There’s usually a reason you only make O-5. I’m not saying that to denigrate anyone, and I sure as hell never made it that high, but most hard-chargers get to flag rank. My brother-in-law made O-6 out of a Midwestern ROTC. I consider that a feat without a mentor. He works for a defense contractor and is happier than a clam.
Uh, no. Flag rank is entirely political. Time spent coat-holding for a Senator or senior civilian official counts for a lot more than combat efficiency.
There is an old saying that the best officers in the military are the O-6's who never made O-7.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flag rank is nearly 100% political. People who make high rank are usually CLEVER, but also politically astute. I've worked (unhappily) on the staff of several general officers (up to Lt Gen) and put up with a butt load of ass-kissing Colonels.
Of course, I don't feel much like a failure for having retired as an O-5. I'd have been happy to do 30 years as a captain...and prouder for doing so.
I've never paid any attention to Ralph Peters. Liked his books. Now I'm glad I bought them used. But this retired O-5 feels no shame that I "only made O-5". As a rule of thumb, very high rank comes at a price. And my apologies to a few genuinely outstanding Colonels I knew - glad to say I met a few who were amazing. Only met one general I respected as a man...
“There’s usually a reason you only make O-5.”
We know one of these, and he was a West Pointer.
He got his O5 as part of his discharge. A nice guy but not a leader.