11-29-2013, 03:51 AM
Kinda off the topic of the original thread, but I will try to weigh in a bit. I can only speak for myself as a prior enlisted officer. My decision to stay in for the last 26 years (and 5 Presidents) has not been influenced in any way shape or form by who sits in the President’s office. My driving force has been whether or not I can still serve those junior to me by being good at my job. My recent decision to retire has also been made with how well I can continue to ‘serve’ as my driving force…nothing about POLITICS influenced my decision. This is how most - not all, but most - of the officers I know base their decisions on.
Having some experience with promotion boards, who agrees or who does not agree with the policies of the current administration is not even a factor. It is all based on performance as evaluated by others in uniform and how well an individual meets individual standards. If you don’t perform, you don’t stay. Not a perfect system, but show me one that is.
Like others (LR1955 included), I saw the drawdowns of the early ‘90s and I am seeing them again. It is a cyclic procedure that has repeated itself over and over again in our history. It is not a ‘purge’. The recent spate of GOs and other senior officer who have been relieved for cause seems a little high, but the head of each service is the final determining factor in the continuation of the careers of those officers…not the President. And in most cases, those reliefs were justified – remember, we will only get about half the story.
When you reach the GO level, there is a huge amount of politics involved with the job…there has to be. Those guys are working with the CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP of the military and nation to ensure that the troops receive the gear, training and support they need to accomplish the mission. Tell me how a GO can sway a politician about the justification of a program costing billions of dollars (like a new GP cartridge) without playing politician himself. How well the GOs do their jobs are dependent on their ability to navigate that political warren in D.C.. Some are better than others, and some forget where they came from. That is human nature and as I understand it, forgetting where you come from happens outside of the military.
One last note – the Senate reviews/approves promotion lists for officers - lists provided to them by the individual services . To my knowledge, the President doesn’t even get involved with promotions until you reach the GO level. Even at that level, my understanding is the President defers to the Joint Chiefs and the Secretaries of the departments as he receives recommendations from them.
Enough of a rant. Hope I didn’t bore or insult anyone.
Having some experience with promotion boards, who agrees or who does not agree with the policies of the current administration is not even a factor. It is all based on performance as evaluated by others in uniform and how well an individual meets individual standards. If you don’t perform, you don’t stay. Not a perfect system, but show me one that is.
Like others (LR1955 included), I saw the drawdowns of the early ‘90s and I am seeing them again. It is a cyclic procedure that has repeated itself over and over again in our history. It is not a ‘purge’. The recent spate of GOs and other senior officer who have been relieved for cause seems a little high, but the head of each service is the final determining factor in the continuation of the careers of those officers…not the President. And in most cases, those reliefs were justified – remember, we will only get about half the story.
When you reach the GO level, there is a huge amount of politics involved with the job…there has to be. Those guys are working with the CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP of the military and nation to ensure that the troops receive the gear, training and support they need to accomplish the mission. Tell me how a GO can sway a politician about the justification of a program costing billions of dollars (like a new GP cartridge) without playing politician himself. How well the GOs do their jobs are dependent on their ability to navigate that political warren in D.C.. Some are better than others, and some forget where they came from. That is human nature and as I understand it, forgetting where you come from happens outside of the military.
One last note – the Senate reviews/approves promotion lists for officers - lists provided to them by the individual services . To my knowledge, the President doesn’t even get involved with promotions until you reach the GO level. Even at that level, my understanding is the President defers to the Joint Chiefs and the Secretaries of the departments as he receives recommendations from them.
Enough of a rant. Hope I didn’t bore or insult anyone.