I want you to be as successful as possible. Many military & civilian leaders find themselves in an unfamiliar environment mid-career. For me, it was being assigned to the Pentagon where I wrestled the Bureaucracy for 15 years. There is a whole sequence of hurdles to cross:
Adapting to the New Pentagon Assignment Understanding Pentagon People Developing the Interpersonal Skills to Build Relationships Learning How Bureaucracy Works Writing for a Government Audience Competing in Conference Room Meetings Getting Promoted Military Retirement and Transition
The more effectively you can perform these steps, the more pleasant your experience will be and the more success you will enjoy.
You should have the boss’s cell phone number to call and text when urgent. If face to face is not possible. “Hey boss, such and such just showed up out here and making a stink.”
I watched both this video and the one on berets. The Air Force is currently facing the same thing over boonie hats. The troops in the sun want them and the brass hates them. One base in south Texas recently approved it for wear with the the ABU (or whatever the current work/combat uniform is called) due to the its popularity and it’s better sun protection. At the same time however Nellis AFB in Nevada denied the same request. I expect the movement is gaining momentum though and is inevitable. I hope so: the Beetle Bailey cap always sucked. The M.T.I.s called the issue cap a “sunburn hat.”
For clarification. The MAR2 and IDES process are separate. Submission for a MAR2 is a different box on the profile and the SM is not submitted to an installation IDES group
Don't forget the blended retirement system (BRS) is 40% and 2% per year (the modifier you mentioned) now! You're talking the old "high 3". Good stuff--but I'd be curious to see if it's new for the BRS.
The basic phenomenon of the COLA trap will have a similar effect on BRS. That is, how your initial retired pay is calculated doesn't impact the COLA Trap. I have a video about BRS (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-deCZeHzd4I0.html) and as I update old videos, I'm working it in. One point of confusion to watch out for is the idea of "HIGH 3" or "HIGH 36". The BRS uses the same calculation for Retired Base Pay as "HIGH 3" (the average of the highest 36 months of base pay). As you point out, what changed was the multiplier. So sometimes the naming can trip folks up.
ABSOLUTY! Face to "QUACKEN" Face when urgency is in the equation! MAKE it memorable if need be..a kick in the shin helps make it stick when you talk... and "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" coast to coast in the subject line is an attention grabber too...I just wanted to make sure to say something this morning (and I still owe you some more from yesterday's video). Thanks!
Speaking as a proud veteran of the 11th ACR let me just say that there was a time when fucking with another brother's brim was an ass-whoopin' offense. And God willin' and the crick don't rise, it still is. The United States Cavalry: Because even crayon eating jarheads need heroes.
The Army subterfuge about the AGSU is far larger and longer than you have shown. The Army is flying under Congress’ nose here in this change. The Army ALWAYS planned on the AGSU to replace the (old school) Army Green Uniform. Always. It was stretched out to not alarm congressional oversight. Case in point; The Old Guard never flirted with, wore, demonstrated the AGSU as a “dress” uniform. They always kept their ABUs. That’s how we know the Army Blue Uniform will always be with us. The question is will the old big, broad service stripes make a return (or just for Army Band Uniform coat) or do we keep the small service stripes and overseas bars? The Army Blue/Mess Blue uniforms will remain an “optional purchase” for enlisted members. Officers will likely be notified in FY 27 or 28 they will need to own the Army Blue Uniform. Maybe we can convince Army or Congress to give Soldiers at 10yrs Svc/grade E-7 a supplemental allowance to purchase (or reimburse) the ABU. And the facility is the Military Clothing Sales Store. Four little words. No “AND” anywhere.
I received the retiree package I do not own a motor vehicle I do not wear suits so the packaged is in a pile of other interesting items someone else will have to deal if I get killed riding my bike.
