Politics

[Corey0372]

Regardless of their political positions, there is no need to mock the suffering POWs endured during their captivity. Or, to call names those who lost their lives or limb while serving. Those of us who served know too many who lost their lives or suffer from PTSD due to the wars we've been involved. No one, and I mean no one should make derogatory comments about those veterans, I take their attacks very personal.

I think its pretty clear that someone shouldn't be mocked for being wounded, captured, etc. Same would go for anyone disabled for that matter.

The point I'm trying to make is that someone's service doesn't then make them immune to any criticism ever again. It's not a free pass that makes you above reproach. I also think that people can let the whole "I was a this or that" in the military get to their head. There's obviously lessons and skills from the military that transition to other fields, but not always, and I'd go as far as saying sometimes it can become a hindrance in the way some people think.

 

[Red Leg]

I think its pretty clear that someone shouldn't be mocked for being wounded, captured, etc. Same would go for anyone disabled for that matter.

The point I'm trying to make is that someone's service doesn't then make them immune to any criticism ever again. It's not a free pass that makes you above reproach. I also think that people can let the whole "I was a this or that" in the military get to their head. There's obviously lessons and skills from the military that transition to other fields, but not always, and I'd go as far as saying sometimes it can become a hindrance in the way some people think.

Or a real enabler. You and I must have different experiences in the civilian world. The former officers we brought into leadership positions within our and our sister corporations were generally extremely effective in those roles. Their decision making and personnel management skills were typically far superior to the typical systems engineer who might otherwise have held the job. It is why all defense corporations try to leaven their leadership with a percentage of former military leaders.

With respect to politics, I trust a politician with military experience deciding issues of war or peace far more than his or her law degree counterpart regardless of party. Dan Crenshaw, for instance, gets blasted by the Trump acolytes regularly because he dares to both speak from experience and an understanding of both cost and importance of protecting American National Interests.

Of course military service should not make anyone immune to criticism. John McCain certainly received his share, and was rejected by the American people as a potential president.

 

[Tanks]

...There's obviously lessons and skills from the military that transition to other fields, but not always, and I'd go as far as saying sometimes it can become a hindrance in the way some people think.

Yes, things like honor, duty, sacrifice can get in the way of pragmatic thinking that would result in voting for someone like Trump.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I think its pretty clear that someone shouldn't be mocked for being wounded, captured, etc. Same would go for anyone disabled for that matter.

The point I'm trying to make is that someone's service doesn't then make them immune to any criticism ever again. It's not a free pass that makes you above reproach. I also think that people can let the whole "I was a this or that" in the military get to their head. There's obviously lessons and skills from the military that transition to other fields, but not always, and I'd go as far as saying sometimes it can become a hindrance in the way some people think.

I won't disagree with you on the point you're making. But I do think it's possible to show respect to someone who has earned it and at the same time disagree with their political viewpoints. Trump shows no one any respect who dares to not think like he does, regardless of past accomplishments and/or service. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. And he pissed off a lot of Arizonans even if not all of them in his harsh criticism of Senator McCain. I must ask, to what purpose?

Case in point. As a civilian I worked closely with the Navy for awhile. I went thru their naval nuclear power school and qualified as an engineering officer of the watch at the Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho. Not to toot my own horn, but that was hardest damn thing i've ever done in my life and I wish not to repeat anything like that again. To put it into perspective how much that qualification is worth, consider Naval pilots. Thanks to movies like Top Gun, naval pilots have quite the reputation and garner a lot of respect, including mine. But there's not a single pilot (unless things have changed in the last 30 years) who will ever command an aircraft carrier that hasn't been nuke qualified. The simple reason is that all of our carriers are nuclear powered and the CO better know his power plant.

You know who else qualified as a nuke, and in idaho, quite a few years before I did? None other than who I think was the worst president (at least until Biden came along) ever in my lifetime. And that would be Jimmy Carter. I do not believe or agree with his politics in anyway. But he has my respect nonetheless as a smart man, I know what he's accomplished.

 

[Corey0372]

Or a real enabler. You and I must have different experiences in the civilian world. The former officers we brought into leadership positions within our and our sister corporations were generally extremely effective in those roles. Their decision making and personnel management skills were typically far superior to the typical systems engineer who might otherwise have held the job. It is why all defense corporations try to leaven their leadership with a percentage of former military leaders.

