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Saturday, 25 April 2009

By MG Mike Oates

What topics would you like to see me post here for discussion?

Comments (46)

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Okay, here is something that I would very much love to know. I know that we all run for PT which I fully support, I also know that there are roads specifically closed to traffic flow just for our great soldiers here so that they may have a safe routes to run upon all throughout the year. So my questions is this. When we have all of these roads closed just for them, then why is it that the upper echelons of the command do not enforce that the soldiers use and utilize these closed off routes instead of allowing them to run upon routes that are so desparately needed for traffic flow? Traffic flow that is always and already greatly hampered by road construction, slow moving military vehicles, and low allowed speed limits? I am just amazed that soldiers have not been hit and killed on a daily basis for running along the only routes that cars, military vehicles and large vehicles have to use and now must share. We always say safety first and take care of the soldiers, well then, why don't we? The closed off PT routes are there to be used, so officers and NCO's why are we not using them and are forcing or allowing our soldiers into potentially dangerous situations by making them or are allowing them to run along with traffic when we have these closed routes to use instead? Make no sense to me. So are we just talk, and no action? Or has common sense become not so common anymore?

SIR,

I have reached the end of my career. My body can no longer sustain what my will and heart desire to do, unless I want to be the Father/Grandfather in a wheel chair. I acknowledge it and have willingly accepted it. I look forward to retiring back to the Mid-West Plains area and have plans to join the GS arena so I can continue to contribute to our Armed Forces. While I prepare to retire I have learned that I may end up "stuck" at Fort Drum while I complete ACAP and start interviewing for future positions. That does not make any of the transition process easy. I do not look forward to the prospect of 18 hour one way drives or $500 round trip tickets back home for interviews. I certainly dont view it as helpful to my plans either. I was assigned to Fort Drum to deploy 3 months before I could submit my request for retirement. Got it, one last hoorah. Mission complete in a few months. What do I have to do, or any other future retiree, to relocate closer to where they intend to transition? I am not referring to the 2-4 weeks prior to the beginning of terminal leave either. The last thing I want to do is perpetuate the trend of keeping positions filled until the last minute, only to fill them with leaders that havent trained with the deploying unit. After we return the unit will be stripped down to 50% and then rebuilt again just before the next mission. For 18+ of my 20+ year career I have been an NCO; taught to evaluate and plan everything; hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Just this once I want the hope to be the norm.

Praying for a call out to Leonard Wood.

As a former NCO and veteran I cannot understand why a soldier with less than a month left in active duty has to redeploy to Iraq? I can understand asking to go back as we 1049'd to deploy back to Vietnam even as infantrymen. Those young soldiers who have done there duty should be allowed to ETS and get on with their lives after they have served our nation honorably. I know my warrior will do her job and do it well. As Native American soldiers, WE, will do our job faithfully and honorably

Sir,
When is someone going to balance the divorce equation for the Soldiers? The USFSPA has been robbing Service-members of their retirement benefits for far to long. It is the only law in the US that allows a former spouse to continue to get benefits even after they remarry. Congressman, Senators, the CIA and other Foreign Service personnel don’t have this law! Only the military does. Yes I agree spouses do contribute their part but if the Government feels they should be entitled to compensation for it then they should foot the bill not me or any other Service Member. There are cases when where former spouses remarry another Soldier and gain another payment. There is no limit to the number they can receive. There is no time limit to file for the benefit. Someone needs to stand up and stop this heinous theft of our benefits.

This link can explain so much more than I ever could. Look under Information; Myths.

http://www.ulsg.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6

I know that the military is trying to do everything that they can to ensure that Soldiers are spending more time with their families. When it comes to dual military couples it becomes harder to manage at times.
My husband and I love the military but there are times when we begin to question why we are doing what we do. We are currently on track to be separated for about 2 1/2 years because of deployments and schooling. My husband is currently attending flight school and the schooling is a PCS move for the student and their families but not dual military. That was okay when the school was 1 year long; it is now 2 to 3 years long according to which airframe you fly. I understand that there bubbles but when you have a dual military couple the Soldier should be fast tracked through the training so that they do not have to spend more time away from their family when just sitting at Rucker during a bubble. I mean this is a great opportunity for someone who can take their families to school because they get to actually spend some quality time with their families.
We know that as Soldiers we have obligations to the needs of the Army but there is no consideration for the children. When you tell a dual military couple that they cannot PCS with each other for over 2 years you are forcing one parent to see their children on weekends and holidays and with high expense flights are that does not get to happen every weekend. We have two little boys and one was 6 weeks when my husband departed for training my fear is that when we are together again he will deploy right away and spend 3 years away from his children.
When we decided that he would go to the training we knew it was long but not over 2 years. I am asking for someone to look into why the MACP has not been addressed in this matter with the flight training be extended. I am not asking that the other service member be stationed at Rucker because that would not be feasible for the Army but I would like to know why they could not have the Soldier continue through the training with less bubbles. I do not know but there has to be a better way. All this does not take into account the deployments that we have been on, are currently on or will be in the future. We love being Soldiers but the affect on the family is starting to get overwhelming and I do not feel that a Soldier should have to choose between career and family.

