Enlisted military and their wives: Are you planning to retire if Hillary gets elected?

Question

I've spoken with a lot of friends who have husbands in the military and also guys that we're friends with who are currently serving their n-th tour of active service in Iraq, and most of them say that, if it even LOOKS like Hillary will win the Presidency, they will be filing for honorable discharge, and after years of repeated re-signing for additional tours, they will be more than entitled to receive it.

Frankly, my girl friends don't want their husbands risking their lives if Hillary takes charge as commander in chief. They still care about their country, but don't trust her judgement and untested leadership skills. So even though their husbands remain enthusiatic their mission, the wives want their husbands home vs. fighting "for" Hillary.

And if it's a little spoken of trend, does that mean Hillary will NEED to institute a draft? (And why Charles Rangel is so supportive of her, since he's been calling for one?)

So what are your plans (military folks only)?

Answer 1

I am no longer in the Army, but having served under Presidents from Richard Nixon to Bill Clinton, I can say that the Republican administrations I served under treated the soldiers much better. Increased funding for the military, better pay raises, invested in more technology. I can see an exodus coming.

Answer 2

Contrary to what most of these guys think, I highly doubt that she would significantly downsize everything, or make any significant changes at all, for that matter. She simply wouldn't know what to do with the military. She's a politician, not a leader. Being a NCO currently serving in theater, I firmly believe that the president, the Commander and Chief, should be former military. A leader can't make cognizant decisions unless he's been in his followers' position. A leader can't EVER expect someone to do what they have not already done. A president should not be able to make military decisions without having served before. Hands down. It'll be interesting to see how things play out in 2008. But I can at least tell you that this soldier's tour will be over before then.

Answer 3

I was in the Navy for 4 years and (hated it), I could not wait to get out and go back to college, but to be fair:

Had lots of friends who loved being in the Navy, and some who did not like the Navy.

Having said that,

NO# 1
Agreeing with ron197192064 above, the military owns you. If you have four or three years left, you can NOT just apply for an honorable discharge, ONLY two options, go to JAIL or finish out your time.

NO#2 The military is already not meeting quotas because this war is VERY unpopular, so even if you want out after doing your time…you might not be able to get out.. in the Navy they use to call it “THE NEEDS OF THE NAVY”.

NO#3 Many married and some that are not married enlisted people have at least two or three children by the time they are 21, sometimes before they are even 19, and they simply can not leave the military for financial reasons.

NO#4 Many are afraid to get out of the military, afraid they will not be able to find a job, I knew a truck load of those type of people and they would tell you just that.

NO#5 I embarrassed to say that when I was in the military, I was like a lot of very young people in the military, most didn’t really care about voting, they were just trying to survive. Also, the military officer’s try to promote the Republican Party, so most people voted Republican.

Answer 4

I joined the military to protect the country and uphold the Consitution of the United States of America. If the American People vote Hillary Clinton into Office, then I will press on with my military career. I swore to follow the orders of the President. Just because it is inconvient or I had different openions then the president does that release me from my obligation. I swore my allegiance to the Office of the President, not any paticular president. So when they change out in either 4 or 8 years, I still will follow.

I'm not Republican or Democrat, but to all those they keep saying Republican's do more for the military then Democrats you need to open your eyes. Neither do us any favor. Bush gave the Military the smallest payraise a few years back that we have ever seen. Also, Republicans are trying to reduce the amount of money for the MGI-Bill because it is 'to lucrative and to much of an insentive for soldiers to get out of the military'. Lets not forget to look at our Health Care for all our wounded vets that are being treated by the awesome healthcare. Lastly, I'm glad everyone finally got body armor now, only took a couple years to get plates that actually save lives. Good job Republicans.

Answer 5

I was medically discharged back in 1999, so it really doesn't affect me directly any longer, but MOST NCO's are FAR too professional to retire just because of Hillary. AND most of us aren't so "whipped" we will bow to our significant-others "worries" about Hillary's "skills".

I cringed when Bill was elected, but re-enlisted twice and took my commission while he was President. Common-sense, Congress and the Pentagon stopped his foolish promise to permit homosexuals to serve openly in the service. Although I personally have no problem with it, I understand the thoughts and fears of others, AND the troubles it would cause with morale and discipline.

