Guaranteed Jobs In The Military

The Navy offers two programs: Guaranteed Job, and Undesignated Seaman. While both programs are available, most enlist under the Guaranteed Job program. Whether or not you will be offered the job you want depends upon your qualifications, and the needs of the service. Undesignated Seaman can "strike" for a job after basic training. The Navy also has some "special" enlistment programs whereby you can enlist knowing what "area" you are going into, but not your specific rating (job). An example would be the Nuclear Program. These programs generally require higher ASVAB line scores, and require a longer service commitment, but offer accelerated promotions, greater training opportunities, and higher enlistment bonuses.

The Air Force has two enlistment options: Guaranteed Job, and Guaranteed Aptitude Area. Under the "Guaranteed Job" program, the applicant is guaranteed training in a specific AFSC (Air Force Job). Under the Guaranteed Aptitude program, the applicant is guaranteed that he/she will be selected for a job that falls into one of the designated aptitude areas. The Air Force has divided all of their jobs into four aptitude areas (General, Electronic, Mechanical, and Administrative). It is unfortunate, but true that a majority of Air Force jobs (approximately 60 percent) are are reserved for individuals joining under the Guaranteed Aptitude program. Therefore, many of the available jobs are not released to the Air Force Jobs Counselor at MEPS. Instead, they are "reserved" and offered to recruits in basic training, who enlisted under the Guaranteed Aptitude Program.

Of all of the services, The Coast Guard offers the fewest guaranteed jobs. One normally enlists in the Coast Guard, undesignated, then "strikes" for a job after a period of on-the-job training in "basic coastguardmanship" at their first duty station. A few schools (and therefore jobs) are offered during basic training. While this system may seem (on the surface) disadvantageous, there is something to be said about having the chance to spend some time scoping out the situation "on the job," before deciding what job you're going to "strike" for.

The Army is the only service that offers a guaranteed job (MOS) to everyone. The Army has no such thing as an "open" or "undesignated" enlistment. However, the MOS's (jobs) offered to you, might not be the one(s) you wanted. It depends upon your qualifications and what jobs have current/projected openings. If the job you want is not available, your only choices are to choose a different job, or not enlist.

The Marines offer two basic enlistment programs: Guaranteed Job, and general field. Very, very few Marine applicants get a guaranteed job (mostly those with college degrees or extremely high ASVAB scores, applying for certain, designated technical specialties). A vast majority of Marines are enlisted in a general field (such as Avionics), and will have their actual job (MOS) designated during basic training. One must remember, in the Marines, one is expected to want to be a MARINE, first & foremost. MOS (job) is a distant second.

Japan Promises Fewer U.S. Troops

Japan's prime minister promised to reduce the number of U.S. troops stationed on Okinawa as he marked the 60th anniversary of the bloody battle there. Junichiro Koizumi attended a memorial service Thursday at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Kyodo News Service reported. "The concentration of U.S. military facilities is still a big burden on the lives of residents of the prefecture," Koizumi said. About 200,000 people died in the three-month battle of Okinawa, with resistance ending on June 23, 1945. Koizumi said he is negotiating with the U.S. government on cutting the number of bases on Okinawa while maintaining the presence needed in a post-Cold War world.

