Those of us that have served as Non Commissioned Officers are familiar with the NCO CREED. Today John McCain insulted those of us that live by this creed:
No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as "The Backbone of the Army". I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain tactically and technically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.
Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders!
Today John McCain responded to criticism of his absence from the Senate, as it passed (75-22) the much needed update to our GI BILL.
His insult to us after the jump:
An excerpt of McCain's response:
. . .
The most important difference between our two approaches is that Senator Webb offers veterans who served one enlistment the same benefits as those offered veterans who have re-enlisted several times. Our bill has a sliding scale that offers generous benefits to all veterans, but increases those benefits according to the veteran's length of service. I think it is important to do that because, otherwise, we will encourage more people to leave the military after they have completed one enlistment. At a time when the United States military is fighting in two wars, and as we finally are beginning the long overdue and very urgent necessity of increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps, one study estimates that Senator Webb's bill will reduce retention rates by 16%."Most worrying to me, is that by hurting retention we will reduce the numbers of men and women who we train to become the backbone of all the services, the noncommissioned officer. In my life, I have learned more from noncommissioned officers I have known and served with than anyone else outside my family. And in combat, no one is more important to their soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen, and to the officers who command them, than the sergeant and petty officer. They are very hard to replace. Encouraging people not to choose to become noncommissioned officers would hurt the military and our country very badly. . . .
Senator McCain, my friend, you should know that every year soldiers are afforded $4,500 of tuition assistance to use for higher education while they serve. There is already this build-up of benefits, as an 11-year veteran has had the opportunity to use up to $45,000 more than a Private with a year of experience.
Senator McCain, my friend, are you going to lead our country by relying on ONE STUDY that thinks retention rates will drop 16% with an updated GI BILL? Retention rates have been fine over the last few years, and this is during a period of poor civilian management. I have optimism that DOD management can only improve next year, and this will improve retention rates even more.
Those of us that decided to reenlist over the last decade have done so, for the most part, because we love our country . . . not because we wish we had a better GI BILL. The Junior Enlisted ranks are not naive. These future NCOs are a brave new generation of soldiers that volunteered to serve our country after 9/11. They volunteered to serve their country in a time of war, and DESERVE this new GI BILL! Encouraging some of them to go to college is what we did after World War II, and is the least we could do after what they have gone through during the Global War on Terrorism.
Senator McCain, my friend, you should know better than to guide your veteran policy by ONE STUDY. You worked with NCOs during your respectable military career, so you should know us better than that! You should know better than to insult our intelligence and patriotism.
Take a moment to remember our Service Members that can't join us this Memorial Day weekend.
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