JUST FYI, ONLY if you're close to retirement can you "file for an honorable discharge"... my enlisted shipmates (and Soldiers / Marines / Airmen) are locked into contracts.

Though I guess with Hillary, we will simply have our contracts sold to the PLA (China's Peoples Liberation Army).

Rep. Rangel wants the draft as a form of social welfare, and as a lightning-rod issue to end any conflict.

IF I could (and I keep filing requests), I'd be back on duty standing watch... I'd even take a lateral transfer to the US Army.

Answer 6

Hillary has been quoted saying she is anitmilitary. And Bill didn't do the military any favors. No pay raises and no respect.

Even before the war.... Bush started giving the military pay raises and more benefits. History seems to show that Republicans treat the military with great respect and Democrats... not so much. I did watch many great soldier leave the Army during Bill's term in the white house.

While Kerry was running for office he posted on his official website that he wanted to bring down the nation deficit. In order to do this he stated that he was going to take away the military dependents rights to free medical care and make the soldiers pay half of their own. He went on to say this would save the U.S milllions and help us get out of debt. Hillary backed him up and said she agreed with this. This is our biggest benefit of being in the military. When my husband is tdy or deployed he wants to concentrate on what he is doing and not if we (his family) are being deprived of things. If this happens we will be getting out of the military. Serving your country is a great thing, but not recieving pay raises, healthcare and benefits and moving every 3 years just wouldn't be worth it.
Sorry.
I hope she DOES NOT get into that white house again.

Answer 7

Many got out when Bill was elected. The only reason some didn't was because they had too much time in.

Just in case you don't know:

Before Bill was president, if a person did 20 years in the armed forces, they could receive 50% of their pay for retriement. After Bill, you could only recieve 30%.

Needless to say what Hillary will do to our military.

Up Date:

ron19719..., FYI, in spite of the war, majorty of the people in uniform still vote Republican, around 80%. This is one of the reasons why the democrats hate the military so much. And why they treat the military the way that they do.

Furthermore, consider the comment that Bill made when he was originally running for office: He stated that he would not go after the vote of uniform personal. Because he knew that majorty of the people in uniform voted Republican. In fact, it was above 85%. Should anyone disbelieve me, I challenge them to look the information up for themselves!

As for Hillary, communists and muslim countries have been given her money to run for president. That in itself should tell you something about her. Futhermore, when President Truman criticized General McArther, Truman ratings with the American people dropped like a rock overnight. Same thing happen when Senator Bob Dole criticized Vice Admiral Koop and former Surgeon General. After that, Dole was wasting his and everyone else's time to even try to become the next president. Now Hillary thinks she can criticizes a Marine and Lieutenant General and get away with it? I think not!

I don't see any real differences between Hillary and Hanoi Fonder. It will be a cold day in satan's house before I consider the "c"linton's as Americans.

In fact, I'll goes as far as to say that if Hillary is elected, she will have a hand in helping the movement towards a New World Order or One World Government.

Answer 8

Anybody that would retire or leave service just because Hillary Clinton became president would be likely suffering from dementia. Would this because they simply hate Hillary alone, or hate the idea that a woman would be running the country. History shows us such strong women leaders as Indira Gandhi of India, Golda Meir of Israel, Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain and in the past Elizabeth I of England, Mary Queen of Scots, and further back Cleopatra of Egypt. Maybe it is the fact that Hillary is more likely to be a strong leader than her husband Bill that really scares these people so much. I am a man speaking these things, and although not active service, have served in the US Army (now retired). Had she been president while I was in, it wouldn't have affected me at all as presidents really have little to say about the day to day regimen of military life in any service.
Had she given the call to go to war, I would have gone and that would be that. Yes, all military men and women swear and oath upon enlisting to obey the orders of the Commander-in-Chief (The Pres.). If any military man or woman refused to obey her lawful orders then there's a place for such people: Leavenworth Penitentiary.

Answer 9

I will retire!! I have already served under one Clinton who allow my brothers in arms to be drug through the streets of Smolia and do nothing about it. If she is elected I will have only two years until retirement and instead of reenlisting I will ETS. I have served in Iraq for 364 days and would go again, but I will not serve one day more than I have to no matter where under Hillary.

Answer 10

My husband is in the military and he doesn't care about politics. Either way, he is separating in August 2008!!!