WASHINGTON — Only a quarter of the Army’s officers and enlisted soldiers believe the nation’s largest military branch is headed in the right direction — a survey response that is the lowest on record and reflects what some in the service call a crisis in confidence.
The detailed annual survey by a team of independent researchers found that the most common reasons cited for the bleak outlook were “ineffective leaders at senior levels,” a fear of losing the best and the brightest after a decade of war, and the perception, especially among senior enlisted soldiers, that “the Army is too soft” and lacks sufficient discipline.
The study, ordered by the Center for Army Leadership at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, also found that one in four troops serving in Afghanistan rated morale either “low” or “very low,” part of a steady downward trend over the last five years.
But the most striking finding is widespread disagreement with the statement that “the Army is headed in the right direction to prepare for the challenges of the next 10 years.”
“In 2011, [active duty] agreement to this statement hit an all-time low,” according to the survey results, a copy of which were provided to The Boston Globe. “Belief that the Army is headed in the right direction is positively related to morale.”
In 2010, about 33 percent of those surveyed didn’t agree with the statement; the number was 38 percent in 2006.
The apparent lack of confidence poses a new set of challenges to the Army as it undergoes budget cuts and shrinks its ranks. The Army’s top officer, General Raymond T. Odierno, says he is taking the findings to heart.
“It is very important for us to be introspective, and we are committed to continual self-assessment,” Odierno told the Army Times newspaper in a statement.
A major concern that the survey identified was whether the Army would be able to keep top-notch leaders as it cuts its ranks, as well as fears it would be stretched too thin to meet unforeseen demands. Junior officers were particularly concerned about retaining good leaders.
The active-duty Army, which is currently about 570,000 strong, is preparing to reduce its ranks by about 90,000 soldiers in the coming years, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down and the Pentagon budget is subject to a government-wide belt-tightening.
“Comments on downsizing the force reflected concerns by leaders that troop reductions would significantly impact the Army’s ability to respond to future conflicts,” the study’s authors wrote.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -
Soldiers killed themselves at a higher monthly rate in July than any other since detailed statistics have been kept on the issue, the U.S. Army said Thursday.
A total of 38 confirmed or suspected suicides were counted by the Army last month in a tally that took into account both active and non-active duty soldiers who serve in the Army National Guard or Reserve. Three of those active duty soldiers were deployed at the time of their death.
Prior to the announcement, the highest monthly level suicide rate for soldiers was 33 in the months of June 2010 and July 2011 according to statistics released by the Army.
"Suicide is the toughest enemy I have faced in my 37 years in the Army. And it's an enemy that's killing not just Soldiers, but tens of thousands of Americans every year," Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army said in a written statement. "That said, I do believe suicide is preventable. To combat it effectively will require sophisticated solutions aimed at helping individuals to build resiliency and strengthen their life coping skills."
To date, the Army has confirmed 120 suicides for both active and non-active duty soldiers in 2012 with 67 other deaths suspected as suicides, but still under investigation. Twenty-five of those were attributed to soldiers who did not have any previous deployments. The Army reported 242 suicides in 2009, 305 in 2010 and 283 in 2011.
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told a Congressional committee last month that the U.S. military was facing an "epidemic" of suicides, and was in need of improvements in mental health services for active duty and returning troops.
In his statement, Austin noted that with Suicide Prevention Month in September, the Army must also continue to address the stigma associated with mental health issues in the service. "Ultimately, we want the mindset across our Force and society at large to be that behavioral health is a routine part of what we do and who we are as we strive to maintain our own physical and mental wellness," he said.
The White House lifted a ban last year on the sending of condolence letters from the president to the families of service members who commit suicide. It reversed a policy in place by previous administrations that had come under intense criticism as the country entered into its 10th year of war.
"This issue is emotional, painful, and complicated," President Barack Obama said last July when the policy was changed. "But these Americans served our nation bravely. ... We need to do everything in our power to honor their service, and to help them stay strong for themselves, for their families and for our nation."
California's attorney general sued a major veterans charity on Thursday, accusing the officers and directors of engaging in self-dealing and fraudulent fundraising, and paying excessive compensation.