Army Standards are lowered and unexceptable. I see NCO's that are out of tolerance for weight control and have been for quite awhile now. 3 years and still can't meet the weight standards and still an NCO. I see NCO's with their uniform busting out, can't run or always on profile. These are who our younger Soldiers are supposed to look up to? While we still have those NCO's who meet and set and enforce the standards of the Army and provide that great leadership Soldiers need, we have those who aren't even close yet heads are turned the other way or you give them one more chance beyond the one more chance. Soldiers are always commenting on those NCO's who look like ragbags in uniform or don't posses the basic skills to be a leader. How did they get their Stripes and keep them? These so called Leaders need to be weeded out and let go. They make the jobs of good NCO's that much harder. How many times do you hear "if that sergeant can look like that and get away with it, why can't I?
Yes it's my job to put a stop to that and I do but it's hard to argue against.

Rules need to be changed to make it easier for a reservist to switch over to active duty. Trying to battle with the my spouses unit to let her go active into a unit that needs NCO's and it's like talking to a wall. Ridiculous.

As a Senior Noncommissioned Officer with over 20 years in the military, my personal opinion goes hand in hand with that of Jenn's Husband. My personal family experience with military doctors has been unsatisfactory on numerous occasions. However lacking they may be in day to day family practice, I must say they are my choice in a Traumatic Combat environment. One of the greatest assets to living off post is having the ability to pick and choose which Doctor is the right one for my family, and knowing that they will see the same Doctor on every appointment. Although we don’t have any issues booking appointments, any prolonged wait for care is worth waiting having the peace of mind that they will receive quality professional treatment.

I'm no longer in the 10th MTN, though I am with them now in Iraq and will be back at Drum after my deployment is up.

My unfortunate wife has had some very bad experiences with military doctors (Navy as well). I can't fault her for her opinion. I've been with her on some of those appointments, and she's not pulling your leg in regards to her stories.

Some of you have spoken about how spouses are coddled. Who are these spouses? Where can I find them? The reason I ask is because just about everyone I've had a conversation with about this subject have the same opinion as Jenn does...some even worse.

COL Penner...that's all great talking points. Yet, our experiences seem to differ with them. If it is, like you said, one bad experience for every hundred good experiences...then where are these hundreds of people? How come neither my wife nor I have met any of these "Hundred of people"? Where do they live? These positive comments on this board are the FIRST I've ever seen or heard of in 16 years. Is that just a crazy coincidence? Do we just have some sort of "Bad medical care" magnet that attracts these people to us?

Based on anecdotal evidence and personal experience only, I'd have to say that the reverse is true. That for every one good experience there are a hundred bad ones.

My solution is this...allow us to use Tricare as anyone else outside of the military uses their health insurance. Let us decide who they (our dependents) get to go see.

One of the things that really gets my goat is that one day my wife will see one doctor who recommends a specialist/gives tests. After she goes to the specialist/has the tests done and tries to make her follow up she ends up seeing a completely different person and she has to start from square one, often not getting the same opinion as the first doctor.

I think my solution would fix that. We could find a family doctor in the local area that we like and go see them for as long as we're at the post. Yes, we'd have co-pays and the waiting, ect, but at least we'd be able to choose where they can get care and not have a different doctor or PA examining them every time they need to go.

Regardless of what some of you wrote, 16 years of the same poor care and after hearing hundreds of stories from hundreds of people about that poor care tends to cloud your vision and make you a bit angry, as well as form possibly false assumptions. And let me tell you, my wife is angry and she's fed up...and I can't really blame her one bit.

Just curious as to why we don't have a fully functional "real" Hospital on Fort Drum? I see construction on every corner but no decent sized or staffed Medical facility.

MG Oates

When I first joined the Army back in early 03 uniform discipline was a must. Coming in with highly shined boots was never really a huge task, most Soldiers I knew actually liked doing it.

Monday morning was always a glorious day in the Army. We would all get together and see whose uniform had the sharpest crease and whose boots had the best shine. We took pride in the way we looked and that pride than reflected on us as Soldiers and made us feel like Soldiers.
Now few people take pride in the way your uniform looks, you pull it out of a bag wrinkled and stuck together with velcro then toss it on.

