Military's main goal is to place ordnance on target, not child care 

8/23/01

Editor:

During the last couple of weeks we have seen some cases of military personnel accused of neglecting their young children.

We and the media are quick to blame the Navy for not providing adequate childcare services for military members so they can concentrate their efforts towards the protection of our country.

The last I heard was that I'm responsible for my family not the Navy. If the Navy provides childcare services to make my job easier good. But, the final and absolute responsibility rests on ME. Like my good friend Larry said last night: "this is a personal issue not a navy issue."

Let's put things in perspective:

1.  The Navy is in the war business.
2.  War is killing people.
3.  The main goal is to place ordnance on target.
4.   Everybody in the Navy is directly attached to the above three.

Yes, we are in the war business, we kill people for a living by placing ordnance on target. Now, If you are in the Navy and item #4 does not apply to you then you need to find another job right away and stop lying to yourself.

Having these points in the open and now that we all understand what we do in the Navy, I ask you: Where does childcare fall in here.

This is easy. It's just another quality of life program available to military personnel to enhance their life and provide proper child care for those who need it while on duty. The problem here is that in order for the Navy to run this program it costs money upfront. If the military members don't use this service the Navy turns to others to fill vacancies which in turn pay the bill. Makes sense as money making institution. Is Navy childcare services a money making institution?

If this is the case, we need to get rid of this childcare service. Maybe someone needs to ask the Navy the percentage of military children in this childcare system compared to the percentage of non military children in the system. I wonder.

Someone a week ago wrote a letter to the Virginia Pilot regarding this issue and recommended discharging those single parents since they can't be available on a moments notice for deployment and I'm  leaning to agreeing with him.

You can go ahead and beat up on me because I don't have all the numbers, but I have something most don't; I have 31plus years of active duty and being the CMC of various commands.

Hope I have hit a nerve somewhere.

Abe  - Virginia Beach

HTCM(SW) USN Retired