The suit seeks to remove the officers and recover $4.3 million that it claims was improperly diverted from Help Hospitalized Veterans. The charity in Winchester, Calif., was founded in 1971 to provide therapeutic arts and craft activities for patients receiving care in Veterans Affairs hospitals, military hospitals and state veterans homes, according to its website.
"What makes this case so egregious is our military servicemen and women are willing to sacrifice their lives for our country and for us as Americans, and when they are in need of help and support we should give it to them and not manipulate charitable people and then personally profit from them," state Attorney General Kamala D. Harris told The Associated Press.
The charity raised more than $108 million in contributions over the last three years, it said in tax filings and on its website, with 33.8 percent going toward its programs. The suit alleges that it filed "false and misleading" tax returns that inflated program expenses and reduced its actual fundraising costs to "less than 30 percent."
Based on its reported fundraising, Help Hospitalized Veterans ranks among the top 1 percent of charities in the United States. The group once was endorsed by retired Gen. Tommy Franks, who later distanced himself from the charity.
At the same time, it has ranked for more than a decade at the bottom of lists by watchdog groups that rate nonprofit organizations based on their financial management and abilities to use most of their donations toward their causes. CharityWatch says about 35 percent of Help Hospitalized Veterans' funds go toward programs to aid veterans. The recommended standard is about 65 percent.
The California lawsuit said the charity's president, Michael Lynch, received excessive compensation of $900,000.
The complaint said that former president Roger Chapin, who during a 2008 U.S. congressional hearing about his management of the charity called himself the "the most honest person in this room," retired the following year with a nearly $2 million pension plan. The suit alleges that the group's board members retroactively spiked Chapin's earnings to justify the inflated amount for his retirement.
Chapin is also accused of diverting the charity's funds through a separate charity called Conquer Cancer and Alzheimer's Now.
Chapin was accused of paying himself more than $493,000 from the cancer charity. That charity received the money from American Target Advertising, a fund-raising firm run by conservative political fundraiser Richard Viguerie, who is not named in the suit.
Evening, comrades!
I gasted my flabber whilst phone-banking this evening. I had the best call of the night.
Did you know that the US Ambassador to Spain and Andorra maintains a home in Weston, MA? Well, I spoke to his wife this evening and they're voting for my candidate!
The plane of the U.S. chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, was damaged by enemy fire on the Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan, causing minor damage to the C-17 plane and leaving two American members of the ground crew with minor injuries from shrapnel, according to U.S. officials.
The plane was empty on the tarmac at Bagram when an unspecified projectile struck nearby overnight, and Dempsey's trip to Afghanistan was not affected, according to the Pentagon. The top U.S. military officer was safe in his quarters when the incident occurred.
Quote by TriSec:
Reposting from last night:
Evening, comrades!
I gasted my flabber whilst phone-banking this evening. I had the best call of the night.
Did you know that the US Ambassador to Spain and Andorra maintains a home in Weston, MA? Well, I spoke to his wife this evening and they're voting for my candidate!
Quote by Raine:
Paul Rieckhoff just posted this:The plane of the U.S. chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, was damaged by enemy fire on the Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan, causing minor damage to the C-17 plane and leaving two American members of the ground crew with minor injuries from shrapnel, according to U.S. officials.
The plane was empty on the tarmac at Bagram when an unspecified projectile struck nearby overnight, and Dempsey's trip to Afghanistan was not affected, according to the Pentagon. The top U.S. military officer was safe in his quarters when the incident occurred.
"I'm going to throw it out there. You also have the black-white dynamic and the majority of Redskins fans are white. And it’s just human nature, if you’re white to root for the white guy," Bayless contended. "It just happens in sports. Just like the black community will root for the black quarterback. I'm for the black guy. I'm just saying, I don't like the dynamic for RG3. It could stunt his growth in the NFL."
Quote by Raine:
WTF?Doucheblast."I'm going to throw it out there. You also have the black-white dynamic and the majority of Redskins fans are white. And it’s just human nature, if you’re white to root for the white guy," Bayless contended. "It just happens in sports. Just like the black community will root for the black quarterback. I'm for the black guy. I'm just saying, I don't like the dynamic for RG3. It could stunt his growth in the NFL."
Quote by TriSec:
Healthcare news...ACA is bleeding the industry dry.
