Dempsey: Military Ready to Trim Top Brass, Perks

BMT (RIP) · 06-03-2013, 07:03

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2...tml?ESRC=eb.nl

Hope no one try's holding their breath till this happens!!

BMT

Guy · 06-03-2013, 07:18

From the article:

Quote:

“We got in the habit of surrounding general officers with a level of support that was probably excessive in some ways,” he said.

The perks for generals and admirals include lavish quarters, personal jets, chefs, speech writers, security details, aids and schedulers.

“What’s it going to look like if somebody sees you staying in the Ritz-Carlton … for four days and doing one hour’s worth of work?” he said.

Sounds like these officers took on the persona of politicians

, instead of supporting the troops and winning wars....

**PRB** · 06-03-2013, 08:01

Very true...I worked with a few BG's and watched the transition from "I don't need this stuff" and being slightly embarrassed, to acceptance, then expectation.
Saw this in some senior CSM's too btw.

SF18C · 06-03-2013, 08:44

But who will make their lunch if they take away their personal chef?

I shit you not, I got called one day to go fix a telephone problem in a 2-stars office. While I was there, a SSG brought in a tray full of food. I asked him “Where did that come from?” and his reply was the CG's chef made it in the General's Quarters kitchen and had it drove over.

At that I point I realized we had created feudal lords to rule over us!

Another General office story of Really??? We held an exercise in the Republic of Georgia a few years back. Now for those that aren’t up on the old east-bloc plumbing standards, every place we went had “squatty holes”. Well for the building our CG was going to stay in (he was there about two whole weeks) “they” had a “Commander’s Toilet” installed…and it came with a clean crew to boot! I still have the email somewhere from the G-3 that ordered everyone in the Task Force to stay away from the CGs potty!

BMT (RIP) · 06-03-2013, 09:07

Hell I got turned down as a GO's driver because I didn't have blond hair and blue eye's!!

BMT

Streck-Fu · 06-03-2013, 09:23

On board the carriers, the Flag mess staff consisted of a senior MS (Mess Specialist) that was sent to some fancy culinary school and, once women were allowed on as crew, any attractive MS....

I hate to be stereotypical but that trend repeated itself over 3 deployments in the late 90s....

Trapper John · 06-03-2013, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by SF18C

But who will make their lunch if they take away their personal chef?

I shit you not, I got called one day to go fix a telephone problem in a 2-stars office. While I was there, a SSG brought in a tray full of food. I asked him “Where did that come from?” and his reply was the CG's chef made it in the General's Quarters kitchen and had it drove over.

At that I point I realized we had created feudal lords to rule over us!

Another General office story of Really??? We held an exercise in the Republic of Georgia a few years back. Now for those that aren’t up on the old east-bloc plumbing standards, every place we went had “squatty holes”. Well for the building our CG was going to stay in (he was there about two whole weeks) “they” had a “Commander’s Toilet” installed…and it came with a clean crew to boot! I still have the email somewhere from the G-3 that ordered everyone in the Task Force to stay away from the CGs potty!

I guess the Infantry motto "Follow Me" doesn't mean what it used to?

UWOA (RIP) · 06-03-2013, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy

From the article:

Sounds like these officers took on the persona of politicians

, instead of supporting the troops and winning wars....

I would prefer the phrase "leading and supporting the troops". Too much emphasis on REMFing. It started in Vietnam with multiple echelons of C&C ships hovering over the battlefield.

Whatever happened to leading by example? It's the ring knocker/WPA culture that's to blame IMHO.

.

Badger52 · 06-03-2013, 09:42

CJCS is gonna lean forward and set the example, right?

Tree Potato · 06-03-2013, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocIllinois

"Lead from where the action is." - LTG Hal Moore

"The second you believe or demonstrate that you think you're better than your people, you've lost them." - MSG Jonathan Rieches, TAC, U.S. Army OCS

Where are these types of leaders at the higher levels today?

The list of requirements to make GO might contribute to the problem, filtering out officers focused on leadership from those more concerned with checking off blocks. Congress may recognize this, and add more rules to fix it.

ddoering · 06-03-2013, 14:22

I'm sure the 1 stars will feel the brunt of this.

**Pete** · 06-03-2013, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trapper John

I guess the Infantry motto "Follow Me" doesn't mean what it used to?

Follow me - I'm right behind the Engineers!

**PRB** · 06-03-2013, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMT

Hell I got turned down as a GO's driver because I didn't have blond hair and blue eye's!!

BMT

Uh, ok, that may have been your lucky day...lol

SF18C · 06-04-2013, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

Follow me - I'm right behind the Engineers!

Aint that the truth!

Trapper John · 06-04-2013, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

Follow me - I'm right behind the Engineers!

REALLY??? I am decades out now, but I never dreamed that the sacred principles of leadership I learned (exemplified by "follow me") would no longer be applicable today.

My apologies for the apparent naivety on my part, but maybe I need to be updated to the new reality. The perspective I am seeing from the posts here are truly shocking to this FOG.