Dempsey's Wise Words on the Military Profession by Michael Noonan, US News and World Report
… The chairman is certainly in an unenviable position due to international and domestic uncertainties and the push and pull of various inter- and intra-service battles over budget priorities in a time of austerity. His commitment to service and his determined leadership at this time, however, are refreshing. Hopefully his commitment to professional military education and deep thinking will be matched with necessary funding commitments moving forward because they will surely be critical for dealing with and preparing for the threats and opportunities of the current and emergent disordered world.
Comments
Condor, I sure does seem to be that way. Why they even have those formations, I sure don't know... Because they were once the Lt's, CPT and Senior NCO's who troop the line and jacked anyone who asked an unsafe question. It appears to me that the senior brass and there senior enlisted cronies are on another level... And that isn't a compliment. Frankly, they will lie, cover up, backstab and sacrifice anyone they have to. I am not sure the US has produced any real warrior generals or admirals since WWII.
As a Marine, I'll promise to keep the Army bashing to a minimum. I think your last 3 sentences are spot on, but you could probably apply that to just about any organization these days. Technology has increased production but removed the "human domain", in the old days called "talking to your people and developing relationships". Whenever the big brass came down in the Marines, it was usually some big formation and you got to hear how great things were. If there was a question and answer session, you better ask the safe question because every LtCol and SgtMaj was waiting to pounce post-formation if you got out of line. I believe it was Napoleon who said "If you want the truth, ask a corporal"?
I really liked his thought on taking away centralized leadership and giving it to those who may be unprepared for it. Been reading a few of John Poole's book's, General? Our "Top Down" model of leadership is to bloated and unwieldy and continues to fail. It stopped being relevant when Generals stopped taking the field to fight in person.
What good is his commitment to military education, when we are decreasing the number of Soldiers so we can continue to fund every new star wars item the mil industry dreams up? Funding stupid programs, funding programs with little or no war fighting purpose... this is what is hurting us.
I just ready an article in the Marine Corps Times about how General Amos is going to fix the Corps. As is typical of any article when Marines are interviewed, got a to get a little Army bashing in. And as usual it is wrong, and misguided. Sorry Marines, but good Soldiers are promoted to SSG when you guys make yours Corporals. And we have had our share of SGT's, CPL's and SPC serving as Squad Leaders. So it really seems to me that you are under paying your SL's and selling it as Marines are better. Trying to save a buck? I would expect that from a PFC, not senior Marine brass. The fact that Gen Amos wants cameras, two armed NCO's per barracks etc. indicates a problem. Further it indicates that the Marines are following the Army model of Generals making Co CDR and 1SG level decisions.
The Army will probably try something similar. Why? Because to save a money we kicked single NCO's out of the barracks, because it was cheaper to build less barracks and pay single NCO's to live off post. Now we are reaping the rewards of that short sightedness. Sometimes you just got to suck it up. But hey, I bet when they thought it up it made a great OER bullet!
My point? Gen Dempsey and Gen Amos, along with the Senior Leaders of all branches are so out of sync with reality that they really don't know what they are talking about. If you want to know really what's going on, stop sending me on-line questionnaires, get out of your plush headquarters and offices and come see me and ask me what I think or what's going on.
I will tell you.