The 'Razin' Caine military

 DC Daily Journal:

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Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. John Dan “Razin” Caine has been confirmed as the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Senate’s 60-25 vote, cast in the early hours of Friday just after 2 a.m., marks a significant step in President Trump’s vision to reshape the Pentagon with leaders aligned to his America-first priorities. As the Senate adjourned for a two-week recess, Caine’s confirmation stood as a testament to the administration’s commitment to swift, bold action.

The vote came roughly six weeks after President Trump made headlines by dismissing Caine’s predecessor, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., in a sweeping Pentagon overhaul. While Democrats voiced unease over the abrupt changes, Republican leaders rallied behind Caine, urging rapid confirmation to ensure steady leadership at a time of global uncertainty. The urgency was clear: America faces mounting challenges abroad, and the Trump administration is determined to meet them head-on.

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, emphasized the stakes in a statement on Wednesday. “The Chinese Communist Party continues an expansive military buildup, and our adversaries continue to band together against the United States,” he said. “President Trump should have the expertise of the highest-ranking military officer in place without any delays.” Wicker’s words captured the sentiment driving Caine’s swift ascent—a need for decisive, experienced leadership to counter growing threats.

As the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, Caine now serves as the principal military adviser to the president, the secretary of defense, and the National Security Council. His confirmation places a seasoned fighter pilot at the helm, one whose career spans critical moments in America’s recent history. From patrolling the skies above Washington, D.C., after the 9/11 attacks to serving in the Middle East during the campaign against the Islamic State, Caine brings a wealth of real-world experience to the role.

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The strength of the US military is a combined arms operation that puts lethal pressure on the enemy.  It takes air, land, and sea personnel to close with and defeat an enemy.  As a former Maine Corps officer who served and fought in Vietnam, I get to see how combined arms operations worked firsthand.  

In my time there, I worked in the Third Marine Division communication center as assistant commander, reviewing message traffic, and later became Executive Officer of a rifle company of Marines along the DMZ before being wounded in combat.  

I was sent on a Top Secret trip to Khe Sanh during the height of the siege.  As the plane was coming in for a landing at Khe Sanh, the NVA started shelling the runway, the pilot quickly pulled out and then dropped me off at a firebase near there.  

Usine the top secret nature of my flight, I was able to get a chopper to take me back to Khe Sanh and deliver the message to the base commanders.  I was then able to get a chopper flight back to Dong Ha, and a Green Beret joined me on the flight and pointed out aspects of the base's defense.