I was in an army that did this

This Ain’t Hell www.thisainthell.us links to the Army Times article ‘Army memo: Soldiers to replace contractors for dining, security services’ with subhead ‘Leaders target civilian contractor services to save money, keep soldiers busy’

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20131016/NEWS05/310160034/Army-memo-Soldiers-replace-contractors-dining-security-services

Used to, I got somewhat p(erturbed) every time I saw an Army stakebed truck easing along a highway on post and Soldiers picking up trash from the roadside. I was in the National Guard back in the day when the Regular Army was starting to get lots and lots of money and M1 tanks and M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle(s) and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. With all that money for weapons systems, I wondered why the Army didn’t spend some of it making jobs for out-of-work civilians while Soldiers polished and honed their MOS jobs. I had thought the same back in 1964-68, when I wore a uniform every day.

Back in that day, Soldiers “manning dining facilities” were cooks or KPS, and Soldiers “performing security guard duties” were on a guard roster from individual units. The Army Times article suggests adoption of a new “keep the troops busy” program will take Soldiers from their units and put them into permanent KP and/or guard duty.

Wonder where these KPs and guards will come from? Data processing units? Intelligence units? Vehicle maintenance units?

Or – The Poor Bloody Infantry.

No voting necessary. I think we know the answer.

And that “keep soldiers busy” stuff – If you have good NCOs, Soldiers will be “kept busy.” At their jobs.