The Pentagon's controversial plan to hire military leaders off the street

I knew some people who had gotten in the army through the CASSystem, cooks, wheel and track mechanics. They did their jobs and I would rate both above average. I did like the old specialist rankings that meant some people didn't hold command ranks. It made it easier to pay people what they were worth in their discipline but not give them authority that they couldn't handle/abuse.

 

Absolutely agree
I noticed this while serving in the late eighties and early nineties.
Members of the military from top to bottom, in my experience, have always acted with sincere dedication and loyalty for a stronger military. I would never suggest otherwise.
I have suggested, that there are members of the government who appear to want to change the culture of the Military for political purposes without regard for its effectiveness or mission readiness.

 

The government has used the military, often as unknowing 'volunteers/guinea pigs' for not only social experiments, but much more heinous experiments for a long time. Nothing new.

 

Agree as well.
My friend and neighbor was one of approx 11,000 GI's near Las Vegas that were placed proximal to nuclear devices of varying tonnage while they detonated them. This was to measure the effects on soldiers. That went on from about 1950 to 1964.
However, including women in combat groups that will decrease a units effectiveness in battle, is new. And totally political.

 

Well, with all the new and quickly evolving electronic technology and all its peripherals, I can see why the DoD needs to lean into recruiting talent into these fields. And I can see how using the "ego carrot" of having some rank on your shoulder can work to attract a few - it's like skipping a few grades in school to these people. And, a couple of stripes or bars is way cheaper than bonuses and loan repayment programs.

For sure, the DoD has usually been out in front - they're generally the leading edge in the development and use of new "stuff". This is what is needed if the military is to stay ahead of threats - real or potential - and to maintain a preventive posture.

Not all specialties are front line, hard core, etc. Many are considered to be the "softer" fields. I like the idea of bringing back the Spec4, Spec5 ranks. This would be helpful in maintaining stronger leadership in those occupational classifications that are generally direct, front-line positions and leave these techie nerd military personnel with the in-direct, not generally combat positions with Spec ranks.

In any event, many of these folks will be college grads, so will probably be Officer types. One way might be to attract them with WO schools, with the ability to move to the Officer rank after their first hitch. I still think very solid loan repayments is another way.

Oh yeah. There's always the option of bringing back the draft - if they ever plug up all the "deferment" excuses to make that a fair and even keel deal.

The US gov't/DoD outbid the Soviets for all the post-war German brainpower. Many of the German Jewish brains were already here as they got out of Germany just in time and right before the Nazi "Final Solution".

I read an article not too long ago where the Silicon Valley's all over the US have large pools of foreign workers with green cards working in their R&Ds. The article basically said it was to the US Corporation's avantage to hire the best from around the world so other Corporation's won't be able to capitalize on these foreign nationals' creative potentials.

I wonder if the DoD can partner up more heavily with NSA and expand what NSA already has and does. Something tells me from what I've read that cyber warfare is the big thing now - and has been for quite some time. If this is true, then I suspect it will take more than just a few "push buttons" from the military to arrest this threat.

Methinks we need more than a bucket brigade. Again, I can't help but think sometimes the pencil pushers at the DoD think they can put out a 5-alarm fire with a squirt gun. I think they need to put some real teeth and muscle into this if they want to get out and stay out front of this threat.

This is no time to roll out another public affairs dog and pony show. They need to quietly amass a new force and partner up with NSA, MIT-type schools, and Silicon Valley Corps.

Just my two cents....

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