[ImpBill]

"None of the Tac officers were RVN vets, still teaching line, as opposed to circular emplacement of howitzers, etc."

As a grad of Ft. Sill, OCS in 1968, where we had Tac officers (one gunnery instr. Marine and VN Vet then), I appreciate your comments. Unfortunately having employed the weaning out process seeing where "tickets" had been punched we were too busy at the time with the RIF and getting rid of the majority of company grade officers with combat experience. It amazed me at the time and still does actually that the top brass would use criteria like "year group", degree, and RA or not as the bench mark for reducing the force, rather than looking at service and commanders OER's. But of course that was then and this is now.

I am glad Rummy has his Schwarzkopf, as Marshall had his Ike, who had his Bradley and Patton, to run the battlefield rather than a "ticket punching ring binger".

[Iowa Granny]

interesting reading folks. A "ping" for easy tracking of this thread.

[MindBender26]

Exactly. The RIF process eliminated too many fighters, kept the staff paper pushers. RA was a joke. West Pointers make great Colonels, but most are the world's worst Lieutenants, Captains, etc. There were exceptions.

Friend's son just graduated from the Hilton on the Hudson. He had prior service, Snake Eater, Ranger, Aih-Bone, Soldier of the Quarter, DMG at most of his schools, more than a year's spec opns foxhole time in Balkans.

Says all they wanted was the "school solution" to everything.

Been back to Lawton recently? All cleaned up. All grown up. The local junior college is now a university!