Get ready to cut your firelanes.
Admiral Harvey has looked at the impassible forest, untended and overgrown - and has decided to take action.
To have a safe and healthy forest, you need to do some messy things - and here is what Admiral Harvey had to say in comments in his own blog linked to above.
... we will be doing a "controlled burn" of staffs, programs and processes to get rid of those entities, policies and processes that simply do not add real value to our ability to deploy ready forces - should be a very interesting next couple of years. Stay tuned! All the best, JCHjrIf you can support his efforts, pull a double shift. If you can't; get out of his way.
Good luck Admiral Harvey. There is a lot of understory choking the forest; has been for awhile.
On, and in case you were wondering if he is doing this alone - he isn't. He is, rightly, in full alignment with the SECDEF and what we have been calling for on this blog for years.
Gates said the private sector has flattened and streamlined its middle and upper echelons, but the Defense Department "continues to maintain a top-heavy hierarchy that more reflects 20th century headquarters superstructure than 21st century realities."
Speaking on the 65th anniversary of V-E Day when Germany's unconditional surrender ended World War II in Europe, Gates pointed to the fact that, two decades after the end of the Cold War and resulting cuts in U.S. forces in Europe, the U.S. military still has more than 40 generals, admirals or civilian equivalents on the continent.
"Yet we scold our allies over the bloat in NATO headquarters," he said.
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The savings, he said during his speech, must be "sustained and added to over time."
Gates signaled that his review will look at everything, from eliminating unnecessary or duplicative commands to reducing the number of general officers in the military's ranks - moves that could rile both military leadership and Capitol Hill.
"The Defense Department must take a hard look at every aspect of how it is organized, staffed and operated - indeed, every aspect of how it does business," Gates said.
"In each instance we must ask: first, is this respectful of the American taxpayer at a time of economic and fiscal duress? And second, is this activity or arrangement the best use of limited dollars, given the pressing needs to take care of our people, win the wars we are in, and invest in the capabilities necessary to deal with the most likely and lethal future threats?"First step. Cut Flag Officers levels in half as an entering argument - but no less than a third after horse-trading. Return DESRON Staffs to levels seen in the mid-90s - and other remaining Staffs not eliminated by a similar level.
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He also will review whether executive or flag-officer billets could be converted to a lower grade to create "a flatter, more effective and less costly organization."
And he said he will look at how many commands or organizations are conducting repetitive or overlapping functions and could be combined or eliminated altogether.
But Gates ruled out the possibility of another base realignment and closure round, saying it would likely be too difficult politically.
Want something out of the box? OK, here you go. Make four our of five (because I know I'll never get all) LCS what a sub-100 Sailor command should be - a LCDR Command. Make that 1 LCS CDR Command also the Commander of a "LCS Division" under the Commodore at the local DESRON. After all, LCS are supposed to work as a network anyway - make each LCSDiv have 4-5 LCS - one Commanded by a CDR the others by LCDRs. No additional staff required for a LCSDiv, and it gives that LCS CDR Command a little more than what his LCDR LCS CO's might have. That way he has a chance to compete with those CDRs commanding DDGs and other ships. DESRONs can handle the additional load. If not - then there is something else for your staff to streamline.
There, just cut down on the number of CDRs and CAPT you "need" as well.
Everyone should lean in to support Admiral Harvey to support the SECDEF.
Oh, and Admiral - here is some low-hanging fruit for 'ya that isn't as out of the box or as goofy as my LCSDiv idea. Does COMNAVSURFOR really need three LCDRs to do a LT's job? Oh heck - let a YNCS do it - or a GS-9 - or put it where it belongs; as a collateral duty. If the administrative overhead for the job requires three LCDR - then there is another problem worth solving.
Everyone should lean in to support Admiral Harvey to support the SECDEF.
Oh, and Admiral - here is some low-hanging fruit for 'ya that isn't as out of the box or as goofy as my LCSDiv idea. Does COMNAVSURFOR really need three LCDRs to do a LT's job? Oh heck - let a YNCS do it - or a GS-9 - or put it where it belongs; as a collateral duty. If the administrative overhead for the job requires three LCDR - then there is another problem worth solving.