New Air Force Utility Uniform Design

The Air Force finalized the design of their proposed new utility uniform.The Air Force has pretty much finalized the design of their proposed new utility uniform. Blue and green tiger stripes are out; the digitized pattern with subdued green, tan, blue and gray is in. After reviewing more than 150,000 bits of feedback throughout the initial seven-month wear test of the proposed utility uniform, Air Force leaders recently decided to eliminate the original color scheme and conduct a limited field test of the new pattern. This field test will be conducted by Special operations and survival, evasion, resistance and escape Airmen, who will conduct a limited wear test of the new design at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Hurlburt Field, Fla., and Fairchild AFB, Wash., in June. “The sole purpose of the test will be to see if we can add any features to the uniform to make it a better uniform in the field and to determine if the new colors (and) pattern provide camouflage protection they need in the field,” said Senior Master Sgt. Dana Athnos, Air Force uniform board superintendent. Airmen who participated in the initial wear test stopped wearing the more vibrant blue-green uniform March 1. The original wear test involved more than 700 Airmen at 32 bases worldwide who kept detailed daily logs annotating likes, dislikes and wash-and-wear problems. They also completed three surveys. “Throughout the test, Air Force leaders actively solicited feedback from testers and observers alike to ensure this uniform developed into one that fit the needs of today’s Airmen,” Sergeant Athnos said. “There were several avenues for feedback, ensuring that the (Air Force) chief of staff had realistic facts when making the final decision on the uniform,” she said. Those avenues included a survey sent to 45,000 Airmen, a Web site and direct e-mail to the uniform board. “Some comments were positive, some were negative -- all of them were provided directly to the chief of staff,” Sergeant Athnos said. The new uniforms are going to cost more -- about $70.00 per set, compared to the current $50.65 - $53.05 for current Battle Dress Uniforms. However, airmen are expected to save money in the long run. In a recent interview, Air Force Chief of Staff General John Jumper estimated that airmen spend an average of $21 million per year in dry cleaning costs and removing and replacing organizational patches. The new uniform is wash and wear, and organization patches will no longer be allowed. The only items which will be sewn onto the uniform are rank insignia, the Air Force and name tapes, and a functional area (job) badge, worn above the Air Force tape.

Some of the features of the new uniform are:
*numerical sizes to fit
*button-fly pants with three inches of elastic on the sides
*more storage pockets
*fewer patches
*no-shine boots
*nylon and cotton twill, rip-stop, wash and wear material
The uniform is scheduled to be procured in mid-2005, officials said. Airmen can expect to purchase the uniform sometime in fiscal 2007. The proposed uniform will be phased in over four or five years before they become mandatory for wear. When the new uniform is made mandatory, annual clothing allowances will be readjusted to reflect the new cost.

The Future Of Air Combat

The Boeing X-45A J-UCAS (Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems) program received the prestigious Flight International Aerospace Industry Award for 2005 in the category of Missiles and Military Aviation.Held in conjunction with the Paris Air Show, the awards cover twelve categories representing military and commercial aerospace. Darryl Davis, program manager during the majority of the X-45A flight test program, and now vice president of Boeing Global Strike Solutions, accepted the award on behalf of the Boeing/DARPA/Air Force/Navy J-UCAS team. “We met the challenge to develop an autonomous unmanned aircraft capable of handling complex combat missions,” said Davis. “We’ve set a very high mark in the unmanned arena and I believe that together with our DARPA, Air Force, and Navy teammates we’ve charted a clear path for the future.” Ever since its first flight on May 22, 2002 the X-45A has accumulated a series of unprecedented aviation milestones. As the first autonomous unmanned aircraft designed from inception for weapons capability, the X-45A has ushered in a new era of aviation. The two X-45A demonstrators have flown coordinated simulated combat missions and recently surpassed 52 total flights. Also acknowledged during the awards ceremony was George Muellner, vice president and general manager of Boeing Air Force Systems. Muellner was president of Boeing Phantom Works when the X-45A program was initiated. “This award also recognizes Boeing’s advanced research and development organization, Phantom Works, which has been tasked to take on high-risk projects and bring them to fruition,” said Muellner. “Clearly, the X-45A is an excellent example of concept development and flight test, followed by a seamless transition to our Air Force Systems business unit.” During its remarkable flight test program, the X-45A:

* Flew with a T-33 X-45A surrogate aircraft to successfully demonstrate integration of an unmanned X-45A with a manned aircraft in air-traffic-controlled airspace.

* Demonstrated the first autonomous release of a 250-pound inert Small Smart Bomb, which scored a direct hit from an altitude of 25,000 feet.
Operated together with another X-45A unmanned aircraft, under the control of a single pilot-operator in a coordinated flight, successfully completing the first ever multiple air vehicle control flight demonstration.

* Demonstrated increased sophistication in a test where two X-45As departed in succession and entered coordinated flight over the test range. The air vehicles flew successfully in several different multi-vehicle flight configurations, verifying their ability to autonomously enter and exit in coordinated flight based on pre-identified points.

* Confirmed “beyond-line-of-sight” control after an autonomous takeoff from Edwards AFB, with an X-45A controlled by a pilot-operator in Seattle, Wash., nearly 900 miles away using UHF SATCOM.

