bobdina
05-26-2009, 01:52 PM
No
brainer These stupid Army rules gotta go, soldiers tell 2-star general
By Tony Lombardo
tlombardo@militarytimes.com
Most soldiers know: There’s stupid, and then there’s Army stupid. When Maj. Gen. Michael Oates got on his blog and asked soldiers: “What is the stupidest rule or policy you have seen in the Army?” he essentially was throwing them red meat.
After all, soldiers labor under rules and regs laid out in more than 100,000 Army documents.
The 10th Mountain Division commander simply titled his entry, “Stupid rules.” Posted March 22, the entry on the Task Force Mountain blog, www.taskforcemountain.com/mountain-sound-off , drew 93 responses before the comment period closed April 20.
Oates was unavailable to discuss his brave blog entry as he prepared for the May 20 transfer of authority for Multi-National Division-South in Iraq, where he served as commander since June 2008. The 34th Infantry Division has taken over for 10th Mountain Division Headquarters.
His spokesman said Oates plans a comprehensive review of the soldiers’ beefs after he redeploys to 10th Mountain headquarters at Fort Drum, N.Y. Following are a few of their entries:‘How about some common sense?’
My vote for stupidest rule is that you can’t have sweaty PT clothing on in the chow hall. Honked me off a little at Camp Victory, but it really honks me off here in Basra.
… How about some common sense here?
— Basra Homey
The Army sets up numerous roadblocks that prevent soldiers such as myself from volunteering for combat deployments. I enlist­ed for two years, four months, and considered that plenty of time to be deployed because of the current strain on military forces. When the opportunity wasn’t pre­sented to me, I sought it myself. Nothing came of it and now I am set to be discharged in a short while.
— Scott
I would say that the policy of conducting announced “inspec­tions” by command staff is errant and foolhardy.
When an entity announces its intention to conduct an inspec­tion, this allows for the unit in question to prepare for its arrival by cleaning up its act.
— John
I would add how stupid the “no umbrella” rule is. Just allow a professional-looking, simple black umbrella.
— Mike Bring back Sergeant’s Time Training/Family time once a week. I have come across too many soldiers who are not taught the basics anymore.
— SFC P
We ask our soldiers to go to war, but we make them request a pass to drive beyond a 70-mile radius off the base?
They should be able to drive wherever they want just as long as they are back by the next duty day.
— Traveler
I’ve seen two rules in recent years that are tied for the most stupid rules that I’ve ever seen in my 21 years of military duty.
1. The mandatory wear of a re­flective belt while wearing the Army physical fitness uniform. Hello, the APFU has been specifi­cally designed to omit the require­ment of additional reflective ac­cessories.
2. The ridiculous policies that exist at the Army’s current mobi­lization platforms. Not allowing soldiers to go off base during non­duty hours, except under limited and restrictive circumstances, and not allowing soldiers to consume alcoholic beverages, etc.
— APFT Guy
Just one?
■ The new “Mall Cop” dress uni­form. Oh my God, what the hell is this clown suit? Why in the mid­dle of two wars are we doing this?
■ Rolling up our BDU sleeves so the camo part shows. Calling that stupid is an insult to really stupid things.
■ The M9 pistol. With all of the outstanding handguns on the market, the Army still issues this piece of junk.
■ Fifteen-month combat tours. Hey, there’s a recipe for enhancing readiness, recruiting, retention and well-adjusted Army families. Absolutely disgraceful.
■ The “Army values” tag. Here, put this around your neck. OK, now you’re moral, ethical and all that. Good work, soldier.
— Mountain Soldier
Beret backlash, uniform unrest
Worthless as headgear. Offers no protection from rain or sun. Bring back the cap We spent millions on berets at a time when we did not have money for spare parts for vehicles or ammo for ranges.
— Rob
The beret is an absolutely use­less piece of gear. Sure it looks good, but it’s pretty obvious that the ones who made it policy to wear this piece of gear in an every­day work uniform sit in an office and don’t see the light of day.
— Joe Snuffy
You should never have to wear the helmet if you’re not in a com­bat zone.
