What is going on in the Fleet to effect force reductions when few want/can leave?
Are we using a good system?
Also, after a decade of war - have out officer selection process for our front line leaders reflected wartime requirements for officers, or are we stuck in a mid-80s time-warp?
I'm discussing it all over at USNIBlog. Grab a fresh cup of coffee, send the phone direct to voicemail and join me.
UPDATE: Zacchaeus over at Small Wars Journal fleshes out the concept a bit with "The Lance Corporal Equivalent." Check it out.
9 comments:
Don't take this the wrong way, but your post over there ruined my morning....
Agree with Aubrey. One wonders if that computer "algorithm" has race/ethnicity in it anywhere. Will the reduced forces "look more like America" too? So that when we need sailors to fight and go into harms way again someday the meme will be "we're sending minorities to die in disproportionate numbers!" You can't win... Sigh.
I have to say the pain is spread all around. Those who work tangentially for gummint/defense have also been axed, sometimes with just a one-sentence email... if you're a contractor without a health plan, unemployment benefits, or other perks, you're screwed. I know this to be a fact. And you're also not counted in Obama's cheery employment numbers. There's lots like that out there.
Sadly far too many officers in positions of authority on these matters view themselves as a higher level of being than the less equal enlistees. Therefore they implement policies for the enlisted folks that they would never dream of using for their commissioned brethren. These are the same folks that are insulted by the term Sailor and prefer that they are properly distinguishable by classifying themselves as Naval Officers.
and yet we have a legal community of 700 officers that apparently requires a 3 star, a 2 star, and several "tombstone" 1 stars to run it.
Wtf?
well, the world still needs ditch diggers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwYJxNnABp4
Want to see what happens when your navy is too small to command any respect? http://xbradtc.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/argentina-launches-naval-campaign-to-isolate-falkland-islands-telegraph/
Argentina launches naval campaign to isolate Falkland Islands – Telegraph
Argentine patrol vessels have boarded 12 Spanish boats, operating under fishing licences issued by the Falkland Islands, for operating “illegally” in disputed waters in recent weeks.
Argentine patrol commanders carrying out interceptions near the South American coast told Spanish captains they were in violation of Argentina’s “legal” blockade of sea channels to the Falklands.
DB,
Do a FOIA and ask to see the variables in there. It ain't classified....
Sort of reminds me of Congressmen and Senators.
Interesting point, DB. Every FC that I know who got booted by ERB (and I include myself, unfortunately, in that company) is a caucasian male.
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