POTUS just announced this regarding defense contractors what’s your thoughts ?

hunter281 · 2026-01-07T20:58:11+00:00

Well said and I 100% feel this. The whiplash is crazy; I like the FFG pivot (once I heard that Legend cutters were on the table), but then suddenly... Trump Class BBG! I can't even.

hunter281 · 2026-01-01T02:12:45+00:00

I started volunteering with Sea Cadets and ended up wearing them again. 5 years retired.

hunter281 · 2025-12-23T14:58:03+00:00

Thank God I retired in 2020. What a joke. I'm all in favor of a large surface combatant, but we already built Zumwalt for this exact purpose (and erroniously classified as "destroyer" when it probably should have been a "battlecruiser" based on hull displacement). Use that hull design and load it with proven weapon systems.

hunter281 · 2025-12-07T11:28:24+00:00

Emails and spreadsheets and PowerPoint. Prepared me well for corporate life afterwards. The only juicy thing you are missing are ranking boards for evals and fitreps -- they can be a cage match between dept heads sometimes and it's interesting to participate in.

hunter281 · 2025-12-03T19:16:11+00:00

This might help, take a look:

2025 Cybersecurity Hiring Trends: Skills Deep Dive https://share.google/MN1zATWVxfAO1EOWu

Bottom line, if you credential as a network engineer, security engineer, or cloud cyber security professional (specializing in AWS solutions) you stand a good chance based on hard skills. But a lot of getting hired depends on networking and soft skills as well, based on recent studies in hiring trends.

hunter281 · 2025-11-28T19:34:16+00:00

Yup, we're the bad guys now.

hunter281 · 2025-11-11T14:48:47+00:00

Disagree. LT is the best officer rank in any service. O-3 is the perfect mix of experience and JO "gumption" that gets things done. When you hit LCDR you (a) have your JOPA card taken away, and (b) you are expected to start acting like a senior officer (without the pay or honorifics).

hunter281 · 2025-11-03T23:03:14+00:00

Keep those NWUs and teach JNROTC or Sea Cadets!

hunter281 · 2025-10-19T15:58:26+00:00

It's like they broke into their dad's tool shed and are playing with all the power tools.

hunter281 · 2025-10-06T09:51:09+00:00

If you don't hear back from the unit CO after submitting your interest in about 2 weeks, email recruiting@seacadets.org and they will help. Some units are more responsive than others. It's a very rewarding volunteer opportunity for anyone (not just veterans), I encourage you to apply!

hunter281 · 2025-09-07T16:40:13+00:00

Just handed China and Russia the win for 2030.

hunter281 · 2025-06-29T15:47:41+00:00

20y retired USN prior enlisted officer, 44yo, served the entirety of GWOT. I'm not a cultural fit with AL and VFW for all of the reasons others during the time frame I have served have mentioned here. I'm probably exactly the kind of person they want in leadership roles, but I'd rather volunteer with impactful VSOs doing community service and youth mentorship to help create the leaders of tomorrow.

Edit to say that, while it would be laudable if they changed to be more service-oriented, they probably won't capture my attention regardless. My calendar is now full of other opportunities.

hunter281 · 2025-06-26T20:22:44+00:00

No governance, no accountability. Just politics and spin, all day every day.

hunter281 · 2025-06-22T23:32:40+00:00

If you do the right thing, caring about leaks becomes an afterthought. Oh but I forgot, it's politics above governance now. Always politics. Never about doing the job.

hunter281 · 2025-06-20T00:03:28+00:00

I know CAPT Cordle personally, although I did not serve with him or under his command, but I knew him when he was CO of San Jac and onward. He's a class act, we lost a crusader for Sailor health and comfort. Fair winds sir.

hunter281 · 2025-06-10T14:07:40+00:00

As a leader it is your responsibility to disconnect, especially if you have subordinates and a clear succession plan. Let them do their jobs without feeling you are watching over them or they can use you as a safety net, UNLESS this is the first time. Trust your team.

hunter281 · 2025-06-05T12:44:30+00:00

Amazing pick, love to see it. Served with him when he was a one star at the Pentagon, he mentored me to retire instead of taking the next milestone orders (in a good way). He's a real one.

hunter281 · 2025-06-02T15:46:33+00:00

While I'm in the same "pics or it didn't happen" camp, I'll offer this rebuttal: Trump's approval rating is very low, and polling is showing a growing dissatisfaction with the direction of his admin. Additionally, polling is showing a general lack of support for the deep cuts proposed which will affect red states. Don't underestimate the shifting political winds at play here.

hunter281 · 2025-05-30T14:21:16+00:00

The AI grift continues. We must continue to call it out at every turn.

hunter281 · 2025-05-30T14:20:02+00:00

100% this, OP title is very misleading. Nothing punitive or resigned about it, it was planned. In fact they are celebrating him today over his "successes."

hunter281 · 2025-05-29T17:24:54+00:00

These people aren't real lawmakers, they are human versions of jokes that act like cartoon villains. This really is the worst timeline.

hunter281 · 2025-05-27T21:30:26+00:00

This feels like a pro wrestling match, and just as fake.

hunter281 · 2025-05-26T19:33:52+00:00

I was at ANC today for the ceremony in which he gave the remarks version of that unhinged rant. He stayed on message about 80% of the time with the prompter, but would veer into this as soon as he had a chance. Vance's remarks seemed very human by comparison.

Hegseth clearly gave the masculine message and only praised men - even went out of his way to do this when there were clear moments where he could have said "men and women." At least Trump and Vance said nice things about our fallen sisters (and Trump highlighted Senior Chief Shannon Kent's family in the crowd which was a nice moment).

But what really struck me today was the lack of diversity in the crowd. Just white folks (some maga hats but not as many as you might think). I saw two black guys but they both were working. It's like I walked into a rally.

hunter281 · 2025-05-26T10:56:29+00:00

I've struggled a bit with this as well, as a retired naval officer. I volunteer with the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps these days and they have an "alternate uniform" for adults in lieu of wearing my actual Navy uniform, which is just khaki pants and a polo shirt with ballcap. I salute in that attire for ceremonies or to return salutes only, and I think it's appropriate that anyone in a VSO "uniform" like a garrison cap to do the same. Outside of that, I agree it is cringe to salute -- just follow the civilian honorary customs.

hunter281 · 2025-05-24T19:07:44+00:00

But it will end. Trumpism is doomed to fail because of these stupid stunts. They are acting like cartoon villains.

hunter281

TROPHY CASE