God Bless the Ignorant--They'll need it

[BrianFromWA]

It's funny, but they do. There was a study (Navy-wide, so I can't speak to Marines or National Guard or anything) that for 8% of the cost of an Active Duty billet, you can have a reservist that does 23% of the mission b/c you don't have to pay for housing, medical, etc. unless they're actually doing their mission. That diminishes the more that they're used (you can't just have 4 reservists split the active-duty billet for 1/3rd the cost) but the reserves are a really good deal for Navy commanders.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Maybe they ought to enlist full-time?

Navy's downsizing. They're not keeping the ones who HAVE enlisted full-time. And some are like me--they did active duty for a while and got out for whatever reason to join the reserves.

 

[Denny Crane]

Kinda OT, but what do you think of Hagel as Secy. of Defense?

 

[DaLincolnJones]

It's funny, but they do. There was a study (Navy-wide, so I can't speak to Marines or National Guard or anything) that for 8% of the cost of an Active Duty billet, you can have a reservist that does 23% of the mission b/c you don't have to pay for housing, medical, etc. unless they're actually doing their mission. That diminishes the more that they're used (you can't just have 4 reservists split the active-duty billet for 1/3rd the cost) but the reserves are a really good deal for Navy commanders.

interesting..I could understand in a peace time Navy, but when most reserve units say for the army are active and deployed on and off over the past decade..hmm, ok , so they save while not deployed..I get it..

 

[BrianFromWA]

Kinda OT, but what do you think of Hagel as Secy. of Defense?

I don't think he'd ever have made it under an (R) (say, if Romney won) but he's one of the guys who's both smart and used to wear a uniform. I don't know a ton about him, but I'm almost in the anyone-so-long-as-Panetta-leaves camp. I would've liked to have seen Norm Dicks play a role in DoD (maybe not as Secretary).

He's going to go along with defense budget cuts, which as I've said before I'm for (and the military's been planning for). The problem I had was that they weren't being planned or implemented in any kind of systematic or logical process, or with any strategy for the next 20-30 years in mind. Hopefully a guy who's worn the uniform AND been in various business and political capacities would have a better B.S. meter. Or maybe he'll roll over for the President. I don't know enough to tell.