Thursday, July 19, 2012

A Boomeresque Gift to the Boomers


"Everyone gets a trophy" we like so snicker at the Baby Boomers and their self-esteem cultish habit they gave us.

Well, we can add to that, "Everyone gets a MUC."

Sigh.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert signed the award, which is expected to be presented July 20 at ceremonies in Bangor, Wash., and Kings Bay, Ga., where the boomers are homeported, a spokeswoman said.

Sailors who served aboard one of the 14 ballistic-missile submarines from July 16, 2007, to Jan. 28, 2011, will be eligible to wear the midlevel (sic) unit commendation, a unit award equivalent to the Bronze Star.

During this time frame, these 14 boats "conducted over 119 deterrent patrols," said Submarine Force spokeswoman Cmdr. Monica Rousselow, who estimated 4,500 sailors are in the boomer fleet.

In addition to these boomers, sailors assigned to Submarine Groups 9 and 10, Submarine Squadrons 17 and 20, and Naval Submarine Support Centers Bangor and Kings Bay are also eligible to wear the MUC.

"Task Force 134 and 144 demonstrated high standards in day-to-day operations, in exercises, in training and every time they went to sea," according to the citation ...
You did your job, in other words.

COMSUBFOR has the citation on his blog.
For meritorious service from 16 July 2007 to 28 January 2011. Commander, Task Force 134 and Commander, Task Force 144 (CTF134/144) excelled in support of United States Strategic Command’s flawless execution of its global mission of strategic deterrence. The Task Forces provided an essential leg to our nation’s strategic triad and were a key element of our deterrent mission. The deterrence mission executed by Task Force 134 and 144 during this period underpinned Department of Defense strategy and provided the backbone and foundation for our political leadership in execution of national security policy. Providing credibility to the deterrent force, Commander Task Force 134 and 144 demonstrated high standards in day-to-day operations, in exercises, in training, and every time they went to sea. By their truly distinctive achievements, unrelenting perseverance, and unfailing devotion to duty, the officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees of Commander Task Force 134 and Commander, Task Force 144 reflected credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Sigh. I really wish we would return to a Commonwealth ideal of awards vice a North Korean ideal.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This is disgusting! My father served in the Pacific for nearly 5 years during WWII. He was awarded two Bronze Stars (and a Silver Star) and neither Bronze was for "showing up". One I recall was for killing a sniper who had his unit pinned down. What is wrong with these people? I suspect some of these people would faint dead away just reading about how my father won the Silver Star.