Yes the ACU is a cheaper uniform to maintain, but an Iron and tub of Kiwi never causes anyone to go broke. I can understand doing away with the starching but in garrison we need to look more presentable and take more pride in how we look.

Go back to the duel uniforms like the BDU and DCU, bring back the spine shined boots in Garrison and allow Soldiers to take pride in how they present themselves again. In turn I believe that this will bring Soldier discipline a little higher.

My 2 Cents.

P.S: Velco was probably the worst idea the Army ever had.

Sir,
Can we not spend some money to have the IOTV steam cleaned or other equivalent? I'm no slouch when it comes to taking good care of my gear and cleaning it for t/i. So when I have failed a THIRD time because of sweat stains on my IOTV collar I really have to ask for some common sense to be applied.

I will admit responsibility for the following:
1. I wore my IOTV when I went outside the wire.
2. I sweated in the 120 degree heat.
3. I did this for a year.

Is it too much to ask that the Army pick up the tab for this one little thing? I really don't think so given the year of sweat I put into it.

Thanks.

Thanks for your continuous support of my postings with thoughtful ideas, suggestions and observations.
The staff has reviewed all the comments since the blog started and shortly after we return from Iraq I will post them in 4 categories and what we are doing to address them. The 4 categories are: 1. Make the Army better, 2. Make the Division better, 3. Make Ft Drum better, 4. Misc.

I find it difficult, at best, to believe that anybody on Fort Drum is willing to 'fix' the ongoing problems at the post's gates.

Problems
1. Gate 'guards'. What are gate guards supposed to be inspecting for when they pull a vehicle over? Can't be bombs... they'd have a mirror to inspect the vehicle's undercarriage.

-Guards seem as if they are more or less 'rifleling' through people's belongings.

2. Professionalism. I will personally begin retrieving names of guards that are less than professional and I will turn these names in.

3. Access- How is it that dump trucks can roll right through a gate, without getting inspected? Soldiers, in uniform, get treated like criminals and ARE NOT ALLOWED ACCESS TO ALL GATES!!! (black river gate)

-Dump trucks, taxis, buses (school or otherwise), need to be useing ONE GATE!!! Pick one, please. Next time I get cut off by a dump truck or school bus, someone's getting pulled through a driver's side window. Those driver's are rude, constantly on their phones, and have NO consideration of others on the road.

Yes, sir, I'm irratated and I'm ready to see a change in the current policies governing access to this post. Soldiers already have to give up everything included their 1st born to get vehicles and Motorcycles registered on post, how about a little professional courtesy then, and treat the 'other guys' like criminals for once!!

I am an Australian Army Medic who had the privilige to serve with 159 Air Ambulance at KAF in late 2006. As a result, I like to keep an eye on what is happening at 10 Mountain Division every now and then.

I would like to point out to those complaining about Army Doctors that at least spouses have that option. Australian Army spouses etc. see civilian doctors as Army Doctors only see Army Patients. As a few people have said..... wait till you find out what health care costs outside the Army..... not to mention waiting lists and waiting times to see the doctor. Enjoy the fact you have access to this service......I wish we had it!

Best wishes to all.........Stay Safe!

Regarding FRG’s and relocated spouses during deployment posted by Allie… As an FRG leader, I can tell you that getting an updated ACCURATE roster is darn near impossible.

When my dad was drafted for Korea in the 1950’s, families were barely a thought, let alone a first or even second one. To that end, the Army has come a long way in understanding the role families play in a Soldier’s decision whether or not to enlist or even stay in to make a career. FRG’s are a great start but it’s my opinion that “big Army” has some catching up to do. It’s also important to remember that FRG’s are not “one size fits all”.

Problem #1:
Right now, for example, I know of a spouse in our unit who is not on the roster. They PCS’d to Fort Drum and a short time later, he deployed. If I hadn’t met her at the deployment ceremony, I would not even know she existed. Why they aren't on the roster I received that was allegedly updated, I have no idea. Granted, that’s the worst case scenario but every month there seems to be a wrong phone number, wrong address or even in one case a few months ago, a Soldier who had ETS’d but was still on the roster. I really wish the roster and its maintenance was a priority for S1’s.

Problem #2
Soldiers deploy and spouses go home. Unless the Soldier or Spouse remembers to tell the S1, RDC or the FRG leader, we have no idea the spouse is not in the area. It’s part of your responsibility to tell us where you are. God forbid we have to reach you in a hurry – what do you want us to do, send smoke signals?