I'm not saying it never works out, far from it. A lot of times the "make it happen" spirit that exists across the services can be a super valuable quality for any business. The defense corporations are obviously going to lean on former military officers and senior enlisted. Beyond the networking potential there's obviously an understanding of the culture, "language", and practical knowledge of how the military works that an industry who's main customer is the military will benefit from.

Dan Crenshaw, for instance, gets blasted by the Trump acolytes regularly because he dares to both speak from experience and an understanding of both cost and importance of protecting American National Interests.

Dan Crenshaw gets criticism from a lot more people than just Trump acolytes.

 

[Corey0372]

Yes, things like honor, duty, sacrifice can get in the way of pragmatic thinking that would result in voting for someone like Trump.

There's plenty of people who understand what duty, honor, and sacrifice are that are probably going to vote for Trump.

There's also plenty of people who understand what duty, honor, and sacrifice are that will vote for Biden.

The same thing can be said about the people who despise both equally, and don't see Trump as a "lesser evil" just a different evil.

Those words are also subjective, and in practice people will view those things differently. What is honorable to one person isn't going to be honorable to the next.

 

[Corey0372]

But I do think it's possible to show respect to someone who has earned it and at the same time disagree with their political viewpoints.

Totally agree, that's what I'm essentially trying to say.

However, I also don't think the average American is somehow required to bow down to someone because they were in the military, any more than they should have to bow down to someone because they're a public school teacher. Yes, both are important and admirable professions in important and admirable fields, however both have some serious issues they need to work out.

 

[Red Leg]

I'm not saying it never works out, far from it. A lot of times the "make it happen" spirit that exists across the services can be a super valuable quality for any business. The defense corporations are obviously going to lean on former military officers and senior enlisted. Beyond the networking potential there's obviously an understanding of the culture, "language", and practical knowledge of how the military works that an industry who's main customer is the military will benefit from.



Dan Crenshaw gets criticism from a lot more people than just Trump acolytes.

Actually, the rolodex factor of former military personnel, is fairly limited to the specialized demands of business development. I am talking about the demanding world of running a profit and loss center - something not taught at either West Point or ROTC, or frankly at a business or engineering school. But, those are leadership skills learned in the very real world of leading soldiers, airmen, or marines in stressful circumstances. Former military personnel with broad leadership experience find success across a broad spectrum of American industry because of those hard earned skills.

 

[Corey0372]

Actually, the rolodex factor of former military personnel, is fairly limited to the specialized demands of business development. I am talking about the demanding world of running a profit and loss center - something not taught at either West Point or ROTC, or frankly at a business or engineering school. But, those are leadership skills learned in the very real world of leading soldiers, airmen, or marines in stressful circumstances. Former military personnel with broad leadership experience find success across a broad spectrum of American industry because of those hard earned skills.

For the rolodex of former military personnel I'm talking specifically about the defense industry, especially people in FSR or contracted intelligence roles.
I'm not saying former military commanders don't often make good managers or executives in the business world, that's clearly not the case.
However, I would also note that these same people can often times lack creativity or the ability to operate in a less structured environment.

 

[Red Leg]

For the rolodex of former military personnel I'm talking specifically about the defense industry, especially people in FSR or contracted intelligence roles.
I'm not saying former military commanders don't often make good managers or executives in the business world, that's clearly not the case.
However, I would also note that these same people can often times lack creativity or the ability to operate in a less structured environment.

My experience has been completely different. It was the former military people that had the ability to offer creativity and the willingness to hold to the courage of their convictions. The opposite of what you describe - military industry or civilian.

I will say that those embittered by their military experience, and one occasionally ran across those, were rarely of value to any enterprise. I think the major issue was that they were incompatible with the whole concept of teamwork and shared goals.

 

[Corey0372]

My experience has been completely different. It was the former military people that had the ability to offer creativity and the willingness to hold to the courage of their convictions. The opposite of what you describe - military industry or civilian.

For the UAV world in particular this is an interesting piece about a company called Anduril (a buddy has worked here for a little while) sort of goes into the issues surrounding the world of government/mil industry contracting. I understand a lot of this process is "just the way it is", but a lot of that is because people can sometimes be apprehensive to change, which is a common problem in any sector with a sense of tradition or institutional way of doing things. I experienced this both in the military and out of the military in an FSR position. I get not wanting to adopt or fall in love with every new gadget or capability, but sometimes our military can really shoot itself in the foot.