* Demonstrated dual vehicle flight mission capability in February 2005 when two X-45As flew a simulated combat mission during their ‘milestone’ 50th flight. The X-45As flew a simulated combat air patrol profile and determined how to deal with pop-up ground threats in a reactive Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses mission.

Under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contract, Boeing is currently building three larger X-45C aircraft capable of cruising at 0.85 Mach at 40,000 feet, with a 4,500-pound payload. The ‘C’ version will have an increased mission radius of 1,300 nautical miles. Future mission scenarios could evolve with unmanned aircraft complementing manned strike aircraft. Unmanned aircraft would be capable of eliminating preplanned targets as well as previously unknown threats, clearing the path for manned aircraft and thus saving lives and assuring mission success.

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Israeli's Sonic Blaster

Israel is considering using an unusual new weapon against Jewish settlers who resist this summer's Gaza Strip evacuation - a device that emits penetrating bursts of sound that leaves targets reeling with dizziness and nausea. Security forces could employ the weapon to overcome resistance without resorting to force, their paramount aim. But experts warn that the effects of prolonged exposure are unknown. The Army employed the new device, which it dubbed "The Scream," at a recent violent demonstration by Palestinians and Jewish sympathizers against Israel's West Bank separation barrier. Protesters covered their ears and grabbed their heads, overcome by dizziness and nausea, after the vehicle-mounted device began sending out bursts of audible, but not loud, sound at intervals of about 10 seconds. An Associated Press photographer at the scene said that even after he covered his ears, he continued to hear the sound ringing in his head. A military official said the device emits a special frequency that targets the inner ear. Exposure for several minutes at close range could cause auditory damage, but the noise is too intolerable for people to remain in the area for that long.

Support Rising for Near-Space Blimps

Good news, blimp boys: the Air Force is slowly starting to line up behind a plan to put airships on the edge of the atmosphere. According to Inside Defense, a 90-day Air Force study has concluded that there would be "military utility" in putting blimps, balloons, and drones in near space -- between 65,000 and 350,000 above sea level. Up there, they could serve as cheap substitutes for satellites, relaying communications and snooping on foes. They might be able to carry equipment, effectively becoming giant U-Hauls in the sky. And this could be done, at least in the balloons' case, without "significantly strainexisting infrastructure or requir large amounts of equipment or personnel to operate the balloons," Inside Defense says. The Air Force has conducted a number of near space demonstrations in recent months. Three tests, carried out last November, December and January, placed tactical radios on balloons, which then operated between 65,000 and 80,000 feet above sea level... In March, the Air Force Space Battlelab conducted a proof of concept demonstration for a radio relay system with Combat SkySat I in Arizona. That [system] can now be used in theater operations [places like Iraq, in otherwords]. SkySat II, which the service hopes to test in FY-06 [fiscal year 2006], will demonstrate a payload return system. Such a system would permit heavier, more expensive and more sensitive payloads than were placed on the SkySat I, which utilized payloads that were destroyed after leaving the coverage area.

Japan, U.S. See Base Deal By Year-End

Japan Defense Agency Director General Yoshinori Ono reached a basic agreement with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to achieve a deal on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan by the end of this year. In a meeting held in a hotel in Singapore, Ono and Rumsfeld also agreed to release as soon as possible an interim report on the sharing of security roles by the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. troops. Ono told reporters after the meeting that the report could be issued in one or two months. During the meeting, the defense chief said that as it would take time to gain the understanding and support of communities hosting U.S. bases for the realignment plans, it would be difficult for Japan to incorporate specific plans in the report for the redeployment of U.S. miliary bases. He also asked the U.S to work toward reducing the burden on local governments, particularly in Okinawa Prefecture, saying it was very important to do so.Japan Defense Agency Director General Yoshinori OnoA high-ranking defense official said Ono reiterated his call for the burden to be lightened on Okinawa because failure to do so when U.S. forces were realigned would spark anti-U.S sentiment, making it difficult to ensure a prolonged stay for U.S. troops. Rumsfeld cautioned against reducing U.S. troops in Okinawa, saying maintaining a military deterrent was essential. However, Rumsfeld also cited the importance of understanding, cooperation and support from local governments, saying the redeployment of U.S forces had to lighten the burden on the communities affected while meeting the demands of the security environment in the 21st century. He said the U.S. government spent about 3.2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense--about three times Japan's level of spending. Regarding the role-sharing of SDF and U.S. troops on the basis of common strategic objectives agreed in a two-plus-two security meeting in February, Ono praised Japan-U.S. cooperation in helping victims of the Dec. 26 Asian tsunami. "We have to keep in touch with each other regarding contingencies. Now the contingency law has been passed, Japan can speed up talks on cooperation," he said. Rumsfeld said the U.S. government greatly appreciated Japan's cooperation in rebuilding Iraq and the fight on terrorism, saying Japan's contribution was important. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

