In a sudden and unexpected decision made last week, the Department of Defense put an immediate end to its' Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program.  The sudden termination caught program participants unaware.   To add insult to injury, the program was eliminated at a most inopportune time, as many had already enrolled in, and were expecting assistance for, classes that were just about to commence.

In one sense, like the controversial Cash for Clunkers, MyCAA seemed to be yet another mismanaged federal give-away, with both programs succumbing to a lack of funding sufficient to support demand.  However, unlike the auto trade-in scam that never came close to its stated goal of stimulating the economy via a surge in new car sales, MyCAA was never given a chance to provide its' intended benefit.  The plug was pulled before the program had even begun to take effect.

If there is a legitimate reason for this hasty retreat, other than the deliberate discouragement of our servicemen and women, I have yet to comprehend it.

Combining this latest development with other questionable military decisions is enough to raise serious concerns about the President's resolve toward the success and well-being of our Armed Forces.  Although Obama has been given credit by some for eventually capitulating to the request for additional troops in Afghanistan, others saw his dithering, and his disrespectful treatment of General McChrystal, as a blatant disregard for the military's need of a Commander-in-Chief who supports their cause.

Like many, I believe that making resources available to support our troops and their families in this manner is not only an honorable thing to do, it is money well spent.  Bolstering our civilian workforce, while providing those in service to our nation an opportunity to improve their lives, makes a whole lot of sense to me.

So, in an attempt to remain optimistic about the President's overall military strategy, let's look at this situation from a "glass is half full" perspective.  Maybe this worthwhile program has only been placed on temporary hiatus.  Or who knows, perhaps the DoD will reinstate it for Obama's Civilian Defense Force instead.   

That idea seems to better fit his overall "national security" agenda, wouldn't you agree?