Problem #3
Soldiers sometimes encourage their spouses not to get involved with the FRG. I know this is not true of all Soldiers but better education needs to be put out so its (FRG) purpose is understood. Nowhere in basic training or AIT is information given out that the FRG is a coffee klatch, a gossip fest or clique. But then again, no information is given out about FRGs in AIT, is it?

One more comment and then I’ll have said what I felt needed to be said: Officers and Senior NCO’s, you really do set the example for your Soldiers. Your support of the FRG and families is instrumental and paramount to helping Soldiers understand the role the FRG plays for Soldiers and families. The FRG is not just for married Soldiers. It is for anyone with an interest in the unit, whether it be a DA civilian, a childhood friend or extended family member. It is a resource people can turn to when they need help and many times, help solve problems at the lowest possible level.

People complain all the time its human nature but when you complain have a why to resolve the problem. If people don't voice their opionions then nothing changes or get done.

I have made an ICE comment about the North Gate on the weekends or evening it takes forever to get through the gates because here at Fort Drum they are inspecting the vehicles at the gate instead of haveing a designated area where to inspect vehicles like other installations or hiring more gate guards, there are 3 lanes have the 3rd lanes to used to inspect vehicles that are not registered or taxis or trucks so that the people who live on the installation can get home faster. The response i got was that it is being looked at and that in the meantime there is no money to hire more gate guards. I have waited on the weekends to go home here on fort drum 15 minutes at one time. So with the new houses going up the waiting time to use the North Gate will increase because more families will be moving onto Fort Drum.

That is the response i get from my ICE comment so next step will be the town hall meeting to voice my concern.

I don't know if it's even possible, but I think it would be great to discuss ways to connect the FRGs and relocated spouses during deployments. Also, I'm sure this topic has been discussed before, but it has to be easier to get internet access that is actually reliable to soldiers during deployments.

Jenn- Your poor husband just needs to get out of the Army. I dont think you will be happy with anybody. Too bad. Another spouse who does not realize what she has, till its too late. I hope Col. Penner's note set you staight. Good luck finding a Dr. who will tell you every thing you want to hear. $$$$$

I am a military spouse of 14 years and I am so right on with "Long Time Spouse". Could not have worded it better and have been saying it for a few years now. Military spouses are like children, spoiled and always wanting more. I hope they realize what they have now, before its too late. I dont think we need more discussion groups, it just gives everyone a chance to complain more. If you really have an issue, do it through ICE. Like my husband says to his soldiers, if you have a problem but just complain about it with not solution, you are whinning. We are a military family of whinners!

I am a lifelong resident of watertown and can,t believe the bad effects have on watertown. the biggest thing I see is someone needs to tell these young soldiers to keep their blaring, booming stereos down. I am awakened at 2 or 3 am by these stereos so loud it rattles the windows. anyone who lives near a carwash or quik stop has to listen to this stuff all day long everyday of the year. someone needs to teach them they are guests in our community. how would they like it if we came out to drum and blasted a car stereo for hours. I don't think they would like it too much.

It is wonderful to see results by way of CSM Parham makeing it happen. Thank God for an Outstanding NonCommisioned Officer running Ft Drum. The issue with Mountain Warriors not being able to participate in Mountain Thunder has been resolved. Ride to Glory!

I have lived here all of my life. Sun can make a difference. But also planning date days or nights to break up the monotony. Getting out and doing different things.Making the best of it instead of dwelling on gloom and doom things. Remember your life is ALWAYS better then some other unfortunate ones.

As a current official contact for Mountain Warrior Riding Club I want to point out that, contrary to popular belief, I did not generate the April 28 post in this blog on Mountain Thunder subject, I don’t know who did. I strongly object to the author resorting to name calling like “… some overpaid civilian,” while using a large portion of my post from the Mountain Warriors forum without my knowledge or permission.
The issue regarding club members not being able to sign up for the Mountain Thunder ride has been successfully resolved.
I spoke with CSM Parham on the issue and I had a long conversation with Mr. Mushtare from the Safety Office, who assured me that the ride fully supports the Mountain Warrior Riding Club, and that club members will be able participate in the Mountain Thunder ride. (Membership in the Mountain Warrior Riding Club requires adherence to all the Fort Drum regulations of motorcycle operation - PPE, and documentated Ridercourse completion, Fort Drum registration, proper license, etc.)
Respectfully,
Maggie Cameron
MountainWarriors RC Interim Secretary

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH LONG TIME SPOUSE!

Drum is depressing... period.

