I offer the following, only as a further example of how long this policy has been going on and as a testament therefore of how long it will take to correct. I don't often share personal experience in public as example and do so now only to reinforce the position taken by the good Colonel.
In 1973 I was RIF'd (Reduction in Force) due to the cut backs in the Defense Budget. I was at the time a senior 1st Lt. with 3 years in grade, and ironically within 60 days in a Reserve Unit received my promotion to Captain from Washington. It seems that while the process for being let go from active duty was on going so was the promotion that had been sent forward by my Active Duty Battalion Commander.
Anyway when I was RIF'd it was at the end of 10 years active service; 5 1/2 enlisted (top rank E-5 Buck Sergeant) and the remainder commissioned after Viet Nam. I had 10 years of many special training courses to include NCO Academy, OCS, Special/Nuclear Weapons schooling, and to be honest a couple more I can't recall.
The only criteria for my release were three fold. A) I was an Reserve Officer (becoming Regular Army required a 4 year degree) and I was in an "over strength year group".
Trust me I was not alone. There were thousands just like me.
At the same time there were thousands of Ring Bingers (West Point graduates) that were begging to be realized prior to their 5 year commitment being completed and yet they could not even ask to be considered. I was so shocked to even learn I was being considered for the RIF, I called the Pentagon. I don't have a clue how I got through to him but spoke to a MAJ. GENERAL, who of course didn't know me from squat, but ascertained my Reserve/non degreed status and when I was commissioned and let me know I was ripe for involuntary release. He then went on, as to assure me that is wasn't due to the quality of my service only the three criteria listed. He further informed me there would be others much lower on the "order of merit" list that would not be considered for the draft. What a way to run an organization charged with the defense of the nation?
I can tell you also that my years enlisted and then as an NCO allowed me to gain the respect of the Non-Coms and EM working "with" me in my various assignments that our tasks were carried out with excellence. I owed all that to the absolute support and assistance from those same Non-coms in the main.
"He learned to soldier by listening to his old sergeants and being with the troops."
I have first hand knowledge that Colonel Hackworth absolutely knows what he is talking about. There are some great leaders in the Officer Corps today but they have to be so involved in "ticket punching" that much is lost in honing their ability to lead men into combat.
Not having been in during the Clinton years I can all but assure you that, in terms of principled and dedicated combat experience leaders wanting to conserve the actual combat effectiveness and readiness of the force did not make it to the top. Unfortunately as in most government agencies the "cream" stayed at the bottom (or quit) and the "suck asses" getting tickets punched made it to the top.
Remember the recent "Black Beret" fiasco and reasoning behind it? That is but one "small", albeit prime example of what Colonel Hackworth is talking about.
There was an old saying when I served that I am sure gained new meaning under Xlinton.
"If you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance ... Baffle them with Bull $hit!"