Ying and Yang of The Army

First, I encourage you to read the most recent article below by Gen. McChrystal. An educated man who was smart enough to figure out that the institution that was the Army was going to have to change if we were to be able to defeat an enemy that was different than any we had ever engaged.

"For the U.S. military that I spent my life in, this was not an easy insight to come by. It was only over the course of years, and with considerable frustrations, that we came to understand how the emerging networks of Islamist insurgents and terrorists are fundamentally different from any enemy the United States has previously known or faced."

3 pages of insight from someone who knows, Enjoy..

It Takes a Network - By Stanley A. McChrystal Foreign Policy


Then we have the PC that is the Army that drove me insane. This just in From the Army Times.

Report: Too many whites, men leading military

"The U.S. military is too white and too male at the top and needs to change recruiting and promotion policies and lift its ban on women in combat, an independent report for Congress said Monday."

This same article goes on to tell us that Congress ordered this report and well, here is the problem:

"Efforts over the years to develop a more equal opportunity military have increased the number of women and racial and ethnic minorities in the ranks of leadership. But, the report said, “despite undeniable successes ... the armed forces have not yet succeeded in developing a continuing stream of leaders who are as diverse as the nation they serve.”

I wonder if anyone would like to elaborate on that for a minute? It can't be that they are not getting the opportunitites, there are quotas based on gender and race for promotion in the Army. I won't speak for the women as I never served with any, I'm not going to debate the "assigning women to combat units" thought process. It's silly. While there may be females actively engaged in combat in both theaters and I'm sure they are serving valiantly, their day to day mission is not one of a combat unit. Its different and its my blog so its not open for discussion. What I will say is perhaps on the male side, these minorities are not rising to the top? Perhaps, even though they have quotas, they are not meeting the standards to continue to get promoted? Or perhaps, they are choosing to leave the service prior to being eligible for the senior ranks.

Or could it be the positions were "rank comes faster when the duty is tougher" are filled with predominately anglos? So, if I'm in a position where I can make rank faster because I'm working harder then it would seem that I will be in a position of senior leadership before said minorty. Perhaps it is their career choice that is limiting them and not the Army as a whole?

I'm not sure how much more political correctness you can insert into the Army. What I do know is, if your an intelligent thinker and you get a position because you think way outside the box, best not voice your frustrations or be politically uncorrect or you will end up writing your memoirs at Yale.

A book I'm anxiously awaiting.

Jurena..out