I think I've missed some of your older episodes on transition. I have binge watched some of your material from before I found your channel but havent got through all of your old material yet. That said, I don't know anything about this assessment. I guess I was unique in that I didnt get ANY transition TAP stuff before I retired. I watched a lot of Joe's drop out of the roles of work at least a year before they actually retired and it always pissed me off that we couldnt replace them with a working NCO but yet they werent there to contribute to the team either. I knew I didnt want to be that guy when it was my time to punch out. I was going to work and contribute up until near the end, and I did. So in addition to that attitude, I actually didnt anticipate retiring when I did. I had MRD coming up and had been extended for 2 years already under the Trump administration. My next MRD came up under the Biden regime at a point when magic shots were being pushed. I had previous medical exemptions from vaxes because of adverse reactions and everyone in my chain and medical office believed that I would qualify and get an exemption for the new shot. Plus my command wanted me to extend. But all of the sudden about 3 months before my MRD, the command changed their mind about wanting to keep me me and just dropped my MRD Extension Packet and ordered me to begin out processing. Since I had expected to get extended, I hadnt done anything for TAP. So as feedback to the Pentagon, well, I wont blast everything I think, BUT, there is not enough guidance and top down planning for those who need to transition out. I would say that there probably needs to be a Transitioning Personnel Unit to assign soldiers so they can be professionally guided through that process AND the operational units can have all of their existing assigned personnel dedicated to the duty and mission of that unit instead of thinking about TAP AND the unit with one foot in the door and the other sticking out to jump. The unit can backfill their roster with a "still working" soldier.
That issue of the backfill is a huge problem. Any transition activities come at the expense of the losing organization. And so the dynamic of HOW a transitioning SM behaves effects the unit. I gotta think about that one.
This guy is giving out false information. Crsc doesn't give you full pay from the offset. Only a percent. This richard star act needs to be passed. I want my full pay I earn and other combat vets who are getting fucked by the government
You are correct. The CRSC calculation doesn't give "full pay" (I have an upcoming video to explain that point). Medical Retirement Pay has an old provision that predates CRSC which tried to fix that point and is part of the reason vets have this notion of "full pay". I worry that that act isn't clean enough to clear all this up.
Dress blues were for Army balls if you had them, lower enlisted Greens, but if can pay for dress blues go for it, Army green (christmas tree) was universal from pay day inspections, balls, formal ceremonies.
Army Blue Uniform should be worn by officers and senior NCOs for formal events and pink and greens as class As and Bs. When I served as an office we only used blue uniform for formal events and used the green uniform as class As and Bs. These uniform changes are driven by REMFS who never go to the field.
The first step to getting any better is admitting the US military is currently a losing team led by losers. Senior commanders and politicians took the all volunteer force for granted while losing a 20 year war. Worse senior officers and many E-9s personally gained from that 20 year war through defense contractor profits. Senior officers and E-9S aren't worth listening to or following anymore. Results matter, remember?
I'm listening...Oh...you're right, nobody's listening. lol. My personal split was unusual in many ways compared to the usual but I was very lucky to have family and friends. I believe our separation is a lot like Physical Therapy...give it 100% and you get the results you want. I think there's a "QUACK" load of opportunities and programs to take advantage of but SM don't know or take advantage of...I hope there's someone who there to recognize the exiting SMs who are struggling when most are breezing through. When I was recovering then separating I noticed some SMs (mostly Marines but Army too) who were allowed to stay on after recovery...back to a duty station with obvious non deployable injuries. I always thought they had nothing to go home to but never knew for sure. I want to watch this again later and try to come up with some more comments...I'll start new comment line. Thanks!
You make a good point about the balance between KNOWING what options are available, TAKING advantage of those options, and continuing to SERVE. It's similar to what @RoyatAvalonFarms mentioned...I'll have to think about it because it seems like part of a successful transition has to do with feeling that you served honorably to the end. BTW, that issue of being "Continued on Active Duty" (which is a real element of the Medical Separation Process) is something I have to lay out.
That is a fantastic path. Did you know that Academy grads can buy back their time at West Point for a Federal Pension even if they get a military pension?
