Air Force spent $326,000 on coffee cups it kept breaking

[left-of-center2012]

An Air Force official admitted the branch's multiple purchases of coffee cups that break easily and cost $1,280 each "is simply irresponsible," vowing to pursue ways to fix the mugs instead of continually buying new ones.

Buying and replacing the special mugs, which can reheat liquids aboard air refueling tankers in flight, has cost the Air Force $326,785 since 2016, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said in a letter.

The letter, dated last Wednesday to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, came after Grassley questioned "yet another report of wasteful spending in the Department of Defense" in an earlier letter.

Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman, a squadron spokesman, explained the problem."Unfortunately, when dropped, the handle breaks easily leading to the expenditure of several thousand dollars to replace the cups as replacement parts are not available," he said.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/10/22/air-force-spends-over-300-000-metal-coffee-mugs-raising-questions/1729890002/

[lapfog_1]

1. A thermos that costs $25 is out of the question???

[lpbk2713]

2. They're not supposed to be unbreakable.

They're supposed to make the defense contractor lots of money.

And the taxpayer isn't supposed to know.

[Luciferous]

3. But we can't afford healthcare...

[GulfCoast66]

4. My Yeti cup keeps coffe hot about all day. 30 bucks.

Still have my deceased grandfathers and fathers identical metal glass lined thermoses. Keeps a full days coffee hot all day. I use them on the boat and deer hunting.

I am a huge tech fan, but very occasionally tried and true works.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

5. +1

Good job respecting, preserving, and enjoying your elders thermoses.

[GulfCoast66]

6. Thanks. They both taught me not to discard useful tools

Especially for the latest gadgets. I still bird hunt with the shotgun my dad bought in 1963. My friends laugh at me but it never jams and their fancy pants $1200 Shotguns often do.

I still use old hammers and saws. My dads old circular saw cuts like a banshee. Of course it weights 10 lbs!

That said, I am typing this on an IPhoneX!

Have a nice evening.

[Norbert]

7. I'm sure they will be bringing back the $650 toilet seats.

.

[ProudLib72]

8. Where do I get a $1280 coffee cup?

Maybe I should contract with the Air Force. I can make some coffee cups for only $1270 apiece.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

9. Paper Coffee Cups Solo Disposable White Hot Cup with Cappuccino LIDS Pack of 100 (12 oz) @$20.00

[jmowreader]

10. Two of the greatest "procurement scandals" over the past 30 years...

...revolve around feeding coffee to Air Force cargo plane pilots.

Here is the difference between Democrats and Republicans.

Republicans, in their zeal to spend tax dollars as fast as they can, would authorize the Air Force to spend $1300 on one special coffee cup required for connection to the Eisenhower-era electrical systems in the antique airplanes they're flying, or $7500 for a coffee machine designed to survive the pilot slamming the plane to the ground in an attempt to get below ack-ack fire without picking up any new portholes.

Democrats would authorize the Air Force to buy each pilot or aircrew member a Stanley bottle like the one everyone's dad used to carry to work, and tell them to bring their own damn coffee.

[Kaleva]

11. Here's a link that shows the coffee mug

"According to Grazier, the root of the problem is intellectual property rights. When the Pentagon makes deals with defense contractors, it rarely demands data rights, allowing contractors to charge heavily for repair and replacement on the systems down the road."

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/07/09/dont-drop-that-mug-of-joe-its-worth-its-weight-in-gold/