I’m talking more about the branch. The move to BCTs removed artillerymen for consideration from a lot of positions. I know several senior LTCs and COLs who were told POINT BLANK that an Artillerman would never command one of their brigades. This is stripping the branch of it’s senior officers like nothing else.
I was a Lance and MLRS officer before I got out, and nothing like that was ever close to happening before.
Roger, the Army has somewhat repaired that by bringing back the DIVARTYs (Division Artillery for those of you from Rio Linda) which provides more Colonel level commands. At one point there were only three Fires Brigades and three BCDs (Battlefield Coordination Detachments) for FA Colonels to command. With the DIVARTYs coming back that helps.
In the past couple of years FA Majors were selected for Lt. Col. below both Armor and Infantry. I (despite being a SAMS graduate) was one of those victims. Fortunately, I was a prior service and retired with 23 yrs active duty (32 total)
However the operational implications are still there. DIVARTYs do not have a GS battalion of thier own. Not even the MLRS battery of the J Series MTOE. So no ability to fight deep.