There’s a moderately long article in Sunday’s New York Times Magazine by Fred Kaplan entitled “Challenging the Generals” that’s certainly worth a read. The story starts out by highlighting the letter written by LTC Paul Yingling, who was at the time the deputy commander of the 3ACR. The lieutenant colonel, as you may recall, was harshly critical of the Army’s generalship leading up to OIF, as well as in the years immediately following the invasion. This was a point of view that I took some small amount of issue with back when the story was new, even while conceding the inevitable conclusion that mistakes had been made. Most of these of course, are much clearer in retrospect than they were in execution, but never mind.
The Times article re-emphasizes some disturbing facts that those who care enough to pay attention to the armed services cannot previously have escaped noting. One of the most significant is the deficient continuation rate for combat experienced junior officers reaching the end of their obligated service:
West Point cadets are obligated to stay in the Army for five years after graduating. In a typical year, about a quarter to a third of them decide not to sign on for another term. In 2003, when the class of 1998 faced that decision, only 18 percent quit the force: memories of 9/11 were still vivid; the war in Afghanistan seemed a success; and war in Iraq was under way. Duty called, and it seemed a good time to be an Army officer. But last year, when the 905 officers from the class of 2001 had to make their choice to stay or leave, 44 percent quit the Army. It was the service
Re: “Now, you don’t get “passed over” for a flag – no one has a right to wear a star”
Someone should tell that to USN preferred customers. There are more than few deserving guys who got screwed by last years USN flag board.
Same comments and same issues argued during VN and other conflicts – and good men left the service. Of course there are great leaders “screwed” in every generation and it’s a good thing to look at why it happens and respond where practicable. A well decorated O-8 I knew with combat command in Mexico, WW1 & 2 and service in post-war Iran & USSR put it succinctly: “Soldiers are expendable.” Sad but true.
Lex,
It may be “disconcerting”, but regardless of the motivating factor(s), it is reality.
You know as well as anyone that your ability to debate gravity is always finite. This is gravity in action.
One can talk long and hard about the sacrifices (truly made) by our fathers and uncles during WWII when trying to inspire our new greatest. Telling the current heroes that, “well this is different, we can’t use the same vehemence in these “new” kind of wars” rings hollow. They were willing, they put it on the line; they gave and gave some more.
Maybe they are tired of “hearts and minds” platitudes. Maybe what they want is to have it done. In the book of war, done is dead, as many as it takes, and as quickly as possible.
We as a Nation do not have the temerity for it. We trip over death as if it is not really inevitable. We think of all kinds of high sounding ideas, not moral, not ethical, yadayadayada.
All die; timing is the only question. Dead is dead. Them or us is the choice, and sooner or later, we will either make that choice on our terms or on theirs. History is the polemic of the victor.
It would be interesting to conduct an “exit poll” of the 400 or so who decided to pull chocks and ask them if the non-selection of Col McMasters, or others like him, played a role in their decision to leave the service. Just curious.
Like all polls, you have to ask the right questions, and you can’t tell a damned thing without the cross-tabs.
I think you hit the target Lex. Ultimately it’s a leadership issue. Not all of the right guys come from the academies. Maybe the right guys are staying.
not to put too fine a point on it, but even making it to O-6 and being in the running for that star (twice) ain’t so bad a performance for a young buck from year group ’84.
(absolutely no offense intended)
I am still amazed that he did not make flag. What were they seeing in making that decision?
maybe they’re just waiting for me to catch back up…
I don’t know how your war is going on the ocean, but on the land our flag officers have all but lost in Iraq…and they micromanged every detail of the failure. How many times are you threatened with jail if you bomb the wrong target? Not nearly as much as we were, and we are much more familar with our targets.
Of course they got rid of McMasters, they are incompetent, spineless devious hacks who have been mugged by reality (found out). They are demoralizing and driving out the hard experience (and moral courage) of the younger generation before they are eaten by them.
You want to tell me Casey and Abizaid didn’t give up while still in Command? I was there Sir, trust me…they did, and by God Casey at least sticks by it. You may have noticed Abizaid is a civilan now.
Good luck to Petreaus…but he’s the last ditch.