GWOT... Nope. Long War... Nope. Overseas Contingency Operation... Yes!

[Schmedlap]

If people are concerned about the funding and others think that the naming game is a lot of bluster over nothing, then I have a compromise suggestion: sell the naming rights (there's your funding) for the war to the highest bidder, just like you would with a stadium. For example, the Gillette War on Terror, or The Long War sponsored by Ford (built to last!), or The Overseas Contingency Operation, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic (whether you're flying overseas or fighting overseas, book your flight with Virgin!). Just a thought.

[Tom Odom]

If people are concerned about the funding and others think that the naming game is a lot of bluster over nothing, then I have a compromise suggestion: sell the naming rights (there's your funding) for the war to the highest bidder, just like you would with a stadium. For example, the Gillette War on Terror, or The Long War sponsored by Ford (built to last!), or The Overseas Contingency Operation, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic (whether you're flying overseas or fighting overseas, book your flight with Virgin!). Just a thought.

Well given that we just had the first organized western tour group here in Baghdad, I can see what you propose happening. Besides who needs a Fujji or Goodyear blimp when we have aerostats with advertising space just going to waste..

Best
Tom

[J Wolfsberger]

If people are concerned about the funding and others think that the naming game is a lot of bluster over nothing, then I have a compromise suggestion: sell the naming rights (there's your funding) for the war to the highest bidder, just like you would with a stadium. For example, the Gillette War on Terror, or The Long War sponsored by Ford (built to last!), or The Overseas Contingency Operation, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic (whether you're flying overseas or fighting overseas, book your flight with Virgin!). Just a thought.

The U.S. Army has already officially licensed the use 1st ID marks and insignias to Sears, maybe we could also sell sponsorship of the units. 82nd ABN by Chevron? 24th ID by Ford?

As Tom points out, there's an awful lot of advertising real estate going to waste ...

[patmc]

"Sir, today's BUB is brought to you by Milwaukee's Best Light, Brewed to a Man's Taste!"

And Staff slides could have sponsorship logo's, like in NASCAR.



Note to my original post: On "Fox and Friends" yesterday morning, getting ready for formation, one of the guests made a pretty good joke. It was something along the lines of, "Our Soldiers are at war with the OCO. Beatles' fans tried that for years and failed."

[Schmedlap]

"Sir, today's BUB is brought to you by Milwaukee's Best Light, Brewed to a Man's Taste!"

Even the CTC's could get in on the action: "Sir, the AAR for this abortion is brought to you by Planned Parenthood."

[Bob's World]

Or Cialis:

"If you have a briefing that lasts longer than 4 hours, see a doctor."

[J Wolfsberger]

I'm not even going to try to top those.

Er, wait ...

[Cavguy]

From an contact of mine in DoD:

Colleagues:

The phrase "contingency operation" is a term of art in Title 10, United States Code, which is tied to the deployment of U.S. forces at home and abroad:

As outlined in the DoD definition (http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/dod...c/01233.html):

"Definition: (DOD) A military operation that is either designated by the Secretary of Defense as a contingency operation or becomes a contingency operation as a matter of law (10 USC 101(a)(13)). It is a military operation that a. is designated by the Secretary of Defense as an operation in which members of the Armed Forces are or may become involved in military actions, operations, or hostilities against an enemy of the United States or against an opposing force; or b. is created by definition of law. Under 10 USC 101 (a)(13)(B), a contingency operation exists if a military operation results in the (1) callup to (or retention on) active duty of members of the uniformed Services under certain Enumerated Statutes (10 USC Sections 688, 12301(a), 12302, 12304, 12305, 12406, or 331-335) (2) the callup to (or retention on) active duty of members of the uniformed Services under other (non-enumerated) statutes during war or national emergency declared by the President or Congress."


To this definition, I would add that "contingency operation" has specific meaning and force of law in the legal area -- with respect to 1) the triggering of UCMJ jurisdiction, and 2) the triggering of certain federal acquisition authorities, among other things.

I would speculate that the choice of this phrase was deliberate -- to bring the policy and budgetary nomenclature in line with each other. Further attempts at exegesis, and other tea-leaf reading efforts to divine meaning from this, may not produce any more substantive explanation.