20 years. The ERB situation with our current active duty military is something that is near and dear to my heart.

Our guys and girls are getting shafted by the very same country they fought to defend. If it wasn’t for people like them we probably wouldn’t have the freedoms we enjoy today.

Some 2900 + sailors with 5-15 years are being involuntarily separated. Why? Because of poor management by the Navy. They allowed the rates these guys and girls worked in to become overmanned. It wasn’t the sailors fault. What the Navy should do, is evaluate every rate not just certain ones. And evaluate these folks with high tenure who havent advanced in their selected rate.

There was a petition on whitehouse.gov. Most active duty were nervous about signing it because of repercussions from their commands, one case is a navy wife made comments to CNN and a few days later her husband was contacted by his command. So obviously the message is getting out.

We didn’t get the 25,000 signatures needed for the whitehouse.gov petition. Therefore Sailors against ERB has started a new petition..  You can sign and read about it at:

http://www.change.org/petitions/president-of-the-united-states-department-of-the-navy-us-congress-stop-the-discriminatory-erb-process-conducted-by-the-us-navy

Update on missing Virginia Beach Sailor

Unfortuantly this did not have a happy ending. My thoughts and prayers goes out to his family, but I do feel with the Navy's ERB and laying off over 2000 sailors that we will see more of this.

Sean Hatfield was last seen on January 1st. He was reported missing by his wife, Nikki, when she came home from her job as a firefighter and Sean was gone.
Nikki knew Sean was depressed about losing his job in late 2012, but he was fine over the holiday. On New Years Eve he was sick with the flu. His wife who was bunking down at the station for the night sent Sean a text message, reports WTKR News.
She told him , "I am going to bed and I hope you feel better, I will see you in the morning. and he wrote back, I love you and that was it," said Nikki.
When she got home, Sean's car was there, his wallet and keys but he was not.
The Virginia Beach police searched for Sean, but they could not locate him.
On Thursday, they return to the home on Aloma Court in Landstown Meadows area of Virginia Beach when Nikki called to say that she saw blood in her garage. The police took a closer look at the plywood enclosure nailed in the attic gables. When they pushed on a piece of plywood it came loose and they found Sean's body in the rafters. A weapon was also found near the body.

Missing Sailor and the ERB petition....

Petty Officer Hatfield is one of the 2900 + active duty sailors being affected by the militarys ERB. This is the board that is basically "laying off" our sailors as of September 1st. I hope that suicide is not what our government is driving our sailors, soldiers, and airmen to. These men and women answered the call to defend this country and did so proudly, and now our country isnt there for them. Please, Please, Please...sign the petition : https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/review-how-sailors-are-being-involuntarily-separated-us-naval-service-fy-2012-enlisted-retention/mMmDRqWV

We  have just over 4000 signatures, but need 20,000 + by January 17th. If you have a blog, please feel free to repost this on yours, so we can spread the word and make Obama rethink what they are doing to our guys and girls. We have so much unemployment in this country, so now we are going to add to it?

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Family and friends of 2nd Class Petty Officer Sean Hatfield are still searching for him. Hatfield has been missing since Jan. 1.

Portsmouth firefighter Nikki Hatfield last heard from her husband on New Year's night when the couple exchanged text messages.

"And he texted me back, 'I love you' in all capitals with exclamation points. And that was it. But that's not abnormal. That's, 'Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning' y 'know," Nikki said through tears.

The Hatfields live in the Landstown Meadows area of Virginia Beach and that's where volunteers and police are focusing their search.

Friday, police used a helicopter to do aerial searches of the area. Volunteer K-9 tracking dogs have also been used in the search.

Nikki's fellow firefighters, as well as other firefighters from Virginia Beach, combed the wooded area of Landstown Commons. The group also distributed fliers to local businesses, asking if anyone has seen someone matching the 43-year-old's description.

Nikki says Sean has struggled with depression and gambling, especially since learning that he would be laid off from his Naval jet electrician job later this year. But, she says he seemed to be doing well during the holidays.

"We had a great Christmas. My family was here," Nikki said.

No money is missing from the couple's accounts and Sean's wallet, beloved car and other personal items were left at the couple's home.

Nikki tells WAVY.com that one item that is missing is an 1890's Winchester .22 caliber rifle, which she referred to as a family heirloom.

Police say there are no signs of foul play and consider Hatfield's disappearance a missing person's case.