WE Keep Gutting Our Own Military! And Here We Go Again

A Marine Corps lieutenant cleared of murder charges for riddling two Iraqis with bullets and hanging a warning sign on their corpses says he now plans to ask for a discharge. Second Lt. Ilario Pantano said Thursday his fight against the charges was tiring and heartbreaking. The former Wall Street trader had returned to the Marines after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. "This is the best thing for my family, and I think it is the best thing for the Marine Corps, too," he said. Pantano, 33, did not deny shooting the men or hanging the sign that said, "No better friend, no worse enemy," a Marine slogan. But Pantano said he shot them in self-defense after the men disobeyed his instructions and made a menacing move toward him. Last week, Maj. Gen. Richard Huck, commander of the 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune, dropped the charges against Pantano. His action had been recommended by a Marine officer who presided over the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing.

If we keep running our Brave Volunteer Defenders out of the Military for doing thier job, Sooner or later we will have to go after people who do NOT want to protect our country to fill those positions or start studying the koran.

2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano in Fallujah last year.

Senators Threaten To Subpoena The Defense Department

Two senators said Saturday that they plan to subpoena Defense Department documents on base realignment and closure recommendations if Pentagon officials do not hand them over willingly. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., the chairwoman and ranking member on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said they have had no success with "repeated requests" to the Defense Department. On Friday, the senators sent a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld again demanding the documents. They also wrote to President Bush, asking for his assistance gaining the release of the papers. The senators say members of the BRAC commission and congressional staffers need the Pentagon documents in order to thoroughly examine - and perhaps challenge - the realignment and closure recommendations. A spokeswoman for Collins said Tuesday that Defense officials have promised to hand over some documents in the near future. The spokeswoman said that congressional staffers will review those documents and decide whether they are sufficient. The senators might still be compelled to issue a subpoena, she added. Defense spokesman Glen Flood said that BRAC documents would soon be available to members of Congress. "The bottom line is that this evening or by tomorrow, we will have a special location somewhere," Flood said Tuesday. Lawmakers, congressional staffers with security clearances and members of the BRAC commission "can go and look at that information." Flood said that Defense officials "will continue to do a security review and hopefully by the end of the week, we will make that information available to the public." Collins and Lieberman represent states that would be among the hardest hit by the base realignment and closure process. Under the plan, Connecticut would lose 8,586 civilian and military jobs, and Maine would lose 6,938. The senators demanded a wide range of data, including "e-mails, memoranda, spreadsheets, analyses, raw data, handwritten notes and telephone logs," according to a press release. The letter to Rumsfeld said the Pentagon is legally obliged to turn over the information. "We are writing to demand that the Department of Defense comply with its statutory obligation to disclose to Congress all the information underlying its recent recommendations for military base closures and realignments," Collins and Lieberman wrote. They said that the 1990 BRAC legislation allows Congress access to "all information used by the secretary to prepare the recommendations". The letter said that if the Pentagon remains in violation of the law, the committee will investigate the Defense Department and subpoena the relevant documents. The senators said also that the delay in providing the information is hurting the chances that bases in New England will be removed from the BRAC list. They alleged that recent visits by the BRAC Commission to sites in New England are incomplete without the Pentagon data. "The integrity of the BRAC process depends on the release of these documents," the senators said. "In addition, it is unfair to bases that have early visits from BRAC commissioners, such as those in Connecticut and Maine, to not have immediate data available to them." Senators Susan Collins and Joseph Lieberman