Military docs get a bad rap here. Our recent experience with a doc at Guthrie has been nothing short of outstanding. The doc has called us at home to see how things are going, and gave us his personal cell phone number to call him if we have any trouble reaching him at the clinic. But nothing's perfect. I don't disagree that bad service happens. HOWEVER, we've become a community of whiners.

I have a theory on this.. & a suggestion for a topic to discuss.

First, name one community in the U.S., military or civilian, that provides as many opportunities for wellness, health, entertainment, & support as Ft Drum? Then name a civilian community that offers such benefits - AND where the citizens of that community RARELY utilize those benefits (such as what happens at FT DRUM)?

Probably doesn't exist!

MWR offers boundless opportunities, but often the venue has no-shows.
Seminars, lectures, and educational opportunities are rarely taken advantage of.

Yet all we seem to do is complain that what we've got is never enough.

WHY IS THAT?

Well - here's where my theory comes into play.

I'm a pretty positive person. I've never experienced depression or anxiety in my life. Having worked in a health field previously, I fully recognize what depression, anxiety, & other disorders look like.

To my shock, I found myself (this past winter) having strange thoughts about not caring if I lived or died.

WHOA!!!

Thankfully, I kicked myself in the butt and got out of that frame of mind. However, I have lost count of how many spouses in our unit & community that are on anti-depressants, & other forms of mental health support. Has anyone got the stats on this?

I spoke with a friend today who recently PCSed. She said that within 2 weeks of getting there, she noticed her children came back to life, & that her own depressed thoughts & feelings of anxiety had dissipated. Now, a month later, she said that as a family they are all completely different people, mentally & emotionally, than they were here at Drum. Prior to coming to Drum, they had no issues either, & were all very happy, well adjusted folks. While at Drum, 3 members of that family were either on meds or in counseling.

This has led me to believe that Fort Drum, environmentally, is creating a community of depressed, anxious families, spouses & soldiers.

Every time I'm at the clinic, I'm handed a prescrip for Vitamin D, so I know our health care providers are aware of the environmental impact on our health.

But I believe the lack of sunshine, long winter, & isolated location also contribute to our constant need to complain. The army is in a no-win situation here - we can't change the weather.

I would like to see this issue discussed by the community - with ideas on how to realistically resolve or tackle it.

I think a state-of-the-art facility needs to be constructed that provides an indoor escape for soldiers & families that includes simulated sunshine, healthy food, sounds, smells, visuals, & activities.

I would also like to see the theater evolve into a "real" night out option for couples & soldiers. With winter keeping us indoors for many endless months, going to the movies is one of the few "warm" indoor activities that we have.

If you've been to a KINO in Germany, then you know you will find: comfy seating (that reclines), tables between or in front of your seat, warm attractive lighting & decor, coffee bar, even "bar" drinks, & t.v. feeds of the movies they are missing out on while they go get food and drinks. It's fantastic!

Why not put a restaurant/club down on the pond at Remington??

And: How about Fort Drum utilize their airport facilities & provide opportunities for ENVIRONMENTAL MORALE LEAVE?

Tackle the depression caused by mother nature, & I'm betting there will be less complaining, better attitudes, & more participation.

I think Command should have mandatory classes 1 x every 2 weeks 1hr class spliting groups up of 5 at there company or unit. The First Sgt demand it to be serious talk. Work out issues from bullies to depression. Have a list to go by.

Kuddo's to COL Penner for his remarks regarding the Military Providers. It absolutely drives me nuts to hear spouses bash the Military Health Care system. Like the previous poster said, if you don't like it, opt out of HealthNet and go to Martin's Point. Wait till your spouse is out of the Army and then see how much your healthcare costs.

I would love for more troops to come to Fort Drum!!! That may give us a better chance at selling our house. There are many things that are good at Drum but we want to move back south closer to our families. We do not get to see them much now. We will not be able to see them this summer because my husband is deployed and I'm working and the drive is just too far. I do NOT want to get stuck at Drum away from all our family just because we can't sell our house.

While I don’t have the facts involved with Jenn’s medical history and her perceived negative experience with her military providers, I can certainly see that she is a bit misinformed when it comes to the quality of our doctors. Statistics will show that unlike the private sector, historically about 85% of all military doctors are board certified. This is much higher than that of civilian providers nationally. Being “board certified” means the doctor has completed appropriate residency and experiential training and has been tested against national standards. This is a question you probably should ask all your private providers to ensure they are highly qualified. You’ll find many in the private sector that are “board eligible” and have been that way for years (sometimes decades) because they have either not passed the board examination or haven’t challenged the exams. For that fact, all military Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are also “board-certified.”

