Thursday, June 30, 2011

Diversity Thursday

I want you to think when the problem of inadequately designed, funded, and deployed Joint communications equipment resulted in the unnecessary death of American servicemembers. For me, I became aware of it before I could drive during the invasion of Grenada.

Think about the fact that throughout recorded history - bad communication or lack of effective communications have led to loss on the battlefield, loss of campaigns, defeat of nations and empires. This is fact.

Priorities.

I know a lot of people in the squishy middle tire of DivThu and think, "No sweat off my back. I have more important things to think about. Anyway, what does it cost?"

Well, I think back to those nice lists of "unfunded priorities" we produced each year. Important but dull things that could not get funding. Things that could make a difference of life and death. They never got funded though - because of ... priorities.

For my forward deployed readers - ponder what your community could do with just a few million dollars?

Now, put that to the side for a moment. Now ponder all the times on DivThu (new folks click the lable below for examples) we have covered the slime of the Diversity Industry and how we feed those fetid sores of Cultural Marxism, sectarianism, and discrimination.

What is more important - tactical communications or feeding the beast that encourages the most base of human behavior?

BEHOLD.
SEC. 549. DIVERSITY RECRUITMENT EFFORTS FOR THE MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES.

(a) Funds for Diversity Recruitment Efforts- The amounts authorized to be appropriated by section 301 for operation and maintenance for the Army, Navy, and Air Force for officer acquisition, as specified in the corresponding funding table in section 4301, are each increased by $1,400,000 to expand diversity recruitment efforts for the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy.
(b) Offset From Joint Tactical Radio System- Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 101 for other procurement, Air Force, as specified in the corresponding funding table in division D, is hereby reduced by $4,200,000, with the amount of the reduction to be derived from Joint Tactical Radio System Maritime-Fixed radios under Line 049 Tactical Communications-Electronic Equipment as set forth in the table under section 4101.
(c) Merit-based or Competitive Decisions- A decision to commit, obligate, or expend funds referred to in subsection (a) with or to a specific entity shall--
(1) be based on merit-based selection procedures in accordance with the requirements of sections 2304(k) and 2374 of title 10, United States Code, or on competitive procedures; and
(2) comply with other applicable provisions of law.
If you find this objectionable, then you need to get in touch with your Senators now as I understand that this is out of the House and has been sent over to the Senate. Reference H.R. 1540, Section 549 and follow the directions our former staffer gave us on Midrats earlier this year; state your zip code to show you are a voter in their State, give them the reference above, and tell them you oppose it and that you would like the section removed and the money given back to support combat forces.

Awww, heck. Get in touch with your Congressman too.

26 comments:

FDNF Squid said...

A couple of million could get plenty of people back stateside as well as get some valuable MTT's out here as well (MTT's are great since they can tailor easier to the sked and it costs less).

Doubt Ernie King would have pushed such nonsense....

FDNF Squid said...

Also this crap about diversity contradicts CNO's own 2011 Guidance and 5 key areas which are mainly around forward power projection, training and fixing a hosed up acquisition process.....

Usually it seems like this social engineering rhetoric is more coyly written but now you have this joint comm program getting underfunded laid out in black and white. 

ExNFO said...

Thanks CDR Sal.  Just gave Rep. Mica a piece of my mind on this.  Wonder if his staff has an opening in the local area? 

The Boat School is on my cr@p list anyway.  My son (#1 in his class, even wants to major in nuke engineering, athletic, leadership positions, etc) applied for the USNA's STEM program this year - didn't make it.  Not a minority; has both parents; middle class; no compelling "life story"; isn't gay.  Didn't even have a chance. 

CDR Salamander said...

Let your Congresman know.  Call the Navy IG.  Call the center for individual rights.  Make noise.  You have status to do it - I don't.

Sean said...

Sorry to hear about your son not making it. Being nominated by a gay Representative was not enough of a help for me to get into the Boat school...being slightly nearsighted dumped me onto the vision waiver pool and that trumped my nominating source.

But I survived. Went on to NROTC at a well known school. Even tried to continue to get into the Boat school (I know...slow learner!) but eventually came to my senses and got the pleasure of turning them down after my freshman year...

UltimaRatioRegis said...

I cannot wait for those who constantly defend such racist tripe to chime in and tell us how this isn't exactly what it seems to be. 

The fact that neither Mullen nor Gates have made a peep over such nonsense displays their inherent lack of moral courage. 