The following plans all do business in this Commonwealth:
FCHP reported net income of $4.3 million on revenue of $287 million. Our net income includes investment income of $1.6 million and operating income of $2.7 million. For the same quarter last year, FCHP posted net income of $13.6 million on revenue of $285 million. Membership was 208,366 as of June 30, 2012, compared with 207,791 ending June 30, 2011.
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care had net income of $5.9 million, down from $13.5 million for the same quarter last year, on revenue of $701.3 million. Operating income was $1.6 million compared to $7.2 million a year earlier. HPHC membership as of June 30 was 1,184,000.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and BCBSMA HMO Blue reported a combined after-tax net income of $28.3 million, down from a net income of $76.5 million for second quarter 2011. Operating income was $8 million compared to $7.7 million last year. Blue Cross membership has held steady for the past year at approximately 2.8 million.
Tufts Health Plan reported a net income of $2.3 million for the second quarter, down from a net income of $35.9 million for the same quarter last year. An operating loss of $2.5 million was offset by investment income of $4.8 million. Tufts membership as of June 30 was 991,000.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
WTF?Doucheblast."I'm going to throw it out there. You also have the black-white dynamic and the majority of Redskins fans are white. And it’s just human nature, if you’re white to root for the white guy," Bayless contended. "It just happens in sports. Just like the black community will root for the black quarterback. I'm for the black guy. I'm just saying, I don't like the dynamic for RG3. It could stunt his growth in the NFL."
who the freak is Skip Bayless? Does he even know anything about DC and the Redskins?
Quote by Raine:ESPN dude who also has a hardon for Tebow.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
WTF?Doucheblast."I'm going to throw it out there. You also have the black-white dynamic and the majority of Redskins fans are white. And it’s just human nature, if you’re white to root for the white guy," Bayless contended. "It just happens in sports. Just like the black community will root for the black quarterback. I'm for the black guy. I'm just saying, I don't like the dynamic for RG3. It could stunt his growth in the NFL."
who the freak is Skip Bayless? Does he even know anything about DC and the Redskins?
Quote by Raine:
That is really interesting.
is that internal info or is there a place where peeps can read that??
Quote by TriSec:
Reposting from last night:
Evening, comrades!
I gasted my flabber whilst phone-banking this evening. I had the best call of the night.
Did you know that the US Ambassador to Spain and Andorra maintains a home in Weston, MA? Well, I spoke to his wife this evening and they're voting for my candidate!
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:
That is really interesting.
is that internal info or is there a place where peeps can read that??
I don't know where the source is; this came from our company newsletter. The financials are public information of course.
Quote by wickedpam:
apparently. DC just wants a winning football team, don't think they about the color of their players.
Quote by Scoopster:
Oh yeah.. the doc told me something really odd - there's a chance health insurance pays for part or all of a monthly gym membership?!
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all..![]()
Well the doctor's visit yesterday was fairly quick & routine, with a lot of discussion about what comes next. I still have to go back to have a blood workup, plus I'm waiting for a call from the sleep center to fit me in, and I got a referral for a nutritionist to help work on the weight problem (it's gotten way out of control since the last time you guys saw me, more than I thought).
Quote by Scoopster:
Oh yeah.. the doc told me something really odd - there's a chance health insurance pays for part or all of a monthly gym membership?!
Quote by Scoopster:
Rep. Akin's comments are suicidal in the political arena. That's why every other politician is keeping miles away from him.
The same can't be said for the chauvinistic douchebags at the AFA.
“Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin’s statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape,’’ a Romney campaign spokeswoman, Amanda Henneberg, wrote.
The Republican Party is once again set to enshrine into its official platform support for "a human life amendment" to the Constitution that would outlaw abortion without making explicit exemptions for rape or incest, according to draft language of the platform obtained exclusively by CNN late Monday.
(snip)
The party will reaffirm its opposition to federally-funded embryonic stem cell research and demand that the government "not fund or subsidize health care which includes abortion coverage."
Republicans have also inserted a "salute" to states pushing "informed consent" laws - an apparent reference to ultrasound bills that have moved through some state legislatures - "mandatory waiting periods prior to an abortion, and health-protective clinic regulation."
(snip)
An exemption for rape, though, is not included in the platform set to be adopted by the party Romney will officially lead when he accepts the Republican nomination next week.
