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US Navy downsizing, forcing out thousands

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    Are cuts fair to enlisted military members?

  • Duration 5:15
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By the end of this month the navy will have -- some 3000.

Enlisted men and women from its ranks not due to -- performance on their part.

But because of plain and simple downsizing.

Apparently several naval fields are overcrowded that's because a record number of sailors are opting to re enlist.

When their tours -- up military departments do have budgets and bottom line -- just like other organizations.

But isn't fair for these -- and women who risk their lives for our freedom.

To get heat so to speak less debate as fair and balanced joining us now Alan Combs he's -- husband Alan -- show and radio talk show host.

Lisa Wexler thank you both for joining is that they can't -- so at least I'll begin with you -- actually brought this topic to to my attention because you had the opportunity to speak to several military's thousand.

Who's got -- that when I was doing my broadcast from the RNC.

And then I went to the DNC and I was very Appalachian upset because this is unprecedented.

These are people that analysts nonmilitary.

When you lessen the military had that you can't quit.

You go to jail it's called bowling -- wall how could Uncle Sam quit on these people as a -- rice at how can this be true.

It's like it's a further investigation and there's an eighty times that -- named mark Fallon.

Who's been covering this since November and in fact it is true they have been fired in the middle of their listed duty I think it's a more low.

As well as the legal and aunts and and these -- men and women who have been enlisted for seven to fifteen years -- -- -- now one of 31 different jobs are affected and that maybe aviation related fields specialties that the navy has determined.

Just simply had too many people Allen.

Well -- chairman of the church is a step Martin Dempsey said it is performance based -- looking at people's performance to see whether or not that they're just they -- secondly you said readiness would not be compromised by this and thirdly the supporters sequestration.

That was agreed upon with -- Republicans and Democrats and that cutting 487 billion dollars you click here now.

But this is part of what has to be unless the Republicans Democrats you come to an agreement.

About budget which they've not been able to do because Republicans refused to compromise.

Why I you know I I beg to differ with -- in this festival and it's not performance based I've been speaking with the navy says well the navy is giving you the incorrect information like I have this assailants themselves.

We're not -- why they -- cut these enlistment and retention awards which is the euphemism because they should be -- harassment.

Termination okay they have the enlistment and retention forms now but prior to -- they did have something called up performed just are correct and that's not what this is that this is something there.

The navy should not be a jobs program in the military -- -- program if we're gonna cut because Republicans say they left to cut.

You know you can only cut things that are not military the militancy that too and you have to also reorient yourself for the needs of the 20% -- and not have.

All thinking about words that we no longer fight -- part of Hattie how we decide how we're gonna cut.

Alan how can you argue really.

That the US government and Uncle -- should not keep its enlistment contract.

Do you not when these people elect though this is despicable you don't want that -- all they have to actually sign up in return for their severance for three years active duty.

And that if they going to -- -- they have to give back as severance payments.

This is unprecedented it's bad for morale it's bad in the navy and it's bad as an example -- the rest of our military -- about Thad -- in terms of the severance packages.

I think that if you if they are cut they should get a severance package like any other job you were in the private sector cuts are made all the time because of budgets -- the conservatives who say.

We have to watch budgets and they -- compared to the private sector -- wanna convert to help families have to do budgets you can't then say.

Well -- this is an exception because this should be a jobs program you know people signed -- -- companies all the.

I guess that had a lot of you know if there -- they don't go to -- if they quit if you put Wal-Mart you quick General Motors.

You don't -- -- to -- not allowed to quit on we are announcing it's not you know I don't.

When -- first amendment rights the military there a lot of things the military that.

Or not exactly -- -- But -- are spiking -- I think it's the fact is that if you want to actually have -- and wanna keep the budgets in line but you have to do what you need to -- that -- -- -- sacrificing.

Military record -- a lot by the way that again it's Dempsey is saying the -- the chairman of the joint chiefs is lying I'm saying it's not.

I'm saying it's not just thought I'd rather have -- faith in terms of -- -- number one this -- not performance space and I think he many different and New Zealand.

You might think I don't we have -- -- about could be what I know here's the thing we are putting these men and women these -- veterans who have put their lives on the line for our freedoms back until workforce.

With you know an eight point 1% unemployment rate and then for -- trends.

The unemployment rate is around its military jobs program twelve yeah and clearly our veterans make the military is calling her -- we're not setting -- And by the way Romney -- and Ryan we cut something like eleven billion dollars veterans affairs so.

-- -- Helping out that needs to -- -- this thing I can I get like a hard thing.

According to congress itself these cuts were only supposed to be made if there were two criteria one there was supposed to -- on the -- and strength which they never did.

-- -- never reached capacity you quickly second that they were supposed to take voluntary before involuntarily and then everything all right well.

It's definitely.

Topic worth discussing thank you thanks for joining.

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