While I like simplification, I think the return of a duty "green" uniform - the new pinks-n-greens and retention of the Army Blue Uniform makes sense. The blues are the iconic uniform showing the heritage of the Army - the Army Continental wore blue, the Army wore blue through the 19th Century and civil War, and they are fabulous "formal" uniforms. I like the pinks-n-greens better than the 1960s era greens we had through 2014. The silly "50 mission crush" on the service cap looks stupid though. That was an Army Air Force look in WWII, and the groundpounders didn't dress that way. It makes the whole uniform look like a WWII cosplay rather than a uniform. Prior to the ASU, junior enlisted folks didn't buy blues often, so formal events were often a mix of senior NCOs wearing blues and the junior folks wearing green. It worked fine.
@nkgoodal, I like your opening statement "While I like simplification..." It captures the idea that simplification can be good, but it might not be the end-all-be-all for this situation.
I know its unrelated to the video but I don't understand the situation with the pinks and greens. If the ASU's are going to be reserved for ceremonial and parade settings, then what are the pinks and greens going to be used for?
The two major uses that I have seen are when testifying to Congress and when doing casualty notification & assistance. The second one is where the distinction between the two uniforms seems to be most obvious. At one point I was the Casualty Assistance Officer for the wife of a one-star. I wore my AGSU when I was doing all kinds of administrative stuff like taking her to update records. But I wore the ASU to the funeral. Also, around the time that I was retiring in 2022, Fort Myer had a monthly mass retirement ceremony. And a condition of participation was that we wore the ASU with beret. But at the same time, even among old Pentagon staff officers, most were wearing the AGSU for private retirement ceremonies.
@@the_bureaucrathmmm, I must have been mistaken, but I thought the CAO had to be equal to or greater than in rank to the deceased. Was I incorrect in that?
Too bad, it appears the peaked cap is gone, and with it the ever-useful garrison cap, aka the cxnt cap. Replaced by an ugly and outright ridiculous beret. If I was still on active duty, I'd feed ashamed.
Military.com apparently has a staff writer whose sole job is keeping track of state level benefits. www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/state-veterans-benefits-directory.html
OMFG! Worst video of what's going on in the Army by someone who, apparently, has never been in the Army that I have ever seen! Where to begin? A revisionist historian trying to civilian-explain the Army. He can't even read a clothing tag except to cherry pick the one nugget he wants. One of them said everything you need to know to realize this guy did no research on this topic before turning on his camera!!
Thankfully, during my time, the Marine Corps only had small disruptions to our authorized seabag. Dropped khakis to add green polyesters, dropped green utilities for camouflage, & green t-shirts. Dropped horse blanket overcoat and rubberized raincoat for trench coat with liner. And various other "ideas" that didn't catch on. Honorable mention. Sorry PX Kelly, the stupid white V-neck t-shirt.
I am a national guard person with over 30 years in uniform. Currently mobilize for 1 year, i was told that i am will be referred for MEB. I am currently va rated for that condition as well as a few others listed in AR 40-501. Most of my records are from civilian doctors. How will that effect my process?
It will come down to whether those records make their way into your NARSUM. Shoot me a note at chuck.weko@gmail.com to discuss in more detail. The reason I suggest that is because there is a rule (which I can't find at the moment) about when Reserve Component Soldiers begin drawing their medical pension that will matter to you.
I was in the MEB system after bilateral hip replacement. But, had just shy of 20 years AFS (just shy of 28 total at the start.) By the time the MedBoard got done, VA had done my reviews, but hadn’t rated, and I was now over 20. As I now qualified for retirement I was told I’d have a choice between my retirement (~54%) and VA disability payment, or Medical Retirement pay based on percentage of disability which is taxable (but forego any VA payments.) I ran the math and realized I’d need to be a GO for the Medical Retirement to make sense, due to the additional tax burden. Told the CARs XO at the time that he might benefit.
