The Pencil Pushers are at it Again !

[GAP]

Afghanistan helicopter use ‘rationed’
IAN BRUCE, Defence Correspondent July 17 2006  The Herald
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/65995.html
       
British commanders in Afghanistan are having to ration helicopter missions in support of ground troops because of a "cost neutral" policy imposed by the Treasury.
Although the Helmand task force has been given the go-ahead to increase flying hours for its helicopter force, it has been ordered not to exceed the overall operational budget, according to military sources.
That sets a ceiling on flying hours, fuel consumption and the use of scarce spare parts.
The result is that senior officers are forced to limit support flights to deliberate operations", such as Saturday's assault on the Taliban sanctuary of Sangin, rather than vital resupply missions to outposts in remote forward positions.
Food, water and ammunition are now to be taken to the "platoon house" outposts by road convoys vulnerable to insurgent ambush and booby-traps.
More on link

 

[Spanky]

Bean Counters are everywhere.  It's the tail wagging the dog! :rage:

 

[Daidalous]

      I think the British Treasury should have known to have a little wiggle room for over seas operations, it's not like this is the first time British troops have been deployed over the world in the past 500 years

 

[ExSarge]

Bean Counters are everywhere. 

You say "Bean counter" like it's a bad thing! It’s the bean counters of the world that keep us on track don't ya know? Why just the other day I was reading a government report that outlined a way the bean counters were looking to save us poor tax payers even more money. To summarize the report they were suggesting that the Armed Forces look yet again to industry for cost savings.
First they suggested that like Hooters and other fine eating establishments, where I’m reliably informed they did a lot of research, members of the military should be responsible for buying their own uniforms and equipment. Thus freeing up tax payer dollars! Secondly, they suggest that members of the combat arms be issued with a voucher to purchase a “basic load” of ammunition for their weapons once each fiscal year. Members of crew served weapons would be able to club together, thereby realising even more savings. It would of course be the responsibility of the user to replace, at his or her cost, ammo expended in training, combat or other frivolous pursuit. They are even looking at methods for the individual to sell back any unused ammo at the end of their career! At a reduced rate of course, after all its second hand!
Been counters, got to love em! Look what they do for us!
;D

 

[Gunnar]

The problem with the bean counters is that they don't know how to measure things in anything other than dollars and cents.  If you give out bonuses for fantastic performance, an accountant just sees "incentive costs".  They can't measure things like people working through their breaks, going that extra mile, coming out to work to fix an emergency on their day off, etc., etc.  What is the price of leadership?  How much leadership can you get for $5000?  So they measure costs...without any benefits.  Trying to minimize costs, they gradually eliminate everything that provides esprit de corps, or which *lubricates* the system with people doing (and being willing to do) that extra bit.  As they eliminate the lubrication, the machine breaks down...so they have to lay people off and ask those few that remain to work harder because they have to eliminate *costs*.  This decreases morale even more, and the machine soon becomes irreparable.  So they sell the company to a larger one, and repeat all the same mistakes, while congratulating themselves on all the *profit* they've made....

You can go too far in the other direction too....but it is my opinion that no bean counter should ever be in a position to make financial decisions.  They should *account* for the results of expenses in a limited, defined area and not attempt to stray beyond it.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Ex-Sarge - if you have a link to this "enlightening" report, I'm guessing I'm not the only one who would enjoy reading the original.  Thanks for the peek into the "privatization" mindset of some.

 

[ExSarge]

Ex-Sarge - if you have a link to this "enlightening" report, I'm guessing I'm not the only one who would enjoy reading the original.  Thanks for the peek into the "privatization" mindset of some.

No such report exists or has ever existed. Bean counters are our friends. As I write this, black helicopters are not circling over my house. If anyone asks, you didn’t get that report from me! I definitely did not supply the following information either!

A major research institution has just announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named "Governmentium".
Governmentium has one neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 224 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 311. These 311 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert.
However, it can be detected, as it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.
A minute amount of Governmentium causes one reaction to take over 4 days to complete, when it would normally take less than a second.
Governmentium has a normal half-life of 4 years; it does not decay, but, instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.
In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming Isodopes. This characteristic of moron-promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as "Critical Morass".
When catalyzed with money Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element which radiates just as much energy, since it has 1/2 as many peons but twice as many morons.