Why is the Military changing over to all civilians? It's all being contracted out!?

Question

All my high up people say that the military is changing and all the jobs are slowly being changed to civilian contractors. Why would we run the government by civilians. I mean President Bush is a civilian but come on...

Answer 1

The reason they use either government civilians or contractors is to keep things running while the soldiers are either in training or deployed.

Another issue, especially as it relates to costs, is contractors tend to do the same mission for less money, thus reducing budget costs.

Answer 2

Look guys, the fact is that some of the best special operations forces we have in the middle east are contract. (see blackwater usa) they take the most dangerous jobs and have plausible deniability (not military meaning that the US doesnt have to take responsibility if something bad that happens or that they cause) Ask any ranger, marine, etc...they will tell you that for the most part by the time they get to the hot zone contract operators have blown up and killed most of the threats. Yes they get paid high $$$, but guess what, they have the most dangerous jobs in the middle east. The four americans that were pulled by ropes burned to death and hung from the bridge in Iraq, thats right, Blackwater contractors that were in the wrong place at the wrong time collecting intelligence. These "truck drivers" that the above poster is talking about that make so much money, guess what buddy. Yes they are contract and make high dollars, but they are not going on milk runs. They have the most dangerous supply routes in Iraq through the most hostile territory, they are bringing weapons and supplies to our troops, the enemy knows this and that is why they are an extremely high value and high profile target for the enemy. Do you think a national guard member making 25k wants to make that route, hell no. So why not pay someone who is willing to take the risk high $$ to make the run? Starting to make sense yet?

In my opinion its the best way to go, you have people who WANT to be over there, are highly trained, and who are devoted to protecting this country, unlike many of our enlisted military who are over there against their will, who signed on for the benefits and tuition never expecting to actually have to earn their paycheck. I have utmost respect for all our military, but you are ignorant if you think they all want to be there and they all joined because of their "Patriotism", please. For many its just a way out of a dead end situation in the civilian world, unfortunate but true. Contact military are a great resource for our country and has accomplished many many things in the middle east that you will never hear about or read about, all risking their lives. You should be glad they are an option or more and more military who would rather not be there would be dying every day.

All you idiots that think it has anything to do with "War Profits" are just grossly uninformed.

Answer 3

There are some military jobs that are being changed to civilian positions, but that is so the soldiers can go back into "soldiering".

The Military is still in the business of protecting our country. Soldiers are still going to be soldiers, so it's not like the infantry will be civilianized (LOL).

There are many civilian positions already, that support our military. That's where your confusion is. You may not have known that. It's been that way for years.

Answer 4

I don't know, when I was in it seamed that way. If the government military got to big, and to powerful, the people of the United States have something to be worried about. If the common people controlled some aspect of the military it would be better, because the people of this country deserve some control over whats going on in the military. Like the constitutional ammendment that says it is an Americans duty if the government became to powerful and corrupted to do something about it. It has already gotten to that point. And one of the ammendments says a well armed militia in the United States has the right to exist.

Answer 5

Jobs on base have always been held by civilians. Contractors build barracks, grade the rifle ranges, etc. Civilians work in the PX and Exchange and in the restaurants/fast food on base. This is completely separate from military jobs. Military will always have recruited soldiers fixing/driving their trucks, assault vehicles, airplanes, helicopters, etc. As well as infantry, tanks, etc. All that will be recruited soldiers same as its always been.

Nothing is changing--only the definition/awareness of this set up.

Answer 6

Because there is big profits to be made. It is obviously not because it is less expensive than the military doing the job it has always done. It is the basic suspicion that Conservatives have about government that leads them to hire high waged workers to do the work that low waged workers did in the past. The moneyed folks then get better control of the workers and the operation of the mess halls. It is sick stuff.

Answer 7

It is cheaper to higher a contractor to do a job than it is to pay a member of the armed forces. Contractors don't get benifits, access to many base privliges, etc... Plus they can hire then just to do a job at hand and then they are gone - military members are paid whether there is a job to do or not.

Answer 8

Mercenaries do not come under "Code of Conduct" Or "geneva Conventions" but then with Rummie running the show, that doesn't really matter. Also these are hired through Haliburton, and we all know whose pockets that money is going in. I'm really shocked that Americans haven't started anti-war protests. Football and American Idol and such must keep you all very busy. Well folks, Nero is fiddleing, Rome is burning and it's time to get out of the Circus maximus.....

Answer 9

1) Civilians have a cloudy legal status when it comes rules of war. This status can be exploited by the government.

2) It is a way for the govt to give out high $ contracts to their buddies.

Answer 10

The military needs to free up the GI's for combat duty. By hiring civilians to replace GI"s in non-combat related jobs, give the military people for combat duty.