Thank you for the quick video! My doctor just submitted me for a MEB due to having chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS). I had bilateral fasciotomies and neither of them helped. I’m nervous and lost on how things will go.
Feel free to shoot me a note at chuck.weko@gmail.com. I'm no expert, but this process is daunting for folks and I'd like to help if I can. Even if I'm just a sounding board.
The "Green" uniform is brown, it looks a lot like the everyday wear USMC Class A. The "Blue" uniform is (almost) black or Navy Blue and is a much dressier look. And lose the beret. Berets should only be worn on fatigue uniforms.
Good grief... Sounds to me like Marine envy... I did 20+ years; never owned or wore mess-blues, rarely wore dress greens (maybe once every 3-4 years) and tried to only have assignments where the fatigue/bdu were the standard 24/7 wear...
I hear your point about Marine envy. Sometimes I think that the really senior Army folks feel small compared to the other services (mainly marines) and try to compensate.
My last gig in the Army was at a Warrior Transition Battalion and “trust no one” and “get your affairs in order” is the best advice you could have given. The MEB/PEB system is, by design, set up to be extremely stressful and so confusing that even Kafka couldn’t have dreamed it up. Going through the MEB/PEB system is like having the Sword of Damocles hanging over your head, you never know when it’s going to drop. I saw very hard SF guys, with multiple deployments, I’m talking ice water running through their veins, break down over the stress and uncertainty. One of the largest issues I saw was uniform application of the rules and regs. One doctor can write something that will get 100% first look and a different doctor would write it up and only get 60%. And if your doctor didn’t like you,,,, well you were f**ked. Rank assuredly played a role too. I saw a National Guard LTC (admin pog with a single 4 month deployment to Doha) get rated at 100% for the exact same, service connected, behavioral health condition, that an active duty 11B SSG with 3 deployments to Iraq was rated at 60% for. I have other stories that would make your head spin.
The dress blues were a perfectly fine uniform. Class As needed an update. Then the Army absolutely destroyed the blues. And now we have two again, but still never wear either.
There wasn't anything wrong with the Green Class A's that good fabric wouldn't have fixed. The Army has a long history of simplifying the uniform issue during wartime (WWI and WWII). I like the Blue, but it just isn't practical for a day to day office uniform.
40 years ago, Dress Greens, general use, summer dress green pants, button down short sleeve dress shirt, field jungle cammies, then the BDU’s Red Beret, now glad I’m out living in FLO, shorts , flip flops T shirt.
@@the_bureaucrat Yup, very few inspections, other than DRF-1 cycle when we were the 911 ready go force battalion to secure behind the beaches, so the USMC could land with Am Tracks without getting dirty!! Didn't want their pretty dress uniforms getting soiled!!! LOL
I was going n the navy groom late 1970’s when they early 80’s and never understood why the uniform was changed multiple times so grown men looked like a kid dressed as Popeye on Halloween. Cost me money though we did get a pittance of a an allowance. Not a moral booster.
I think the Army should never have gone away with the WWII pink & greens, but now that they're back after 70 years, they should offer a small variety to their wear, like the traditional tan/beige tie worn with a dark brown/OD shirt. And they should NEVER change the uniform again, stick with it if it truly represents the US Army and its traditions and history.
The history is interesting. Standards in manufacturing of clothing was being pioneered during WWII. There were quality issues. The Army wanted to be modern and sleek like its newly divorced ex, the Air Force.
I served in the very late 80s to early 2000s and while the green service uniform wasnt ideal it did what it was supposed to do -- provide the equivalent of a business suit for duty and appropriate social and ceremonial occasions. For more formal occasions the drewss blues, which we were required to have once I commissioned, filled the bill very nicely. I had blue mess dress for black tie occasions and the dress whites and white mess uniforms were nice warm weather options for those who wished to spend the money. It made sense. I remember when I learned that blues were going to becone the service uniform. I thought it was overkilll then and still do. Oh, and the faux 50-mission crush looks silly.
