Monday, November 27, 2006

U. S. Armed Forces Code, in Verse: Chapters 32, 33, 33A, 35

Chapter 32

521

The Sec of Defense
Sizes the choir
Of higher-ranked officers
As is required

523

The number of majors,
Colonels, and so on
Depends on the total
They have to go on

525

Even officers
A certain percent
Must be lower ranking
Which may cause dissent

526

I could write how many
General and flagged
Officers are specified
But interest has sagged

527

The Prez may decide to
Ignore all these counts
Deciding, in wartime,
On any amounts

528

Officer calculus
Ignores the top guys
In Central Intelligence
'Cause they're in disguise

Chapter 33

531

Original appointments
I assume are defined
As first time for people
And not a new kind

532

This section describes
The qualifications
To receive the appointment
In all situations

533

Credit for years served
Depends on the service
So many ways of juggling
It makes me quite nervous

541

Academy students,
A certain percent,
Choose to which service
To make commitment

Chapter 33A

571

This chapter talks about
Officers, warrant
Five percent are W-5
And ninety-five aren't

572

It fiddles around
With how to count credit
What service to apply
And what service to edit

573

A board may recommend
That you get promoted
You find out right after
The members have voted

574

Promotions are limited
So you have to compete:
How many hot dogs a
Minute can you eat?

575

No more than ten percent -
With minor exception -
Are promoted, regardless,
On further reflection

576

They'll make you jump hoops
And they'll make you do dishes
In the end they'll assign you
The grade that they wishes

577

Once up for promotion,
If you fail to receive,
You get re-considered
'Less soon going to leave.

578

The list of promotions
Is ordered by seniority
And more senior candidates
Are given priority

579

A name may be removed,
The person's still eligible,
If once, just be patient,
If twice, then it's terrible

580

Twice failed or removed,
Means early retirement
Somehow, you haven't
Fulfilled their requirements

580a

In the nineties, a program
Of reduction was redacted
And orders to cut officers
Apparently enacted

581

An officer may retire
According to some ruling
The Sec can delay it
No delegating, no fooling

582

These rules don't apply
To officers who are active -
So they only promote officers
Who are inactive?

583

Definitions are given
To help you with reading
The definition of "warrant"
Is what I am needing

Chapter 35

601

Higher up positions are
Specific and admirable,
Why is a specific high
Position called "general"?

603

In war, high positions
May be anyone
Armchair generals don't
Count for this, son

604

Star-bellied officers
With four stars on tums
Must first have received
Recommendations

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