My view on this is that we are educated higher-level professionals.

It is the nature of our particular profession that we often work in uncomfortable, dangerous conditions, and may live for extended periods under those conditions. All well and good... if there is an operational necessity. That's just part of the program.

But when we are in CONUS or other civilized locals, I do not feel a duty to subsidize DoD funding by eating or living in marginal conditions. We are not draftees, we are all professionals, must of us in for 20+ years.

It would be one thing if the idea was to suck it up for 2-3 years, win the war, and lets all go home. But that aint' happenin...well over half of my career is going to be during a hot war. The rest of america is not sucking it up to support the war(s) on a daily basis, so my view is that I should be reasonably compensated for doing so.

I have heard of white-collar professionals at some companies having to double-bunk on travel , but in my corporate experience I never actually saw it happen. It's just not the norm.

Think of all the money we could save the DoD if we all sold our nice cars and took a 50% cut in base pay. My gardener drives a 1975 pickup...why should I expect any better, right?

Rant off.

 

Did you stop to think that the E-4 sharing a room on a reserve weekend with another E-5 might hold a master's degree, so by your argument he's a well educated professional right?

I dont think anywhere in your oath of office you were granted an entitlement to a particular type of living arrangement, I think the DoD is responsible for paying you, feeding you, and providing you shelter in addition to the training you've been given to accomplish your assigned mission, how that care and feeding is defined is what your concern is right? IMHO, the rest is gravy. Define marginal? Is rooming with a fellow pay grade marginal? By what standard?

As for your comment on the rest of America not sucking it up? Are you serious? Do you think American's daily lives haven't been affected by our efforts in the current War? That's a pretty bold statement to make...in fact I'd prefer that 90% of America lives their lives while the 10% of us who signed up for this business do so and go on about our business, isn't that our job? We fight for their ability to do so, not to garner thier thanks and admiration.

Like I said before, I probably have a different opinion on this and am more inclined to just suck it up because at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter as someone recently told me. If it does matter to you, so be it.

 

They signed up to be E-5's...they may prefer to serve in that capacity. If he has a masters, he could get a commission.

In the grand scheme of things it's not a big deal. But I know they would never attempt attempt to have GS civilians (even low level) bunk up in CONUS. They do it to us because they can get away with it.

Yes.

Are you kidding me? They are not affected to a significant degree, unless they have a close relative in the military. Most of my civilian friends have zero impact in their daily lives...I think the extent of their impact is asking ME if I'm going to get called up any time soon. Or maybe having to take their shoes off for TSA.

I agree, I have no problem doing my job, been doing it for a long time now.

This is more about the principle of the thing, not the minor inconvenience.

 

So you're saying you have a right to better standards as an O-4 than as an E-5? Got it...great leadership example, regardless of tradition!

Not true, I know plenty of GS's who have been doubled up in support of 24/7 exercise operations.

See below

I guess you haven't been paying attention to the economy over the past 9 years and to think that our economic downturn isn't in some way attributable to our current War on Terror or whatever the current administration is calling it, just isn't the case.

So what are you complaining about then?

If this is about principle, what is the principle? The fact that what you knew or know as a standard has changed over time or been lessened to a degree?

 

I worked harder, got more educated, took more risks, deal with ambiguity, and make rain. I get rewarded for that, that's how our society works military and otherwise. IIRC, there was a large eastern european nation which tried to use a more egalitarian approach...


Sure, for operations. I've slept on the ground for days or weeks.



GWOT has cost us all in higher taxes, but not catastrophically as far as the average joe is concerned. IMO the recent economic collapse was due to grossly irresponsible behavior in the financial sector, combined with lack of government regulation. The oil price spike was just the match on tinder...the bonfire was already built.

 

"So you're saying you have a right to better standards as an O-4 than as an E-5? Got it...great leadership example, regardless of tradition!"

I think Obama should change living quarters with me. He doesn't deserve any more than anyone else. Right?

 

I got my answer.

This applies for Commercial Berthing of Drilling Reservists, but does not apply to IDTT, AT, ADT, or ADSW.

COMNAVRESFORCOM P4000.1B Section V, Chapter 1. 5107 b. (4) Rooms are to be double occupancy of like gender, with officers separated from enlisted, and seniors officers (O-5 and above) separated from junior officers blah blah blah.

If you want your own room, stay on base.

Good to know. Aye Aye sir!

 

Yeah, that was my understanding. They cannot make up their own rules when you are actually on orders because those rules are federal law/regulation. But before/between drills you are in a grey area...not really in a duty status in some regards (but subject to the UCMJ in some cases).

 

I find it interesting that Guard Reserve guys are arguing about billeting. While AD guys NEVER bunk up for non deployment TDY's. Kind of rediculous. Almost a little Stockholm Syndrome. "We can suck it up...total force....get ur dun"....all arguments used to give less to the Guard and Reserve money wise than they are adding to the fight. Like I said before, cut one hour of flying per year on each reserve jet....take that money and get billeting rooms. I know, different pot, another excuse to keep doing it. And yes, the standards are higher for Officer billeting/housing. Welcome to the real world. If you excel and move up in rank, you get more nice stuff. Works the same in business. Not saying you don't take care of the enlisted. Just saying my house/billeting room will probably be a little bigger/nicer. I don't see anybody yelling at 0-6's about this. Rant off. Fire away.

 

Yep I get it, just disagree with it and think it's crap that we as Officer's put our soldiers, sailors, and marines at the lowest levels in some of the crappiest living conditions(it's gotten better) yet perform some of the most demanding professional jobs in the Military. I cringed everytime one of our junior sailors cleaned my stateroom on the boat or picked up my plate from the wardroom and said "Thank you Sir". Made me really hate our "Tradition".