— roger spencer
Heavy-handed policy
If a soldier can pass the PT test, and has a good standing PT histo­ry, then he should not be scruti­nized or started on a chapter.
— Sgt Jones
The tape test that the Army uses to determine if a soldier is within tolerance for body fat per­centage is wildly inaccurate and can vary wildly depending on who does it.
— Thomas
Where they live
I understand that everyone in the unit should be on a duty ros­ter for Charge of Quarters. How­ever for those who live off post, why do we ask them to mow the lawn and shovel the snow for those living in the barracks? I’d like to know when they will cre­ate a roster to shovel my drive­way and mow my lawn. Just a thought.
— Off post resident
I was very upset with the new rule for certain types of dogs being banned on the installation. Instead of banning a certain breed, I believe each pet on the base should be given [a test for ag­gression]. If the dog doesn’t demonstrate any signs of aggres­sive behavior, the family should be allowed to keep their pet.
— Animal Lover
Promotion commotion
The Promotion Point System is stupid. An 11B just has to show up to work and poof, E5. To make E5, in almost any other MOS it’s like [you need] E6 points. That should be revised to a better system.
— Holy crap
R&R from red tape
How much paperwork really needs to be submitted with a DA31 leave request? At one point to submit a DA31, one would have to attach a separate leave request, privately owned vehicle online risk assessment, a de­tailed rest plan, POV inspection form (flying or not), plane reser­vations (if flying), a safety pledge, strip map to the leave address (even if not leaving post), another personal risk assessment sheet, and finally, a leave and earnings statement, all to ask to go on leave.
Ahh, vacation was needed after rounding up all of that.
— Ja Red
Domestic dilemma
If you want to talk about a stu­pid and unbelievably unfair policy, how about addressing a spouse’s entitlement to a soldier ’s retire­ment pay if they divorce.
My ex-wife didn’t work outside the house while we were married — and she didn’t want to. I de­ployed, I worked, I did the job .
So how in the world does that entitle her to a percentage of my retirement when I retire?
— James
brainer These stupid Army rules gotta go, soldiers tell 2-star general
By Tony Lombardo
tlombardo@militarytimes.com
Most soldiers know: There’s stupid, and then there’s Army stupid. When Maj. Gen. Michael Oates got on his blog and asked soldiers: “What is the stupidest rule or policy you have seen in the Army?” he essentially was throwing them red meat.
After all, soldiers labor under rules and regs laid out in more than 100,000 Army documents.
The 10th Mountain Division commander simply titled his entry, “Stupid rules.” Posted March 22, the entry on the Task Force Mountain blog, www.taskforcemountain.com/mountain-sound-off , drew 93 responses before the comment period closed April 20.
Oates was unavailable to discuss his brave blog entry as he prepared for the May 20 transfer of authority for Multi-National Division-South in Iraq, where he served as commander since June 2008. The 34th Infantry Division has taken over for 10th Mountain Division Headquarters.
His spokesman said Oates plans a comprehensive review of the soldiers’ beefs after he redeploys to 10th Mountain headquarters at Fort Drum, N.Y. Following are a few of their entries:‘How about some common sense?’
My vote for stupidest rule is that you can’t have sweaty PT clothing on in the chow hall. Honked me off a little at Camp Victory, but it really honks me off here in Basra.
… How about some common sense here?
— Basra Homey
The Army sets up numerous roadblocks that prevent soldiers such as myself from volunteering for combat deployments. I enlist­ed for two years, four months, and considered that plenty of time to be deployed because of the current strain on military forces. When the opportunity wasn’t pre­sented to me, I sought it myself. Nothing came of it and now I am set to be discharged in a short while.
— Scott
I would say that the policy of conducting announced “inspec­tions” by command staff is errant and foolhardy.
When an entity announces its intention to conduct an inspec­tion, this allows for the unit in question to prepare for its arrival by cleaning up its act.
— John
I would add how stupid the “no umbrella” rule is. Just allow a professional-looking, simple black umbrella.
