[rjsimmon]

How the heck can you rise to the rank of Admiral in the United States Navy and never command so much as a tin can?

It used to be that at one time, in my beloved Corps, that no one could rise to the rank of Colonel without having been in combat. Now there are birds that have never even had command. I had more command time than a CoS in one of the last commands I served, and yet he made it to Colonel and I topped out at Major. Gotta know the right people who sit on the boards.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"It used to be that at one time, in my beloved Corps, that no one could rise to the rank of Colonel without having been in combat."

Yes, those days are probably long gone. When I first went into the Corps it was the post Vietnam time where everyone above the rank of Sergeant was a Vietnam vet. Hopefully that is the way it is now for the most part with all of the Iraq and Afghanistan vets being in positions of authority.

Semper Fi.