I'd laugh, but it's not funny.

[wombat_socho]

Ace of Spades HQ:

So it is more than a little surprising that a Reserve officer has thrown the bullshit flag.

For headquarters staff, war consists largely of the endless tinkering with PowerPoint slides to conform with the idiosyncrasies of cognitively challenged generals in order to spoon-feed them information. Even one tiny flaw in a slide can halt a general's thought processes as abruptly as a computer system's blue screen of death.

The ability to brief well is, therefore, a critical skill. It is important to note that skill in briefing resides in how you say it. It doesn't matter so much what you say or even if you are speaking Klingon.

Not surprisingly, COL Sellin has been relieved.

When I left the Army in 1991, the scourge of PowerPoint had not yet arrived, probably because laptop computers weighed damn near as much as a M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun after you added the "tactical" MILSPEC case which also bloated them to the size of steamer trunks. If Colonel Sellin is within the same area code as the truth, no wonder it's been taking so long to squash the insurgents. I've long believed that the military in general has way too many staff officers and support people and not enough guys carrying rifles, and this just confirms that belief.

Comments

[cutelildrow.livejournal.com]

*cracks up at your description*

I have an old Andy Rooney collection of columns where he talks about how portable his electronic typewriter thing was at several kilos.

Looking back at it all now, man, tech has come a long way in so short a time.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

Looking back at it all now, man, tech has come a long way in so short a time.

Indeed. Unfortunately, military organizations haven't changed much since World War I, and we still have a plethora of staff officers and their enlisted assistants doing work that could probably be done just as well with a couple of laptops.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

When Captain B (the Skipper) needed someone, I got called in to watch the BUA with him. The horror. The horror. Dunno why they call it the CUA in other places.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing it's for the same reason the cavalry still has regiments, squadrons, and troops instead of brigades, battalions, and companies.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

1st Cav most definitely has brigades, battalions and companies.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

THOSE HERETIC SCUM!

True, but they've really been an infantry division since 1940, so it suits them. I was thinking more of the 2nd, 3rd, and 11th ACR, which still had the traditional horse soldier nomenclature last time I looked.

A quote from brother Heinlein

[chocol8fiend.livejournal.com]

"what kind of army has more captains than corporals? One designed to lose wars!"

I was never in the military, so all I can do is reapeat what I read, but there seems to be some truth in that qoute. Or paraphrase, don't know if I got it completely correct. Another point he made before it happened was militaries getting bloated with to many officers. At one point in Starship Troopers one of his characters thunders about militaries with 25 percent officers. (air force is approaching these numbers 19.1 percent). He pondered what they could possibly be doing with those many officers.

I believe marines have the lowest percentage(9.4 percent)... and seem to be pound for pound the most effective. Go figure.

Re: A quote from brother Heinlein

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

Interestingly enough, the Marines seem to be the force most maligned for its stupidity, despite being responsible for coming up with the most successful amphibious and counter-insurgency doctrines pretty much on their own.

[chocol8fiend.livejournal.com]

They came up with CAPS (combined action platoons) in Vietnam, which was paritally similar to the surge. Get out of the green zones and go live with the villagers.

I have told many a Marine joke in my day, but have a deep respect for them. I think a lot of people see the boot camp videos and think its just DI yelling at recruits and making them do a million push ups. What they are looking for is people that never give up, that learn to adapt. Their unoficial motto being Improvise, Adapt and Overcome. We are fortunate to have them.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

I have told many a Marine joke in my day, but have a deep respect for them.
Ditto. Hard to read their history and not do so, especially after serving with them.