Next US Chairman of JCS
<thread drift> I increasingly think the UK would be better served if we had public parliamentary hearings for chiefs of staff and others nominated for senior public service posts rather than at the whim of the current prime minister following her/his own agenda under the cover of the monarch rather than the public good.</thread drift>
I think in may ways the criticisms of Milley originate in his determination to speak truth to power in an age when those with power are increasingly unwilling to listen to uncomfortable truth. Also in sticking to the advisory not command nature of the CJCS.
A couple of years old but quotes from his immediate predecessor Gen Joseph Dunford in a pertinant article in Politico
I think in may ways the criticisms of Milley originate in his determination to speak truth to power in an age when those with power are increasingly unwilling to listen to uncomfortable truth. Also in sticking to the advisory not command nature of the CJCS.
A couple of years old but quotes from his immediate predecessor Gen Joseph Dunford in a pertinant article in Politico
“I think Gen. Milley has consistently tried to keep the military out of politics. I think these incidents are more reflective of the challenging political environment that he’s operating in rather than an indication that he’s changed his mind on anything,” said retired Gen. Joseph Dunford, Milley’s predecessor who served as Joint Chiefs chair under both Trump and former President Barack Obama, in a rare interview.
“Gen. Milley did all he can do to adapt to President Trump and appropriately serve the president,” Dunford continued. “Now, Gen. Milley is doing that for President Biden.”
(...)
“Gen. Milley was not making a political statement at that time, he didn’t make a conscious decision to go there and participate in what was a political event,” Dunford said. “He was by his own admission probably in a place he didn’t want to be.” [comment on the Lafayette Square incident]
(...)
[in respect of his responses to members of Congress]
Dunford also defended Milley’s comments, stressing that the general provided a candid answer to lawmakers under oath.
“I didn’t see anything in there where he advocated for a political position, and in fact on the contrary when he spoke about his perspective on the question I didn’t think it was political in nature,” Dunford said.
“I’m very confident in Gen. Milley’s nonpartisan approach to his duties and responsibilities,” Dunford added. “I’ve never seen a hint of him participating in partisan politics.”
On the blowback from conservatives about increasing diversity in the military to the detriment of the armed forces, Dunford noted the services need to tap into the “full talent of the United States” to build a force “that looks like the United States.” He stressed that he does not see seeking a more diverse force as being at odds with warfighting, noting that “we can do more than one thing at a time.”
Dunford also lamented the politicization of the military, which he called a “slippery slope” and said he shares Milley’s concern about the armed forces being caught in the middle of “what is inherently a partisan political dialogue.”
“I don’t think any of us are well-served right now if the U.S. military starts to be perceived as a Democrat or Republican institution,” he said. “All of the American people should look at the U.S. military as theirs regardless of what their political persuasion is.”
“Gen. Milley did all he can do to adapt to President Trump and appropriately serve the president,” Dunford continued. “Now, Gen. Milley is doing that for President Biden.”
(...)
“Gen. Milley was not making a political statement at that time, he didn’t make a conscious decision to go there and participate in what was a political event,” Dunford said. “He was by his own admission probably in a place he didn’t want to be.” [comment on the Lafayette Square incident]
(...)
[in respect of his responses to members of Congress]
Dunford also defended Milley’s comments, stressing that the general provided a candid answer to lawmakers under oath.
“I didn’t see anything in there where he advocated for a political position, and in fact on the contrary when he spoke about his perspective on the question I didn’t think it was political in nature,” Dunford said.
“I’m very confident in Gen. Milley’s nonpartisan approach to his duties and responsibilities,” Dunford added. “I’ve never seen a hint of him participating in partisan politics.”
On the blowback from conservatives about increasing diversity in the military to the detriment of the armed forces, Dunford noted the services need to tap into the “full talent of the United States” to build a force “that looks like the United States.” He stressed that he does not see seeking a more diverse force as being at odds with warfighting, noting that “we can do more than one thing at a time.”
Dunford also lamented the politicization of the military, which he called a “slippery slope” and said he shares Milley’s concern about the armed forces being caught in the middle of “what is inherently a partisan political dialogue.”
