Wow, interesting article
I got out in 2014, part of Obamas drawdown of the military. If your ETS was within a certain date range, you were given the option to reenlist or you’re ETS date was moved up to 6/15/14 and you were forced out with an honorable discharge. My ETS date was already 7/15/14, and I had no plans of reenlisting so I was fine with the extra month.
Part of that drawdown affected us in Afghanistan, cause we had to deploy with only half company strength (left all the crap bags behind) but we had to turn in all excess equipment there. Cleaned out our COP and shut it down, then transitioned to clearing out all our FOB. Went easy cause we just loaded everything into conexes to be sent to KAF.
When we came back to JBLM, they were closing down my brigade. That was a crap show, cause we had to inventory everything and turn it into certain places. I lost count of how many hours I logged in a LMtV driving around to different turn in places to wait our turn to turn in or sign over to different units. I kinda felt bad for the Mililtary Intelligence battalion we signed over our M4s to , cause we snuck crates full of crap we couldn’t turn in elsewhere and had to get rid of somehow in with stuff they knew they had to sign for. Their supply sergeant showed up pissed a couple of days later when they realized they had signed for the stuff. Sucks to be you pal, make sure you know what you are signing for.
In the end, we would drive all day around JBLM, looking for somewhere to turn in items until we got rid of everything. Thought we were gtg, then had to help our sister company whose arms room was teeming with stuff. Lucked out and got a crap ton of useful gear I could use or eventually trade/sell. Did it all with my XOs blessing, who pulled a bunch of us NCOs aside one day and said “idgaf where this goes gentlemen, but tomorrow at 0930 it can’t be here, make it happen.” Loved that guy.