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2009-02-08 -Short Attention Span Theater-

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Posted by Sherry 2009-02-08 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top

#1 Recognizing the source, this is an interesting twist of words from the article:
"You get people who want to do this work," he says of today's nearly-all volunteer force.

today's nearly-all volunteer force... huh?

Once again, a reporter, who just doesn't get it.

Posted by Sherry">Sherry 2009-02-08 00:14|| 2009-02-08 00:14|| Front Page Top

#2 He doesn't have much patience for those, like Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., who want to bring back the draft to ensure ~~that war's burdens are equally shared~~ the destruction of the military's effectiveness.

There. Fixed it.

Posted by Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) 2009-02-08 00:34|| 2009-02-08 00:34|| Front Page Top

#3 I think the reporter's point is that since CSM Melliger was drafted, it is not a truly 100% volunteer force. It is only 99.99999% volunteer.
The fact that CSM Mellinger voluntarily re-enlisted (and re-enlisted and re-enlisted and ...) seems to escape the reporter.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia">Rambler in Virginia 2009-02-08 00:34|| 2009-02-08 00:34|| Front Page Top

#4 But Command Sergeant Major Mellinger was drafted, Sherry. Therefore in a certain kind of forced calculation the American Armed Forces contain one less than 100% volunteers, even if he has voluntarily chosen to reenlist at each opportunity for four decades. Of course the calculation is not valid, but really, is it fair to expect journalist to understand that? Yes, there are those in the profession who do, but nowadays such come as a very pleasant surprise rather than a fulfilled expectation.

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2009-02-08 00:43|| 2009-02-08 00:43|| Front Page Top

#5 I've sent an email to the author, asking him to clarify his "nearly-all" volunteer service.

I don't expect a response.

Posted by Sherry">Sherry 2009-02-08 00:43|| 2009-02-08 00:43|| Front Page Top

#6 As dear Rambler said so much more succinctly, once again. :-)

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2009-02-08 00:44|| 2009-02-08 00:44|| Front Page Top

#7 TW - once again, your usage of words astounds me, making me smile... but nowadays such come as a very pleasant surprise rather than a fulfilled expectation

Posted by Sherry">Sherry 2009-02-08 00:47|| 2009-02-08 00:47|| Front Page Top

#8 It must have been an accident, Sherry. I am not a properly trained journalist, after all. ;-)

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2009-02-08 01:25|| 2009-02-08 01:25|| Front Page Top

The best tribute I can muster up for this man of great, great honor...

Posted by Tyranysaurus Angegum9270 2009-02-08 01:50|| 2009-02-08 01:50|| Front Page Top

#10 Hooah! Thank you for your service CSM Mellinger.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-02-08 07:35|| 2009-02-08 07:35|| Front Page Top

#11 No trailing wife, CSM Mellinger was not drafted. Private E-1 Mellinger was.

Posted by Hupomogum Prince of the French9957 2009-02-08 09:08|| 2009-02-08 09:08|| Front Page Top

#12 "I went down to the draft board and asked them if this was really serious," he recalls, "or if it was like an invitation."

o/ CMS Mellinger
Who cleverly availed himself of numerous educational opportunties.

Also... Jeeez... That's what you want a CSM to look like.

Posted by .5MT 2009-02-08 09:20|| www.cybernations.net]">[www.cybernations.net] 2009-02-08 09:20|| Front Page Top

#13 "I am not a properly trained journalist, after all."

Gott sei dank, tw!

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2009-02-08 09:44|| 2009-02-08 09:44|| Front Page Top

#14 Thanks, Sherry, for bumping this forward. I see you put back all the parts I edited for length. Power to the moderators!
Note that this is from almost the last place I would have expected to see such an article - Time Magazine. Now that Zero is president I guess they figure they can afford to publish such.
I found the article entirely appropriate and complimentary: the whole 'draftee' thing was primarily a clever hook to introduce the man. It also allows Mellinger to defend his generation and draftees against stereotypes, and at the same time defend the volunteer army. To me, the author and editors were very good about letting the CSM tell the story. Would that such was more common.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2009-02-08 10:14|| 2009-02-08 10:14|| Front Page Top

#15 Sigh. Yet another unsung hero of our age. Thank you CSM Jeffrey Mellinger for your service.

Its humbling to think that we civilians are served by such men. I first heard of him from Michael Yon's reports.

As for the 'draftee' and 'nearly all volunteer force' things - I think the reporter had to put those in to get past the censors at Time magazine - otherwise it would never have seen the light of day.

Posted by CrazyFool 2009-02-08 11:01|| 2009-02-08 11:01|| Front Page Top

#16 #9 - Play that on Al Arabiya.

Posted by Matt 2009-02-08 12:38|| 2009-02-08 12:38|| Front Page Top

#17 Saw the video, Dammit I'm crying.

Posted by Rednek Jim">Rednek Jim 2009-02-08 12:52|| 2009-02-08 12:52|| Front Page Top

#18 " in what was then called West Germany"

Damn. I feel old seeing that.

Posted by OldSpook 2009-02-08 14:01|| 2009-02-08 14:01|| Front Page Top

#19 #18 " in what was then called West Germany"
Damn. I feel old seeing that. Posted by: OldSpook

Amen, OldSpook. Wiesbaden AB, 71-75, Wiesbaden/Schierstein 80-83, 87-89. An outfit you probably know - 497th RTG.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2009-02-08 16:29|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2009-02-08 16:29|| Front Page Top

#20 We need more references to West Germany. That the all of the West stood in the gaps at Fulda and Cheb is one of the key facts of the last century. I look forward to the day when because of our stand at Chorwon, Quemoy and Matsu, we can retire the name South Korea, and consolidate on just one Republic of China.

Posted by rammer">rammer 2009-02-08 22:10|| www.blogoram.com]">[www.blogoram.com] 2009-02-08 22:10|| Front Page Top

#21 Reminds me of a certain COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR character in MEL GIBSON'S flick "WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE", the "only Man to make all five combat jumps of the 82nd Airborne Division during WW2, plus the one Airborne jump during the Korean War".

Posted by JosephMendiola 2009-02-08 23:45|| 2009-02-08 23:45|| Front Page Top

23:52 JosephMendiola
23:51 Thrish Bluetooth8556
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22:49 Spike Uniter
22:25 Thrish Bluetooth8556
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21:35 Abu Uluque