“I don’t think any of us are well-served right now if the U.S. military starts to be perceived as a Democrat or Republican institution,” he said. “All of the American people should look at the U.S. military as theirs regardless of what their political persuasion is.”
A couple of years old but quotes from his immediate predecessor Gen Joseph Dunford in a pertinant article in Politico
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Global.....in order to be bitter one would have had to have ambitions that got destroyed somehow.
I decided I was Summer Help....and was not interested in anything but filling a cockpit seat.
When the US Army was desperate for Combat Arms Officers....it looked to Warrant Officers (Officers....Warrant.....Aviators most of us) to fill the ever growing vacancies.
The Generals dreamed up a system where with the return of a Postcard with a box checked....."YES".....we could receive an immediate direct Commission (remembering at that time we were Warrants and thus not Commissioned) to either 1st LT or Captain....with an absolute certain combat assignment in Vietnam following a quick stint at a Basic Course usually in the Infantry, Armor, or Artillery Branch.....as there was no Aviation Branch at that time.
I turned it down as I did not wish to have the loss of prestige that would result from such a trade.
Those I knew who did opt for those quickie Commissions invariably found themselves fall victim to the several Reduction in Force (RIF's) that followed the end of the War.
Rather than "Bitter" I left a very happy camper with a discharge date of 24 December.....a very nice early Christmas gift from my dear Uncle Sam.
Of the 19 Warrants eligible for the early out (release from active duty)in my unit everyone of us asked to leave as offered.
Those were not happy times in the Army.
I decided I was Summer Help....and was not interested in anything but filling a cockpit seat.
When the US Army was desperate for Combat Arms Officers....it looked to Warrant Officers (Officers....Warrant.....Aviators most of us) to fill the ever growing vacancies.
The Generals dreamed up a system where with the return of a Postcard with a box checked....."YES".....we could receive an immediate direct Commission (remembering at that time we were Warrants and thus not Commissioned) to either 1st LT or Captain....with an absolute certain combat assignment in Vietnam following a quick stint at a Basic Course usually in the Infantry, Armor, or Artillery Branch.....as there was no Aviation Branch at that time.
I turned it down as I did not wish to have the loss of prestige that would result from such a trade.
Those I knew who did opt for those quickie Commissions invariably found themselves fall victim to the several Reduction in Force (RIF's) that followed the end of the War.
Rather than "Bitter" I left a very happy camper with a discharge date of 24 December.....a very nice early Christmas gift from my dear Uncle Sam.
Of the 19 Warrants eligible for the early out (release from active duty)in my unit everyone of us asked to leave as offered.
Those were not happy times in the Army.
I seriously doubt that.
There is a great deal of truth in the points SASless made in terms of how the system works at the flag officer level.
As a good Colonel once pointed out to me: "Once you become a general or an admiral, you are at the interface of the political and the military whether you like it or not. You have to deal with politics"
He then nodded to myself and four other field grade officers.
"Since you work for the general, on his staff, you too must know that the political has become a part of your life. You don't get to ignore it."
I do not share SASless's low opinion of General Milley.
As a CJCS goes, he's about middle of the road. It's a tough job to do well.
He has been the object of numerous barbs from both political parties during his tenure, depending on the topic.
It comes with the badge.
Also: what sandiego89 said. Good points all.
All that shows is a lack of thinking, or perhaps the application of the halo effect due to your own biases. Since it isn't your country, and it isn't your military that he's been leading, I can understand simple ignorance, but not what appears to be willful ignorance.
With that critique aside, I think he handled the difficulties at the end of the previous administration well enough, given what a novel challenge that was.
His latest challenge is no slouch ...
There is a great deal of truth in the points SASless made in terms of how the system works at the flag officer level.
As a good Colonel once pointed out to me: "Once you become a general or an admiral, you are at the interface of the political and the military whether you like it or not. You have to deal with politics"
He then nodded to myself and four other field grade officers.
"Since you work for the general, on his staff, you too must know that the political has become a part of your life. You don't get to ignore it."
I do not share SASless's low opinion of General Milley.
As a CJCS goes, he's about middle of the road. It's a tough job to do well.
He has been the object of numerous barbs from both political parties during his tenure, depending on the topic.