Jenn indicates that military provider quality is poor therefore they can’t get hired in the civilian sector. Fortunately, there is nothing remotely factual about this statement. The reality is that our providers are so well sought by the private sector that the Army struggles to retain them which is why so many of our doctors are highly recruited into high paying jobs around the nation and they leave the service early. This is also why we pay these professionals thousands of dollars of retention bonuses and have been doing so for decades in the hopes that we can retain them. Those that choose to leave the Army early find jobs months before they leave the service because quite honestly, they are both well trained and experienced and can pick any job in any place they want to work (as an example, 100% of my MEDDAC providers leaving this summer already have jobs lined up). We all have had some bad experience with a provider, it happens both in and out of the military. But for every one bad experience, we can detail hundreds of great experiences were there have been positive outcomes, family situations turned around and lives have been saved. Personally, when it comes to me, my wife and precious kids, I’d rather have a military physician (or one trained in the military) because after 27 years of being in the healthcare field, I know they have the credentials, experience and ability to do the job right --- they’ve earned my trust on and off the battlefield.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THE BLAST AT MILITARY DOCTORS? REALLY!?!
WHY IS IT, YOU CAN GO TO A CIVILIAN DOCTOR, WAIT 20 MINUTES ON THE PHONE TO MAKE THE CALL, 2 DAYS TO GET IN, 1 HOUR IN THE WAITING ROOM, AND IN THE END THEY ARE GODS!
BUT YOU WANT THE MILITARY DOCS TO ANSWER THE PHONE ON THE 2ND RING, SEE YOU THAT DAY, WAIT NO LONGER THAN 10 MINUTES AND BASICALLY WANT TO BE FLUFFED AND PATTED ALL THE WHILE.
WHY IS IT THAT YOU HOLD MILITARY DOCS TO A STANDARD THAT MOST CAN NOT MEET??
YES THERE ARE "BAD DOCS" OUT THERE, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. AND YES OCCASIONALLY A DOCTOR MAY BE STUMPED, BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN A STUMPED MILITARY DOC NOT CALL IN ANOTHER DOC FOR HELP. THAT IS A TRUE SIGN OF A GOOD DOC.

I THINK THE PEOPLE WHO TYPE THIS ARE SPOILED AND NEED TO SPEND A WEEK OR TWO IN THE CIVILIAN LIFE AND SEE HOW IT IS THERE, AND TO THOSE WHO ONLY WANT TO SEE CIVILIAN PROVIDERS, IT IS CALLED MARTIN'S POINT TRICARE, CHANGE YOUR TRICARE, CHANGE YOUR PCM, AND GO SEE CIVILIANS, BUT WAIT....WHAT WILL YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT THEN??

SIGNED
PROUD ARMY WIFE
PROUD ARMY PATIENT

I would like to hear the opinion of others about fellow motorcycle enthusiast in the communities around Fort Drum with which we are supposedly trying to build neighborly good working relationships, many that volunteer thier time and money supporting our Post as well as our Soldiers during deployment, to include members of the Fort Drum Mountain Warrior Riders Club not being allowed to participate in the ride on safety day (Rolling Thunder. Which a membership of approximately 60 soldiers (mostly deployed), civilians and family members, with a web site and an active forum (http://www.mountainwarriors.org). With a mission statement showing total support for Fort Drum which I will quote for your viewing pleasure. Yet Fort Drum cannot welcome them to ride with us?
Quoting from MWRC mission statement and bylaws:
"The MountainWarriors Riders Club is founded out of the Combat Readiness Center's Motorcycle Mentorship Program. Our focus is to give Soldiers, Soldier's Families, Retirees, DOD Civilians, and DOD Contractors a means to gather as a group for socialization, safety, and fun."
"The MWRC will seek to enhance the installation and community relationship through community service efforts and events by unifying and combining the unique and individual talents of the MWRC members."
One of the requirements for membership is adherence to all the Fort Drum regulations of motorcycle operation (PPE, Ridercourse completion, Fort Drum registration, etc.).
After Tom Wood advised that the Safety Office opened registration for motorcyclists to participate in the 2009 Mountain Thunder Run, several members of the club contacted the safety office to sign up, only to be turned down. The reason quoted per specific instructions of Mr. David Mushtare, is that the ride is only open to soldiers and civilian emploees who work on Fort Drum. This excludes any riders who are retired military and do not work on Fort Drum (even though they may have full privileges at Fort Drum), as well as family members who do not work on Fort Drum. And why is some overpaid civilian in a position to exclude my family member as an Active duty Soldier stationed here from participating? Am I the only one who feels this way?