 

[Red Leg]

For the UAV world in particular this is an interesting piece about a company called Anduril (a buddy has worked here for a little while) sort of goes into the issues surrounding the world of government/mil industry contracting. I understand a lot of this process is "just the way it is", but a lot of that is because people can sometimes be apprehensive to change, which is a common problem in any sector with a sense of tradition or institutional way of doing things. I experienced this both in the military and out of the military in an FSR position. I get not wanting to adopt or fall in love with every new gadget or capability, but sometimes our military can really shoot itself in the foot.

Absolutely. The military services are inevitably conservative (not the political term) with respect to technology or reorganization. I think a major reason is that a dramatic change can be as devastating as none at all. The Army Future Combat System was created and initiated out of the apparent lessons learned from the Baltic troubles. Hugely imaginative with a host of emerging technologies, ugly ground combat in the Middle East relegated it to the dustbin of failed look-ahead programs. As a result, our armor and infantrymen are still fighting in Reagan era combat platforms.

On the other hand, the US Army has been the world leader in situational awareness technologies. Some things catch on due to their inherent logic and other technologies can represent a threat to time tested ones. On the whole, I think DOD has done a pretty good job of getting them right as an institution since WWII. I am concerned about the drone revolution. It is moving very quickly, and the services, particularly the Army and Marine Corps, seem to be struggling with the management of the effort as much as the technology challenge.

 

[WAB]

Regardless of their political positions, there is no need to mock the suffering POWs endured during their captivity. Or, to call names those who lost their lives or limb while serving. Those of us who served know too many who lost their lives or suffer from PTSD due to the wars we've been involved. No one, and I mean no one should make derogatory comments about those veterans, I take their attacks very personal.

I couldn’t possibly agree more!

 

[WAB]

I have hired many ex military officers into leadership roles in the private sector. These were in businesses totally unrelated to the defense industry. I have found them to be exceptional leaders, particularly gifted in operations and technical leadership roles. Profit center leadership typically takes more development, but then, that was true of all of us at one point or another.

 

[Randy F]

Something to top off your day.

Eagle-eyed residents reveal sophisticated migrant smuggling operation at northern US border

“The border patrol actually told us, ‘You guys might want to put a pistol in your backpack’ because nine out of 10 of them are just here for a better life, but there’s that …

nypost.com

 

[Tanks]

News from CA:
A new law being proposed, annual firearms registration (similar to car registration) of all firearms in one's possession with a "reasonable fee" per firearm. $1000 fine if one does not do it per infraction.

Perils of one-party government, no need to obey Federal laws or the Constitution.

 

[Randy F]

News from CA:
A new law being proposed, annual firearms registration (similar to car registration) of all firearms in one's possession with a "reasonable fee" per firearm. $1000 fine if one does not do it per infraction.

Perils of one-party government, no need to obey Federal laws or the Constitution.

I’m sure all the illegal firearms will just get turned in so they don’t have to pay it.

 

[mark-hunter]

I am concerned about the drone revolution. It is moving very quickly, and the services, particularly the Army and Marine Corps, seem to be struggling with the management of the effort as much as the technology challenge

Reminds me of discussion few days ago, when we were commenting the latest loss of Russian navy vessel.

 

[steve white]

Or a real enabler. You and I must have different experiences in the civilian world. The former officers we brought into leadership positions within our and our sister corporations were generally extremely effective in those roles. Their decision making and personnel management skills were typically far superior to the typical systems engineer who might otherwise have held the job. It is why all defense corporations try to leaven their leadership with a percentage of former military leaders.

With respect to politics, I trust a politician with military experience deciding issues of war or peace far more than his or her law degree counterpart regardless of party. Dan Crenshaw, for instance, gets blasted by the Trump acolytes regularly because he dares to both speak from experience and an understanding of both cost and importance of protecting American National Interests.

Of course military service should not make anyone immune to criticism. John McCain certainly received his share, and was rejected by the American people as a potential president.

Agree, and it's not just defense industry companies that want to hire them. My retired AF nephew has companies fawning all over to hire him.

 

[Brent in Az]

GOP raising the alarm of Putin possibly sending Nukes into space.

As if we arent doing the same thing.

Tactical advantage, or Satellite warfare?