How To Fix My Army: A maverick officer s plan to overhaul the service s culture

Army Times | July 8, 2002 | Sean D. Naylor

[SnuffaBolshevik]

Once there were also career privates. Men who beat the bush and carried the load. The Army did not want those kinds any more and made it up or out. What is wrong with a guy who is a 10 year E4 or E5, but is a damned good E4 or E5.

Apparently, pre WW2, there were career privates, I mean E-1's and 2's, who did a full 30 year pull. And if they were truly good privates and didn't care for a promotion, so what? The pinnacle of my Army career was E-4.

[Valin]

Every officer would serve a minimum of two years as an enlisted soldier before becoming a lieutenant.

I like it. When I was in we had way too many officers who were to put it gently, clueless. For the most part they fell into two catagories one group thought they were the second comming of Gen. Patton, and they other wanted to be our buddy. Ivory handle pistols and a spiffy uniform don't make you Patton, and I already had a buddy. What I needed was a leader.

[Valin]

In theory I think the up or out system was supposed to bring in new blood with fresh ideas. Of course it really doesn't work out that way in real life.

[I got the rope]

I know exactly what you mean...you just keep reinventing the wheel everytime you get a new officer.

[B4Ranch]

Very, very well written. I can tell you have spent a day in the mud and a couple in the office.

[Dark Wing]

ping