I don't think that military doctors should be getting the abuse they are receiving. Most military doctors are good doctors they are just inhibited by different things. One thing which keeps these doctors from giving the same treatments as civilian doctors is there are a lot of soldiers who come to see them when there is nothing wrong. These soldiers use the excuse of seeing a doctor to get out of doing their job in the military. It gets hard for doctors to distinguish between the ones who are really hurt and those faking it. A civilian doctor also gets paid a lot more than military doctors and have a choice in who they see. Military doctors are overworked due to not having enough doctors. Military doctors go thru a lot more than Civilian doctors. Civilian doctors have a say in who they see and treat. I am not saying all military doctors are great doctors, but then all civilian doctors are not great either.

I'd like to hear something on the subject of the sham-rides so many of our un-fit malingering Soldiers are getting. We as an Army are letting these Soldiers who don't want to PT suck up the resources meant for legitimately hurt or sick Soldiers. This is clearly partially due to lax standards in diagnosing actual injury or chronic promblems. However the larger problem lies in our leaders' unwillingness to chapter Soldiers who don't want to try to meet the stadards set by today's Army. Each morning that I take every member of my platoon running, we see hundreds of these Soldiers out for a stroll, walking like they have no where to go and all day to get there. I know some of these Soldiers are actually hurt, but I know that it is only a tiny percentile. Most are overweight and simply don't want to try to meet the standards. Lets chapter these Soldiers and move towards a healthier, more effective Army.

Hydrocodone, Leaders need to be on the look out. Precriptions are being abused too many Soldiers are getting this for the pain that they may or may not have. They have a script to cover the urinalysis add alcohol and trouble isn't far behind.

i have one son.he is with the air force in bagram afb doing his job.if your there before sept say hello to timothy mcgovern and tell him his family is proud of him thank you

I agree with Garbage In, Garbage Out! So lets get Out ALL the Garbage green suiter docs, and Get Good Civilian Docs.

Sir,

I truly appreciate you caring enough to create a blog that our voices can be heard. I will be highly impressed when I start seeing our voices making a change. (Can't wait to get rid of that stupid beret). I would like to see a discussion about the infringment of biker rights, which forces us to attend a class on post prior to being allowed to operate our motorcycles on post. This is done regardless of our state drivers liscence having a motorcycle endorsement. However regular automobile operators are not required to complete a course before driving on post. And if you want to use statistiics, what percentage of the accidents occuring on post included motorcycles? The most recent census completed by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles was in 2007 showing 323,106 automobile vehicle accidents and 5,426 motorcycle accidents.

Ride to Glory!

MG Oates - I would like to thank you for participating in the 2009 MilBlog Conference. It was great to have you live from Iraq and we're grateful that you took the time out of your busy schedule to join us. Our attendees really enjoyed being able to speak with you. As Bob stated, there was a line out the door of people who had questions of you....

Thanks again, Sir.

Just to echo what Bob King said, I wanted to thank you for addressing the Milblog Conference this weekend. Don't want to just Ditto Bob, but the Army is so far out in front of the other branches, and it shows.

Thanks again General.

(From a CIB recipient from OEF)

Once upon a time, I heard about a Soldier who 'thought' they were recieving 'less' than stellar care.

As it turns out, the soldier was not telling the entire story of symtoms that they had. Years later, after getting seen for the same stuff they are finally getting the care they need.

Too often I hear about soldiers and family members complain about the care they recieve. And yet in the same breath they say that, "Oh by the way..."

It's like programming a computer... If you insert a bad program you are going to get garbage... If you insert a good program you are going to get what you need.

More to the point, get educated about your ailments... the internet is a good resource to begin to learn. Be open to what doctors might have to say. Keep a good attitude. There's only so many docs around here and there are lots of soldiers... give'em a brake!!!!!!!

Sorry to hear you are having such a rough time, it is normal. I don't know what unit your son is with but you should have a contact within his unit as part of the FRG (Family Readiness Group) that you can speak with or you can contact me at karamyers3@hotmail.com and I would be glad to talk with you. Things will get better!

