The United States Army has, in the brass-hats’ infinite wisdom, converted US Army Alaska (USARAK) into the latest reincarnation of the 11th Airborne Division.
This is, we are told, because the Arctic Strategy is very important. But it won’t add (supposedly) a single body to the 11,600 Army troops there in the 49th State (along with another 11,000 or so Active USAF, USSF, USMC, USN, USCG, PHS/IHS, and NOS uniformed personnel). (The Alaska Army National Guard has just 1,600 Guardsmen.) It apparently won’t even create another flag officer slot: both USARAK and the 11th AB have just a single two-star to share. Supposedly, it also won’t cost any money. (A claim that is a lie on its face.)
So why? We are also told that the action is intended to boost soldier morale in the Last Frontier. According to the liars at the Pentagon, the reason that suicides in Alaska among active-duty soldiers climb every year: 7 in 2020, 11 in 2021. The Army Secretary stated “some of the soldiers there don’t feel like they have a sense of identity or purpose around why they’re stationed there.”
Right… So which one is it?
It is obviously just another example of smoke and mirrors, of keeping up appearances, of substituting perception over reality. Welcome to Camp Swampy.
Maybe it is to “scare the Russians” – just a few miles away over the Bering Straits. Maybe it is to scare the Chinese: after all, this is going to be an AIRBORNE division. HoRAH!!! Maybe it is to lull Americans into yet another infection of “government is good for us and keeps us safe” syndrome. Or may be it is sleepy Uncle Joe and his keepers playing the usual political gains. How many votes will it bring in for RINOs and Dems in this year’s elections? How many Electoral College votes in 2024? Or maybe, just maybe, it is just government being stupid.
It certainly is NOT going to increase the ability of the Army or DoD to defend the 49th State. Or help defend our ally Canada.
It is, despite their pious claims, going to cost money – not billions, probably, but certainly millions. All those signs and patches and everything else at three Army installations, replacing the 1st and 4th Brigade (Combat Teams) of the 25th Infantry Division with the 1st and 2nd Brigade Combat Teams of the 11th Airborne Division. Enlisted will get off real light on costs – especially with Velcro shoulder patches on Army Combat Uniforms – but the ossifers have to pay for all those pretty colored and camo insignia and everything related to that. New colors (flags), new gate signs, new stationary, new/revised procedures and supplemental regulations and manuals – and the manhours consumed doing that. But hey! It isn’t REAL money – just FRNs that the Federal Reserve creates out of electrons. Not even paper and ink!
As for morale. Well, if there are ANY soldiers that don’t understand that the primary purpose of having troops in the State of Alaska is to defend the Homeland? The troopers are stupid or very poorly trained. Their leaders are worthless and to be pitied. And obviously, the woke political people of Uncle Joe’s regime are doing their job! If being in the great State of Alaska to protect its people and its liberty (whatever is left of it: more than the average State, I’m sure) doesn’t give them a sense of identity and purpose, what will? More lectures on diversity, tolerance, and the proper use of chosen pronouns – plus how to apply for sex change surgery?
No, this is nothing but an attempt to sway voters and Congress by presenting a false front. An excuse to get good press, beat their chests, and do nothing actually productive.
There was one thing that stood out in the DoD announcement of the reflagging/reactivation. It is the little tidbit that the old brigades in the new unit should have all their arctic equipment within the next two years. Why does this stick out? Despite the two brigades and the command element having been stationed in Alaska for decades, they were “round-out” units for the rest of the 25th, stationed in that Arctic icebox called Hawai’i. You don’t suppose that some idiots back in the Pentagon have been shipping tropical gear, NOT arctic gear, to Alaska all that time?
Well, what else do we expect from government?
Like this:
Like Loading...
About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.
The Price of Liberty 
Keeping up appearances – DC style
The United States Army has, in the brass-hats’ infinite wisdom, converted US Army Alaska (USARAK) into the latest reincarnation of the 11th Airborne Division.
This is, we are told, because the Arctic Strategy is very important. But it won’t add (supposedly) a single body to the 11,600 Army troops there in the 49th State (along with another 11,000 or so Active USAF, USSF, USMC, USN, USCG, PHS/IHS, and NOS uniformed personnel). (The Alaska Army National Guard has just 1,600 Guardsmen.) It apparently won’t even create another flag officer slot: both USARAK and the 11th AB have just a single two-star to share. Supposedly, it also won’t cost any money. (A claim that is a lie on its face.)
So why? We are also told that the action is intended to boost soldier morale in the Last Frontier. According to the liars at the Pentagon, the reason that suicides in Alaska among active-duty soldiers climb every year: 7 in 2020, 11 in 2021. The Army Secretary stated “some of the soldiers there don’t feel like they have a sense of identity or purpose around why they’re stationed there.”
Right… So which one is it?
It is obviously just another example of smoke and mirrors, of keeping up appearances, of substituting perception over reality. Welcome to Camp Swampy.
Maybe it is to “scare the Russians” – just a few miles away over the Bering Straits. Maybe it is to scare the Chinese: after all, this is going to be an AIRBORNE division. HoRAH!!! Maybe it is to lull Americans into yet another infection of “government is good for us and keeps us safe” syndrome. Or may be it is sleepy Uncle Joe and his keepers playing the usual political gains. How many votes will it bring in for RINOs and Dems in this year’s elections? How many Electoral College votes in 2024? Or maybe, just maybe, it is just government being stupid.
It certainly is NOT going to increase the ability of the Army or DoD to defend the 49th State. Or help defend our ally Canada.
It is, despite their pious claims, going to cost money – not billions, probably, but certainly millions. All those signs and patches and everything else at three Army installations, replacing the 1st and 4th Brigade (Combat Teams) of the 25th Infantry Division with the 1st and 2nd Brigade Combat Teams of the 11th Airborne Division. Enlisted will get off real light on costs – especially with Velcro shoulder patches on Army Combat Uniforms – but the ossifers have to pay for all those pretty colored and camo insignia and everything related to that. New colors (flags), new gate signs, new stationary, new/revised procedures and supplemental regulations and manuals – and the manhours consumed doing that. But hey! It isn’t REAL money – just FRNs that the Federal Reserve creates out of electrons. Not even paper and ink!
As for morale. Well, if there are ANY soldiers that don’t understand that the primary purpose of having troops in the State of Alaska is to defend the Homeland? The troopers are stupid or very poorly trained. Their leaders are worthless and to be pitied. And obviously, the woke political people of Uncle Joe’s regime are doing their job! If being in the great State of Alaska to protect its people and its liberty (whatever is left of it: more than the average State, I’m sure) doesn’t give them a sense of identity and purpose, what will? More lectures on diversity, tolerance, and the proper use of chosen pronouns – plus how to apply for sex change surgery?
No, this is nothing but an attempt to sway voters and Congress by presenting a false front. An excuse to get good press, beat their chests, and do nothing actually productive.
There was one thing that stood out in the DoD announcement of the reflagging/reactivation. It is the little tidbit that the old brigades in the new unit should have all their arctic equipment within the next two years. Why does this stick out? Despite the two brigades and the command element having been stationed in Alaska for decades, they were “round-out” units for the rest of the 25th, stationed in that Arctic icebox called Hawai’i. You don’t suppose that some idiots back in the Pentagon have been shipping tropical gear, NOT arctic gear, to Alaska all that time?
Well, what else do we expect from government?
Share this:
Like this:
About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.