You know, Admiral Mullen, it boils down to a simple matter of integrity.  Something of which you feel the need to lecture on, while being personally devoid of any. 

A disgrace.  So common among a collection of other disgraces.

Warrant Diver said...

Senator Marco Rubio, check your inbox.

Sean said...

Fired off a tweet to my Representative - Allen West. Cited specific chapter and verse and the fact that I do not agree with it.

Should be fun if he starts asking questions!

LT B said...

URR, I just got in my email box the IG investigation over the DADT Repeal survey, how it got leaked and how that "70%" number got bandied about by the WaPo to start with.  

Diversity, it is about numbers, but the numbers are $$ and racism/sexism, not so much performance metrics. 

Anonymous said...

I'd call my Congressional Representatives, but Bernie Sanders and Pat Leahy were likely co-sponsors of the bill....

Both are socialists, but only one will admit it.

UltimaRatioRegis said...

No, no, no, B.  It's all about integrity.  Or so Mullen tells us. 

So glad I have that weasel as a moral guidepost.

UltimaRatioRegis said...

BTW, can you send that along?  Salamander knows how to reach me.

THX

URR

UltimaRatioRegis said...

Ahhh, the racial double standard, alive and well in the mainstream media.

THIS gets headlines, but this is buried waaaay down in even the local news

One is a black kid alleging bullying, the other a documented case of a group of black kids beating a white kid almost to death.

Wonder why?

LT B said...

Yes.  Phib you should have it in your box.

Anonymous said...

Oh JTRS... The hilarity continues.

UltimaRatioRegis said...

You da man.  Or should I say the "non-gender specific person of note". 

Spade said...

This may be one case where the money is being better spent by the Diversity people.

Cupojoe said...

I still love the story about the guy who called long distance from a telephone in order to get air support.  How long before air support is called in on a Facebook post? 

sid said...

That was in Grenada...

(sorry for the pop ups)

For example, uncoordinated use of radio frequencies prevented radio communications between Marines in the north and Army Rangers in the south. As such, interservice communication was prevented, except through offshore relay stations, and kept Marine commanders unaware for too long that Rangers were pinned down without adequate armor. In a second incident, it was reported that one member of the invasion force placed a long distance, commercial telephone call to Fort Bragg, N.C. to obtain C-130 gunship support for his unit which was under fire. His message was relayed via satellite and the gunship responded.

It was all a bit of a goatrope.

I was about ~200nm west of Tampa pondering the all the minimize messages...And the gaggle of C-130s (who does that PIF belong to?) headed southerly....

Anyway. Some Points To Ponder as this spools up.

sid said...

Per spade...iif its a POC...and the money is going to come from somewhere for this obvious priority...

That said, how ironic that a system meant to increase inclusiveness and cohesion on the battlefield is losing out to a corrupt concept based on exclusivity and divisiveness....

sid said...

<span>This may be one case where the money is being better spent by the Diversity people.</span>

Shake the Money Tree, and see how many retired Flags fall out...

Warrant Diver said...

If the comms program is a failure, by all means recoup the remaining money...but allocate it for a useful program, not a racially preferential program.

ExNFO said...

Pretty sure he doesn't want the academy.  He's looking at NROTC so he can go out-of-state or to my old school.  The nuke part hurts though.

Southern Air Pirate said...

Sid,
It isn't just the GOFOs that are cashing in. Rather it is those folks who have made it thier job to tell us the way out of our backwardness and teach us how to live in the 21st Centuary and not the 1st Centuary. Meanwhile they need people to replace them so they have taken over the colleges. These new zampolits realized that the issue is going down the drain as changes are made to the world, so they come up with new issues such as we aren't properly protecting those with a lazy right leg tingle or stubby toes. Meanwhile they still authorize hate and racial tinged remarks against other groups because they are the majorities because that will make them feel better about being part of that same majority. Nearly all of these folks are civilians in some shape or form and most of them have no once of humor in thier bones. That is unless your ripping into WASPs or Western European White Colonists.

sid said...

I was talking about the JTRS...

But, you are right about the zampolits.

Its was a full court press ever since Clinton got booed off the Connie (?) after his abortive attempt at legitimizing gays in the military...And Tailhook.

SWON6RET said...

Nothing [I say again NOTHING] is more important than having our Marine brothers [SEALS/SEABEES/others in the Naval service] have the comm equipment required to call in supporting arms.

How much will it cost for some PAO/RO to draft an e mail explaining the advantage of an appointment as a Midshipman USN or USNR.