The Elephant In The Room

[cutekitten]

I have not talked to a sailor in several years, so I don’t know if the problems cited here are as bad as is said, but here’s one problem that leaped right out at me: the Daily Mail.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9783807/Navy-disarray-focusing-diversity-training-warfighting-report-says.html

The Daily Mail. U.S. citizens might be interested in knowing that there’s at least a possibility their Navy is helpless—but they’d have to go to the British news to find out.

Of the problems cited, any mistake scuttling your career and valuable training time taken up with the cause du jour go back to at least the late 20th century; I don’t know about the others. If you do, please educate us.

Much of the training problem is due not to political correctness, but to the DOD emphasis on contractors. If Congressman K. O. Rupt needs a big donation from a company specializing in teaching people how to grow African violets in submarines, or his boyfriend or girlfriend works for that company, or, God forbid, owns it, then he’ll move heaven and earth to get that company a training contract. DOD contracting is a cesspool.

Comments

[lp9]

My sister-in-law is a Naval officer (and my brother, her husband, a former Marine intelligence officer). They both are pretty disgusted by the way things are run - which is why my brother left the Marines. The people at the top are the most political, brown-nosing, and not especially smart sorts, while anyone coming up who is actually intelligent, thoughtful, and driven will likely have their career stalled by those above who don't want the competition. There is a massive brain drain in the military which likely exacerbates many problems.

[cutekitten]

Hello LP9!

I think DOD was infected early on by the Reagan/Clinton worship of Business. (I believe Bush Sr, a man with actual combat experience, knew better but didn’t want to cause unpleasantness at the club by speaking up.). I see no improvement possible until contracting is reformed, especially service contracting. Services will sell what is in vogue, be it African violets or political correctness. (I think African violets are great little plants, but they don’t win wars!). 🙃