Agreed, but....
As a retired field grade officer I understand the complex problems many officer personnel encounter-that they serve at the pleasure of the president and the secretaries of the DOD and more senior flag officers above themselves-lots of pressure to do what they are told in order to be relevant career wise. They fail basic leadership 101- to break problems down into multiple easily defined and solvable problems, the bottom line being that they serve no one but the US Constitution-to protect and defend it from all enemies foreign and domestic, and to obey the laws (that congress passes and the administration enacts).
Having served 23 years of enlisted & commissioned active duty (’83-’06), I can say with certainty that no training I ever encountered said what I summarized in a short paragraph. That is the travesty- the senior officers in the armed services (and all divisions of administration) are so bound in careerism and approval they forget what they signed up for (there are exceptions, however these seldom rise past O-8 (MajGen/RrAdm upper half).
We need a congress that would reinforce the basic premise of service and demand saturation of those basic principle-but alas, we first need a congress that obeys their oaths of office first....
Hmm, I find myself thinking of how in our form of government ( the necessary evil to protect essential and fundamental natural rights of all men)all power resides in the people themselves. Alas.
Major, USA Ret
Concur with your assessment of Congress, but that does not absolve flag officers from their sworn duty to support and defend the Constitution as well as their sacred duty of defending those that serve under them. When a general officer is quick to throw his men into the lions den, it erodes good order and discipline. The two Army officers I mentioned are guilty of precisely that. Marine Corps officers have done the same, specifically one of my beloved Commandants is guilty of this as well. Any leader that crushes those that are loyal to them, fails to engender loyalty, in himself and his corps.
A prime example of what we are discussing is the most recent spokesman for the Pentagon (RADM Kirby), he is one that is worthy of contempt and a coward, first for placing his career aspirations above what is right for the country and second for failing to name our enemy. He embodies the political nature of the modern flag officer and the cancer that is infesting both the officer corps and has pervaded Congress.
They are all worthy of the damnation that is coming.
RJ
Major, USMC (ret)
I believe that it is telling that over 10 years after going to War in Afghanistan and Iraq, not a single flag/general officer level officer has resigned and made public comments on the reason for his resignation. Not a single one.
Most have disagreed with Administration policies privately, and some have retired as a result, but all have supported their civilian masters at the expense of their soldiers, Marines, airmen, and sailors. They must do so when in uniform, therefore the only course open to those who disagree is to resign and make their position known publicly. I wonder why none have done so?
Moreover, the Judge Advocate General corps of each service have become in disturbing ways a parallel chain of command whom have overruled commanders, led witch hunts against combat leaders who made instant judgments under fire, and served as political officers in much the ways of the Red Army and their Political Commissars.
The military of today is in serious trouble. Perhaps a new Chowder Society will be required.