Two Navy Vets Disagree About Privatizing Work

Sherm Blake was a master chief petty officer. Bruce Vails was a senior chief petty officer.

On the same side.

But the two Navy vets are as unalike as port and starboard when it comes to letting private-sector contractors do work now done by uniformed military personnel.

That idea has been suggested to the Pentagon as a cost-cutting move.

Last month, “Bagpipes” asked readers how they feel about that. Other issues have generated too much dialogue to leave room for Blake’s and Vails’ answers - until now.

“If you’ll check the history of the U.S. Navy around 1948 through the early part of 1950,” said Vails, “you will find that the Navy had to give up four of its plants to privatization. Consequently, the taxpayers have paid through the nose for all of these private defense contractors, and that is exactly what will happen in privatizing any more of the military work.”

For the record, Vails said the affected plants produced clothing, paint, wire, rope and coffee.

“The Navy sea bag was the cheapest initial issue anywhere in the military until the privates took it over, and then it was the most expensive,” he said.

Blake, however, sees promise in privatization.

“The cost of basic training is one big item,” he said. “There’s no need for recruit training for those who will operate computers, maintain roads, buildings and do a myriad of other paper-shuffling jobs.

“Although I am retired military, I’ve always been critical of some of the inefficiencies I’ve seen. Whether I was supervising a unit or division at sea or ashore, I was always being assigned more personnel than I had need of to accomplish a mission, which resulted in make-work projects.

“You can bet that a private contractor who bids on a contract for supply, financing, maintenance of bases, computer work, etc., is going to get a full day’s work from an employee who is paid by the hour.”

“(Privatization) might sound good to the small businesses,” Vails said, “but human nature is to gouge the government.”

Time for a breather

“Bagpipes” is taking a two-week break. It will return April 25 with more requests for your feedback on the news.

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