Troops ‘never happy’

Press, 12 February 1982, Page 4

Troops ‘never happy’

“Enlisted men are never happy,” said the United States Army’s top non-com-missioned officer, SergeantMajor of the Army William Connelly, in Christchurch yesterday. ' Sergeant-Major Connelly, who acts as “ombudsman” for all the enlisted troops in the United States Army, was in Christchurch yesterday as part of a goodwill tour of Australia and New Zealand. He visited Burnham Military Camp, and will also visit Waiouru and Papakura military camps before returning to the United States tomorrow.

His job entails reporting the thoughts of the enlisted troops directly to the Army Chief of Staff (General Edward Meyer), who has an office in the same corridor.

Sergeant-Major Connelly travels throughout the United States explaining Army policy, and checking on the morale and health of the troops. After 2.V2 years in the job he says he is “very comfortable’’ with it.

"There was a need for the position, we thought it would be good for the soldier to be represented. I feel I can have a significant influence,” he said.

But enlisted men throughout the world were never happy. “They say they do not get enough pay, do not have enough facilities, have to get up too early, and do not get paid overtime,” he said. They wanted civilians to do the menial tasks such as mowing the lawns and doing the dishes.

In spite of the barrage of complaints he received, Ser-geant-Major Connelly said morale was high in the United States Army. This was because the public was now taking more interest in the military. In addition, more Government funds were being directed to the Armed Forces, and the troops had recently received a big pay rise. Sergeant-Major Connelly, who has been in the United States Army .for 32 years, said standards of discipline

and dress had declined in recent years. But this was a reflection. of today’s “less disciplined” society. “When 'I first joined you had two choices with your chow t- you either ate it or you didn’t,” he said. Now the soldiers had a menu which gave them a choice of meals. Asked what problems the

United States Army faced with the integration of 67,000 women into the service, Ser-geant-Major Connelly said women were more of a “challenge” than a problem. One of the difficulties faced was the number of women who became pregnant. Present-day problems faced by the United States Armv included recruiting enough soldiers to keep reserves up to strength, the need to modernise facilities, especially training, and the need for quick mobilisation. He regarded the compulsory registration of 18-year-olds for military service as “money in the bank.” Registration was only the first of a four-step programme which was needed before someone could be inducted into the Army. After registration, physical tests, a classification, and finally induction would be needed, before someone was in the Army. Sergeant-Major Connelly is accompanied on his trip by Command Sergeant-Major N. R. McElroy.