It comes with the badge.
Also: what sandiego89 said. Good points all.
All that shows is a lack of thinking, or perhaps the application of the halo effect due to your own biases. Since it isn't your country, and it isn't your military that he's been leading, I can understand simple ignorance, but not what appears to be willful ignorance.
With that critique aside, I think he handled the difficulties at the end of the previous administration well enough, given what a novel challenge that was.
His latest challenge is no slouch ...
It certainly is my country and I don’t know why you assumed it isn’t, that certainly qualifies as willful ignorance
As far as questioning General Milley’s record I was soliciting opinions in addition to offering my own, then it went off the rails
As a military officer he follows the orders of the commander in chief, the president, a civilian who is the person responsible for ordering the evacuation from Afghanistan, blaming him for that is ridiculous and inappropriate
Theres no question to attain the rank of general and then to become the highest ranking uniformed officer in this country you have to not rub too many people the wrong way, however I still haven’t seen any evidence of disastrous decisions by Milley himself after he achieved his current position
I stand by my remarks that he showed remarkable courage in standing up to a tyrannical former president who attempted to overthrow democracy in my country, without question his most important act at great risk to himself.
The vagueness and meaningless grandiosity of some responses regarding this topic are a pretty good indication of a sympathetic view towards the former, twice impeached president currently under criminal indictment
Global.....in order to be bitter one would have had to have ambitions that got destroyed somehow.
I decided I was Summer Help....and was not interested in anything but filling a cockpit seat.
When the US Army was desperate for Combat Arms Officers....it looked to Warrant Officers (Officers....Warrant.....Aviators most of us) to fill the ever growing vacancies.
The Generals dreamed up a system where with the return of a Postcard with a box checked....."YES".....we could receive an immediate direct Commission (remembering at that time we were Warrants and thus not Commissioned) to either 1st LT or Captain....with an absolute certain combat assignment in Vietnam following a quick stint at a Basic Course usually in the Infantry, Armor, or Artillery Branch.....as there was no Aviation Branch at that time.
I turned it down as I did not wish to have the loss of prestige that would result from such a trade.
Those I knew who did opt for those quickie Commissions invariably found themselves fall victim to the several Reduction in Force (RIF's) that followed the end of the War.
Rather than "Bitter" I left a very happy camper with a discharge date of 24 December.....a very nice early Christmas gift from my dear Uncle Sam.
Of the 19 Warrants eligible for the early out (release from active duty)in my unit everyone of us asked to leave as offered.
Those were not happy times in the Army.
I decided I was Summer Help....and was not interested in anything but filling a cockpit seat.
When the US Army was desperate for Combat Arms Officers....it looked to Warrant Officers (Officers....Warrant.....Aviators most of us) to fill the ever growing vacancies.
The Generals dreamed up a system where with the return of a Postcard with a box checked....."YES".....we could receive an immediate direct Commission (remembering at that time we were Warrants and thus not Commissioned) to either 1st LT or Captain....with an absolute certain combat assignment in Vietnam following a quick stint at a Basic Course usually in the Infantry, Armor, or Artillery Branch.....as there was no Aviation Branch at that time.
I turned it down as I did not wish to have the loss of prestige that would result from such a trade.
Those I knew who did opt for those quickie Commissions invariably found themselves fall victim to the several Reduction in Force (RIF's) that followed the end of the War.
Rather than "Bitter" I left a very happy camper with a discharge date of 24 December.....a very nice early Christmas gift from my dear Uncle Sam.
Of the 19 Warrants eligible for the early out (release from active duty)in my unit everyone of us asked to leave as offered.
Those were not happy times in the Army.
Thread Starter
It has just been confirmed that General Brown is Biden's nomination subject to Senate confirmation.
Currently all nominations are being held up from confirmation by a Senator from Alabama who objects to the White House directing that taxpayer funds be used to facilitate abortions for military members.
https://news.usni.org/2023/05/09/sec...lous-precedent
Currently all nominations are being held up from confirmation by a Senator from Alabama who objects to the White House directing that taxpayer funds be used to facilitate abortions for military members.
https://news.usni.org/2023/05/09/sec...lous-precedent
