Senate "confirms" Petraeus

[Brett327]

Maybe I'm going insane, or maybe this is just the typically poor reporting by the AP, but since when does the Senate have to officially "confirm" the assignment of regional commanders? Discussion?

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate, deeply skeptical about the White House strategy in Iraq, unanimously confirmed the nomination of Lieutenant General David Petraeus as commander of US forces deployed in the country.
Link

Brett

 

[snake020]

Media plays dumb to the general public - they confirm his 4th star, which lets him play commander.

 

[Flash]

Maybe I'm going insane, or maybe this is just the typically poor reporting by the AP, but since when does the Senate have to officially "confirm" the assignment of regional commanders? Discussion?

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate, deeply skeptical about the White House strategy in Iraq, unanimously confirmed the nomination of Lieutenant General David Petraeus as commander of US forces deployed in the country.
Link

Brett

I believe they have to confirm all 3 and 4 star appointments, and those are just 'temporary', they have to confirm their retirements too (that was an issue when ADM Trost retired shortly after Tailhook '91, some wanted to make him retire at the two-star rank). It is usually just a formality but with Iraq being such a high interest item, the Senators wanted some face time on TV.

I believe the retirement confirmation was also and issue with Lt Gen Short and ADM Kimmel when they were forced to retire after Pearl Harbor, I think they were forced to retire at the 2 star rank at the time.

 

[Brett327]

I believe they have to confirm all 3 and 4 star appointments, and those are just 'temporary', they have to confirm their retirements too (that was an issue when ADM Trost retired shortly after Tailhook '91, some wanted to make him retire at the two-star rank). It is usually just a formality but with Iraq being such a high interest item, the Senators wanted some face time on TV.

I believe the retirement confirmation was also and issue with Lt Gen Short and ADM Kimmel when they were forced to retire after Pearl Harbor, I think they were forced to retire at the 2 star rank at the time.

Well, one can certainly do worse.

Brett

 

[A4sForever]

....I believe the retirement confirmation was also and issue with Lt Gen Short and ADM Kimmel when they were forced to retire after Pearl Harbor, I think they were forced to retire at the 2 star rank at the time.

LtGEN Short and Admiral Kimmel in better days ...

Roger that ... Kimmel and Short were both retired at their permanent ranks ... Rear Admiral and Major General, respectively ... it was the final indignity heaped on these two gentlemen following the December 7 debacle and the hunt for scapegoats.

Dorn Report (part one)

Dorn Report (part four)

 

[FlyinSpy]

I believe they have to confirm all 3 and 4 star appointments, and those are just 'temporary', they have to confirm their retirements too (that was an issue when ADM Trost retired shortly after Tailhook '91, some wanted to make him retire at the two-star rank).

Flash is either wise beyond his years, has a photographic memory, or studies Title X in his copious spare time....

TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES

Subtitle A--General Military Law

PART II--PERSONNEL

CHAPTER 35--TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS IN OFFICER GRADES

Sec. 601. Positions of importance and responsibility: generals
and lieutenant generals; admirals and vice admirals

(a) The President may designate positions of importance and
responsibility to carry the grade of general or admiral or lieutenant
general or vice admiral. The President may assign to any such position
an officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps who is serving
on active duty in any grade above colonel or, in the case of an officer
of the Navy, any grade above captain. An officer assigned to any such
position has the grade specified for that position if he is appointed to
that grade by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate. Except as provided in subsection (b), the appointment of an
officer to a grade under this section for service in a position of
importance and responsibility ends on the date of the termination of the
assignment of the officer to that position.

 

[2sr2worry]

A nomination by the President for promotion of an officer to a three-star or four-star rank has to include BOTH the proposed rank and the specific assignment...meaning he can't promote someone to 3-stars and then "find 'em a job." The Senate has to confirm on both--that they agree to the rank AND the job.

Also, the Senate has to vote again to let an officer retire at 3 or 4 stars. Absent a specific vote, the officer will retire at a two-star rank.

More trivia...a three or four star officer who is "between assignments" gets paid as two-star until they assume their new duties.

 

[snake020]

More trivia...a three or four star officer who is "between assignments" gets paid as two-star until they assume their new duties.

Gee, a temporary pay cut from 14k to 11k for the flag officers. Makes me so sad. :icon_cryi

 

[A4sForever]

Gee, a temporary pay cut from 14k to 11k for the flag officers. Makes me so sad. :icon_cryi

HEY!!! I feel their pain.

....It makes me sad as well ... but not as sad as a 747 Captain going from 19+ K to @ 14 K/month ... now THAT makes ME soooooooooo sad. ...

 

[BOMBSonHAWKEYES]

actually, the secnav nominated and the senate confirmed every officer reading this.

 

[snake020]

actually, the secnav nominated and the senate confirmed every officer reading this.

No, Senate confirms only O-4 and above.

 

[HercDriver]

actually, the secnav nominated and the senate confirmed every officer reading this.

Hmmmm. No.

 

[2sr2worry]

Well, while you're feeling sorry about the occasional pay cut the big guys take you can calm yourself with the solace that under the FY07 Defense Authorization bill that passed last year, flag and general officers can now accumulate two and a half percent a year beyond the 30 year/75 percent cap...and that their max salary is now capped at ES-2 (155K or so) vice ES-3 (144K or so). 75%-80%-90%+ of 155K is pretty good scratch for just waking up!

 

[The Chief]

Well, while you're feeling sorry about the occasional pay cut the big guys take you can calm yourself with the solace that under the FY07 Defense Authorization bill that passed last year, flag and general officers can now accumulate two and a half percent a year beyond the 30 year/75 percent cap...and that their max salary is now capped at ES-2 (155K or so) vice ES-3 (144K or so). 75%-80%-90%+ of 155K is pretty good scratch for just waking up!

Actually, this fixed a long standing inequity vs.a.vs Civil Service retirement compensation. Civil Service members have long been able to retire at 80% of pay, plus 2 1/2 percent for each year of sick leave accumulated. Back of the envelope calculation gives a theoretical maximum of about 87% of $155K.

Seems fair to me.

 

[Flash]

Gee, a temporary pay cut from 14k to 11k for the flag officers. Makes me so sad. :icon_cryi

I would not want thier work hours, that is for sure. Get to work by 0515-0530 and out of there about 2000.................not a life I would like to have........or will for that matter.......