Far East Cynic

I’ll believe it when I actually see it.

Seems we have heard this song played before: JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Tuesday he has ordered 20 percent “across the top” budget cuts for his Pentagon staff and that of his top brass. The reductions, which he did not spell out in detail, are for the

Continue reading

Harassment Hysteria

I'd like to put in another plug for ROK Drop if I may. It is probably the only military blog trying to drag some sense into the discussion about the supposed "problems with the military culture" ( which was just fine until feminists came along and decided to fuck it

Continue reading

Good advice-learned by yours truly the hard way.

Through the bitter prism of experience and pain. There is a new blog up with advice for JO’s-a part of the Navy’s lifeblood-called JO Rules.  It is full of helpful advice for both Junior and Senior Officers too. Even if it is written from what appears to be a black shoe

Continue reading

Not understanding what was said…..

One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary to avoid starvation and keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny. Bertrand Russell Recently, there has been a video that has gone viral in military blogging circles and elsewhere, showing the

Continue reading

Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.

In recent days the military journals have run stories of how Congress wants to strip commanders of their authorities to confirm or overturn the results of courts martial. This due to several high profile cases where folks did not agree with the final decision of the convening authority. On Capitol

Continue reading

The Professor would like a word, please.

Speaking of things that are degrading to women, back in January,  Martin Van Creveld published a fine article in Small Wars Journal. In it he makes the point that got RDML Gaouette fired, namely that there is a double standard existing in today's military-and its one where one gender is

Continue reading

Things that make me want to chug a quart of anti-freeze

This is why the Navy cannot have nice things. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered a close-up and comprehensive inspection of all military offices and workplaces worldwide to root out any “materials that create a degrading or offensive work environment.” The extraordinary searches will be similar to those the Air

Continue reading

Navy Flags at Work.

Ever spend any time on a staff-or at Fleet Forces Command in the past 5 years? You know this scene quite well:  

Continue reading

The brave new world.

Can we finally do away with DACOWITS now? Since everyone can do everything-why are they needed? Except of course, its not about equality at all. Its about reshaping the service into an image it never should have. But such is the way society is changing. I consider myself pretty open

Continue reading

Misleading Conclusions

I normally do not post about contentious issues during the holiday break, preferring instead to have innocuous fun with Beer and Babes, or comics, or life in the promised land of Japan. However I came across and article that is simply so egregiously wrong-that fisking it just cannot wait until

Continue reading