Ironduke

Dear Members,

We have recently launched the Military Professionals program. The program is for officers, non-commissioned officers, warrant officers, and certain specialists who have served, or are currently serving in a branch of one of the armed forces of the world in a professional capacity.

Members of the Military Professionals program will have the same benefits given to senior members (750 posts), a blue user title, and a 'Military Professional' user rank.

The purpose of the Military Professionals program is to confer that these members have authoritative knowledge of military matters regarding their military specialty given their years of experience in the military, and, at minimum, a good knowledge of military affairs in general.

If I have overlooked you, or you know of any current members that I have overlooked, please contact Ironduke, Tophatter, or Officer of Engineers at your earliest convenience so that we can get you or them added to the list. Please be prepared to provide information on rank, unit(s), and a brief history of service, and please do not provide any information that is regarded as overly sensitive or classified.

Any additional information is welcome and will help expedite your admission. Information may be shared with a select few senior military professionals on the forum to help verify your inclusion in the group.

We eventually plan on expanding the scope of the program in the near future, the details of which will be worked out in time.

Military Cadets: We have a 'Military Cadets' usergroup, the details of which will be announced shortly. In the meantime, send me a private message if you are interested for inclusion in that usergroup.

Note: If you know a long-time senior military member here, and you have military service qualifying you for entry but do not wish to discuss the details, their recommendation will be accepted.

Regards, Ironduke

Shek

Ironduke,
I'd like to thank you, the staff, and all the posters at WAB for the hospitality that you've all shown us military folk, especially to a dumb infantryman like myself.

__________________
"So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3

Officer of Engineers

I 2nd that thanks, especially allowing me in here after I dug the backyard latrine.

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Chimo

Ironduke

Heh, not quite sure what you are referring to

On another note, I don't think its you who should be thanking us, it's us who should be thanking the military professionals here at WAB.

-{SpoonmaN}-

Do Officers in training count? Just wondering if I should let you know when I start, or should I wait to see if I make it to comission first?

__________________
"I have this to say to the people of Australia: Kick me, I'm different."

glyn

__________________
Semper in excretum. Solum profunda variat.

Officer of Engineers

It's the other way around, Glyn, sh!t floats.

glyn

Shek

Glyn,

I'll have to disagree here, at least within the American military. My observation has been that while those who have served before as enlisted have made some of the best officers, those plucked from the ranks have alos made by far the worst officers (they were either stuck in their ways or else couldn't make the break from being enlisted and were too buddy buddy with the soldiers in their units, to the detriment of the unit). On the contrary, those from the non-OCS commissioning sources were on average pretty good to great, with only a few outliers.

Second, as an army with a tradition of being big on maneuver and firepower, we often promote folks beyond their strategic capabilities - you are advanced based on your tactical prowess in tactical units. However, at some point, you decisions are strategic, and not tactical. Yet, many don't have the necessary strategic foundation to make strategic decisions. Thus, you end up with a General Franks that wants to talk about taking out a bunker in Afghanistan instead of grand strategy when addressing an audience that is at the operational or strategic levels of their careers. By requiring prior service as an enlistee, you'll cut down on the advanced education opportunities for officers, as most will need to complete their undergraduate studies, and timelines won't allow for as many graduate school opportunities as exists now. If you look at the US Army, it's been those with advanced graduate experience that have excelled: Petraeus, Chiarelli, McMaster, etc.

So, from this side of the pond, I would heartily disagree with the prior service requirement (you can look at Israel as an example - officers with great tactical and operational experience, but not so keen on some strategic areas, resulting in some less than optimal performance during its occupational duties in the territories).

glyn

Shek

Glyn,

I agree that we could do a better job at tweaking our commissioning sources, but the dichotomy of the performance of officers with prior service that I've seen in the US Army was so strong, that it amazed me - you were either great or sucked, no in between. An inverse bell curve to the extreme.

I think that a blended system is best: some prior service and some wet behind the ears from ROTC and USMA each brings their own unique strengths. It be interesting to introduce a Sandhurst commissioning source here in the US and see how that changes the dynamics. In any event, I'd hate to see a movement towards homogenizing the commissioning experience by having only a single source to where you create more groupthink in an environment that already attracts a relatively homogenous group.

glyn

Draconion

Ok..I may be far from qualified to talk about the army, be it Indian or otherwise.

But I think the ACR system of the army needs an overhaul. It is realy nice and really bad too.

Sycophants reach the top these days and many good officers dont.

Not that I know much of the army, but my Dad got superseeded just because on many occasions he stood his ground on issues in which he disagreed with the CO. There were others who just were the yes sir,yes sir three backs full sir types and they are presently Colonels.

__________________
"To every man upon this earth, Death cometh soon or late;
And how can a man die better; Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his father; And the temples of his gods."

Rifleman

It's an honor to be included, since I was a fire team leader extraordinaire, even if I do say so myself .

In seriousness and fairness to someone who might tend to give something I say extra credence because of this designation, I remind everyone that I was a paratrooper/light infantryman for four years. Sure, I know what I know, but what I know isn't that broad or well rounded if you think in terms of "military matters."

I do appreciate the blue though. Infantry colors!

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"Aim small, miss small." - Benjamin Martin in The Patriot

Officer of Engineers

Don't sell yourself short. You know what doesn't work. That is as important as knowing what does.