And Ryan, his vice presidential pick, has opposed exceptions for rape and voted alongside Akin in the House, though Ryan now says he defers to Romney's position on the matter.
Quote by wickedpam:
Homicide was a great show
Quote by Scoopster:
Does this mean he should go fuck-a-duck, or that he already has?![]()
Quote by Raine:When I watched it I loved it. So gritty. reflected Baltimore so well.Quote by wickedpam:
Homicide was a great show
Another show I loved by the same people was New York Undercover
Quote by Raine:
Liv, you are a comic book guy... Do you think you could help me find out about Chuck Taylor batman and Joker high tops? The original batman and Joker -- before the movies.
Quote by livingonli:
Good day, folks. Just popped on and Pap is filling in for Ed so I wonder who will fill in for Thom today. I'll probably end up listening to Randi before work.
Quote by livingonli:Quote by Raine:
Liv, you are a comic book guy... Do you think you could help me find out about Chuck Taylor batman and Joker high tops? The original batman and Joker -- before the movies.
I believe the movie serials have been released on DVD. I've never seen them myself but I probably would have to check Wikipedia since the comic book related stuff is usually pretty detailed. It would make sense that Wikipedia would be a heavy geek zone.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Just made a hasty sign for some of my coworkers who are in "Copywriting Annex.'
Actually it is Storage Room B. Yeah...Milton.
Quote by Raine:
So this is (yet another) serious problem for Romney. You will recall, from yesterday's blog, Posted a link to the Romney campaign's statement wrt to Todd Akin.“Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin’s statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape,’’ a Romney campaign spokeswoman, Amanda Henneberg, wrote.
That sounds good, right? (well, good enough for the GOP)
This week is planking week for the GOP. They are spending the week prior to the convention deciding the party platform. CNN is reporting that they are going to be tough on Abortion. This is a real pickle for the party.The Republican Party is once again set to enshrine into its official platform support for "a human life amendment" to the Constitution that would outlaw abortion without making explicit exemptions for rape or incest, according to draft language of the platform obtained exclusively by CNN late Monday.
(snip)
The party will reaffirm its opposition to federally-funded embryonic stem cell research and demand that the government "not fund or subsidize health care which includes abortion coverage."
Republicans have also inserted a "salute" to states pushing "informed consent" laws - an apparent reference to ultrasound bills that have moved through some state legislatures - "mandatory waiting periods prior to an abortion, and health-protective clinic regulation."
(snip)
An exemption for rape, though, is not included in the platform set to be adopted by the party Romney will officially lead when he accepts the Republican nomination next week.
And Ryan, his vice presidential pick, has opposed exceptions for rape and voted alongside Akin in the House, though Ryan now says he defers to Romney's position on the matter.
I should probably make this it's own post.
Quote by Raine:
Liv, you are a comic book guy... Do you think you could help me find out about Chuck Taylor batman and Joker high tops? The original batman and Joker -- before the movies.
Quote by Raine:
Don't forget Dana Loesch and Erick Erickson.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
Liv, you are a comic book guy... Do you think you could help me find out about Chuck Taylor batman and Joker high tops? The original batman and Joker -- before the movies.
are you looking for the shoes?
Quote by BobR:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
Liv, you are a comic book guy... Do you think you could help me find out about Chuck Taylor batman and Joker high tops? The original batman and Joker -- before the movies.
are you looking for the shoes?
I bought a pair of Batman and a pair of Joker Converse Hightops back when the very first Batman movie came out (the one with Michael Keaton). Since I never wear them, I gave them to our niece. She says she read they were worth "a lot" (which could mean anything), so I am trying to find what they would go for on a collectibles market.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by BobR:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
Liv, you are a comic book guy... Do you think you could help me find out about Chuck Taylor batman and Joker high tops? The original batman and Joker -- before the movies.
are you looking for the shoes?
I bought a pair of Batman and a pair of Joker Converse Hightops back when the very first Batman movie came out (the one with Michael Keaton). Since I never wear them, I gave them to our niece. She says she read they were worth "a lot" (which could mean anything), so I am trying to find what they would go for on a collectibles market.
Oh yeah, they could be. There is a solid collector's market for them. Let me see what I can dig up![]()
Quote by wickedpam:
what year-ish did you get them?