View Full Version : General Failure
In the spirit of all the other threads on the state of our General Officer Leadership, here is a great article on the failure of GOs since World War II. A striking indictment against many of those who have led the post 9/11 wars:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/11/general-failure/309148/4/?single_page=true
Wow, that was some read. Thanks for posting.
Although this focused on the GOs within the Army, the AF has the same problem, and I do not see an end in sight to rid ourselves of officers that are promoted not because they are good officers, but because someone above them knows how to wordsmith their OPRs.
In my 18 years in the AF, there are 4 officers I have worked for that I would jump off the Brooklyn Bridge if they told me to. Gen Art Lichte, Gen Kip Self, Gen Paul Selva and Col "Tip" Stinnette.
The rest of them, you just have to bide your time until they leave.
"Ricky Ricardo" Sanchez was an idiot. Casey would have to study to attain that description.
GREAT article and spot-on. Unfortunately, the current leadership learned its lessons with the draw-down of the '90's and the "turtling" concept of "force-protection" above all else (Balkans). I thought a major shooting war would fix a lot of these problems. It has only gotten worse.
The system promotes somebody like Stan McChrystal despite his covering up of the Tillman fiasco...and then fires him for wanting to take the night away from our enemies in A'stan and allowing his staff to call it like it is with the current administration. Is this a great country or what?
And so it goes...
Richard :munchin
The system promotes somebody like Stan McChrystal despite his covering up of the Tillman fiasco...and then fires him for wanting to take the night away from our enemies in A'stan and allowing his staff to call it like it is with the current administration. Is this a great country or what?
And so it goes...
Richard :munchin
Hey, this Country also elected a socialist president.
Still the only one I'd ever want to live in as a citizen.
"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't."
-- General George S. Patton
Utah Bob
11-02-2012, 18:11
The system promotes somebody like Stan McChrystal despite his covering up of the Tillman fiasco...and then fires him for wanting to take the night away from our enemies in A'stan and allowing his staff to call it like it is with the current administration. Is this a great country or what?
And so it goes...
Richard :munchin
If it ain't a great one it sure is a confusing one.:rolleyes:
Try writing a bad NCOER, try writing a bad OER. Both are impossible to do. I have tried to do both. You will "hurt their career".
Total Bull Shit!
The last CPT I fired and literally kicked out of my building for being inept, got moved off of Fort Bragg and is now in Command. Someone else wrote his OER, because the one I submitted was damaging to his career. Someone else gave him an ARCOM, because I told the Command he didn't deserve an award.....he was fired.
Almost the same thing happened with an NCO.
It is no wonder our leadership is in such a decline. We live in a blue ribbon society where everyone gets a trophy. Everyone has to be a winner. How can we expect anyone to know how to be a good winner without knowing how to be a good loser?
I revert to my original assessment. Total Bull Shit!!
Reading General Failure reminded me of LTC Yingling's article A Failure in Generalship, discussed here:
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14252&highlight=yingling
Pericles
11-06-2012, 14:32
"Ricky Ricardo" Sanchez was an idiot. Casey would have to study to attain that description.
GREAT article and spot-on. Unfortunately, the current leadership learned its lessons with the draw-down of the '90's and the "turtling" concept of "force-protection" above all else (Balkans). I thought a major shooting war would fix a lot of these problems. It has only gotten worse.
A real war is less of an imperative for reform than the risk of defeat.
Try writing a bad NCOER, try writing a bad OER. Both are impossible to do. I have tried to do both. You will "hurt their career".
Total Bull Shit!
The last CPT I fired and literally kicked out of my building for being inept, got moved off of Fort Bragg and is now in Command. Someone else wrote his OER, because the one I submitted was damaging to his career. Someone else gave him an ARCOM, because I told the Command he didn't deserve an award.....he was fired.
Almost the same thing happened with an NCO.
It is no wonder our leadership is in such a decline. We live in a blue ribbon society where everyone gets a trophy. Everyone has to be a winner. How can we expect anyone to know how to be a good winner without knowing how to be a good loser?
I revert to my original assessment. Total Bull Shit!!
Sir,
one of the few things that I learned in life is that power always perpetuates and protects itself. The big whigs will invariably protect their kind just for the sake of it, regardless of the repercussions.
No matter how big the goatfuck, embarrassment or detriment to the mission. an O-highenough will get his six covered. I know I'm probably preaching to the choir and portray myself as the stereotypical captain obvious ( speaking of officers) At a certain level it's not about the mission, it's all politics.