— Mike Bring back Sergeant’s Time Training/Family time once a week. I have come across too many soldiers who are not taught the basics anymore.
— SFC P
We ask our soldiers to go to war, but we make them request a pass to drive beyond a 70-mile radius off the base?
They should be able to drive wherever they want just as long as they are back by the next duty day.
— Traveler
I’ve seen two rules in recent years that are tied for the most stupid rules that I’ve ever seen in my 21 years of military duty.
1. The mandatory wear of a re­flective belt while wearing the Army physical fitness uniform. Hello, the APFU has been specifi­cally designed to omit the require­ment of additional reflective ac­cessories.
2. The ridiculous policies that exist at the Army’s current mobi­lization platforms. Not allowing soldiers to go off base during non­duty hours, except under limited and restrictive circumstances, and not allowing soldiers to consume alcoholic beverages, etc.
— APFT Guy
Just one?
■ The new “Mall Cop” dress uni­form. Oh my God, what the hell is this clown suit? Why in the mid­dle of two wars are we doing this?
■ Rolling up our BDU sleeves so the camo part shows. Calling that stupid is an insult to really stupid things.
■ The M9 pistol. With all of the outstanding handguns on the market, the Army still issues this piece of junk.
■ Fifteen-month combat tours. Hey, there’s a recipe for enhancing readiness, recruiting, retention and well-adjusted Army families. Absolutely disgraceful.
■ The “Army values” tag. Here, put this around your neck. OK, now you’re moral, ethical and all that. Good work, soldier.
— Mountain Soldier
Beret backlash, uniform unrest
Worthless as headgear. Offers no protection from rain or sun. Bring back the cap We spent millions on berets at a time when we did not have money for spare parts for vehicles or ammo for ranges.
— Rob
The beret is an absolutely use­less piece of gear. Sure it looks good, but it’s pretty obvious that the ones who made it policy to wear this piece of gear in an every­day work uniform sit in an office and don’t see the light of day.
— Joe Snuffy
You should never have to wear the helmet if you’re not in a com­bat zone.
— roger spencer
Heavy-handed policy
If a soldier can pass the PT test, and has a good standing PT histo­ry, then he should not be scruti­nized or started on a chapter.
— Sgt Jones
The tape test that the Army uses to determine if a soldier is within tolerance for body fat per­centage is wildly inaccurate and can vary wildly depending on who does it.
— Thomas
Where they live
I understand that everyone in the unit should be on a duty ros­ter for Charge of Quarters. How­ever for those who live off post, why do we ask them to mow the lawn and shovel the snow for those living in the barracks? I’d like to know when they will cre­ate a roster to shovel my drive­way and mow my lawn. Just a thought.
— Off post resident
I was very upset with the new rule for certain types of dogs being banned on the installation. Instead of banning a certain breed, I believe each pet on the base should be given [a test for ag­gression]. If the dog doesn’t demonstrate any signs of aggres­sive behavior, the family should be allowed to keep their pet.
— Animal Lover
Promotion commotion
The Promotion Point System is stupid. An 11B just has to show up to work and poof, E5. To make E5, in almost any other MOS it’s like [you need] E6 points. That should be revised to a better system.
— Holy crap
R&R from red tape
How much paperwork really needs to be submitted with a DA31 leave request? At one point to submit a DA31, one would have to attach a separate leave request, privately owned vehicle online risk assessment, a de­tailed rest plan, POV inspection form (flying or not), plane reser­vations (if flying), a safety pledge, strip map to the leave address (even if not leaving post), another personal risk assessment sheet, and finally, a leave and earnings statement, all to ask to go on leave.
Ahh, vacation was needed after rounding up all of that.
— Ja Red
Domestic dilemma
If you want to talk about a stu­pid and unbelievably unfair policy, how about addressing a spouse’s entitlement to a soldier ’s retire­ment pay if they divorce.
My ex-wife didn’t work outside the house while we were married — and she didn’t want to. I de­ployed, I worked, I did the job .
So how in the world does that entitle her to a percentage of my retirement when I retire?
— James