Here’s 10 Topics—

1. For those serving in OIF/OEF or recently re-deployed—what is the best training you received? What was a waste of your time?
2. Services on post—list one good service on post and one bad service. Where do you go or where to avoid these services? What makes them good/bad (medical/financial/rude person in Clark Hall etc).
3. Social Life—what are the best places for single Soldiers? What are the best places to go for married people with kids around here. Keep it to a 150 mile (or under pass request radius).
4. Army Benefits—-what are good benefits, what are a waste? If the Army could add a benefit, what would it be? Assuming the Army received no extra money for this new benefit—what would you recommend getting cancelled to pay for it?
5. What can make a deployment more bearable? ie--multiple leave periods, more free phone time, more/less activities, mandatory passes during a period of time so they are actually taken, etc?
6. If the Army were to reduce the money it spends in the “cruise ship” style mess halls on big FOBs, and use that for something else to boost morale on deployments—what could it be?
7. How effective do you think the current 3 phase Suicide Prevention Training Has Been? What if anything should be done to improve it?
8. What is your rank and how long is your work day? Tied to that—on a scale from one to ten, how satisfied are you with your career?
9. If there was one thing you could change to make the Army a better organization—what would it be?
10. For off-post Soldiers: where are decent places to live? Buy or rent and why? For on-post Soldiers—name one thing that can be improved and one thing that should be sustained.

Dear Bloggers,

I am in search of someone who can help get through the deployment blues. I am a mess. I can't sleep or think straight, & I cry all of the time. SOS!
AJSMAMA

I would love to see a discussion about military "doctors". I know from years of being around other military wives and their families that I am not the only one fed up with the less than stellar "care" that we receive... I have often said people on welfare receive better care than us. That is because they get to see civilian doctors. They are not stuck with "crackerjack doctor's" who's only goal is to move up higher in the ranks. As I have said before, I cannot attest to how military "doctor's" are with war related injuries, (I have heard they are pretty good) but with everything else they are useless. When I call the clinic I ask for a civilian doctor, if one is not available that day, I just keep calling everyday after until one is available. There is only so many times a person can hear from a military "doctor", "Sorry, I don't know what is wrong with you. Here is some Motrin". A friend of mine who was serving in the Army went on sick call at least once a week with the same complaints. The fools who saw her were trying to convince her that her ailments were all in her head. When her time was up in the Army she saw a civilian doctor, he discovered that she had cervical cancer. She had it for over a year. Her husband sued, rightfully so. The only problem I have with him suing is the fact that the morons who saw his wife will not be penalized for their neglect in any way. They are free to go on neglecting other patients. After years with migraines, I finally saw a civilian doctor who ordered an MRI. That MRI showed a sinus infection and a cyst the size of a quarter. Unfortunately, my follow-up appointment was with a Lt.Colonel. She told me the infection was no big deal. She didn't bother to mention the cyst growing in my right sinuses. A cyst so big, the civilian doctor who performed laser surgery to treat the infection and the cyst, had to cut it out of me. This was discovered two years later when I finally saw another civilian doctor. A doctor who was disgusted by the incompetence of the Lt. Colonel, as well as the other countless Army "doctors" I saw. I don't have respect for them. I don't think I ever will. I would rather seek medical attention from a stranger on the street than a military "doctor". Odds are a stranger with no medical training would be more helpful.

(Moderator Comment: This comment was edited in accordance with the Blog Comment Policy)

Sir,

How about a discussion as to why your 2-star HQ can get a curtailment and only do a 12 month deployment, but the 41st Fires BDE can be promised by COL Francey that they would be home by the middle of June, yet now a press release comes out that says they will all have to serve 15 months, do your 2 stars mean special priviliges and the other soldiers on the ground get screwed? For a war that is drawing down it makes no sense to keep these guys over there, all my husband talks about is giving out school supplies, where is that helping us? My kids want their dad to give them some school supplies, I can't wait for him to be able to leave the Army

MG Oates - Thanks for your support and virtual appearance at yesterday's Military Bloggers Conference. The room was packed, with people standing up in the back, during your VTC. But that description does not do justice to the energy and excitement in the room. Your leadership and "getting out there" in using this type of communication is truly motivating.

To answer your question, "What topics would you like to see me post here for discussion?", I'll pose here a variation of what I asked you yesterday - how can we change Army policies and directives so people do not feel like they are "coloring outside the lines" when doing something like this?

It was readily apparent yesterday that some Soldiers still feel they must "blog anonymously" or that their commanders would not support what they are doing. Leaders like you, LTG Caldwell, GEN Chiarelli and others "get it", but many still do not. Right now it's personality dependent, and a program like this - or like the blogs at Fort Leavenworth - can go away as fast as they stood up if not institutionalized.

I was somewhat disappointed at the lack of senior leadership - across all of the services and interagency - at yesterday's conference. You were down range, in a combat zone and found the time to appear virtually.

Perhaps they were not invited, as was suggested by someone else I talked to. But most of those present, including me, were not specifically invited either - we attended because we recognize the importance and believe in the mission.

Video Clip (52 sec) from yesterday's VTC:
http://www.vimeo.com/4337009

Archived Twitter Feed of #milblog Conference:
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23milblog

V/R
Bob King
Instructor, U.S. Army CGSC

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