These guys are politicians first, and soldiers (defenders of the Constitution against enemies, both foreign and domestic) last.
To be fair, many of the problems they crusade against are very real. It's hard to have a world-class military when barely 25% of the “yuts” in the prime recruiting cohort (18-25 year olds) qualify for military service. Many have past criminal records that prevent them from enlisting; others have been on psychotropic medications for ADD/HD for years, they are chronically obese, or they simply can't score high enough on the ASVAB to enter the service (BTW, minimum composite scores for entering the Army and Marine Corps are 30 and 31, respectively; slightly higher for the other branches).
The problem with these former flag officers is their “solutions” are more of the same: just pile on more layers of big government programs and everything will be fine. Let's implement common core and let Michelle Obama set the lunch room menu—that's the ticket.
If this group was truly interested in reform, they would be campaigning for education vouchers, more charter schools, an end to teachers’ unions, mandatory, five-day-a-week physical education and a return of technical and vocational programs in all middle and high schools. As for nutrition, one balanced meal for lunch, and if the kids don't like it, let them bring something from home. One reason kids are fat is that some school systems feed them three times a day (on the taxpayer dime) and they eat again when they go home.
One more note about these retired generals and admirals: as with politicians, follow the money. You'd be surprised at the number who work for companies, non-profits or consulting firms that will profit handsomely from Common Core and similar programs. In many cases, that altruistic streak runs right through their bank account.