Albany Rifles, et al,
This is just my personal opinion, not a justification.
(COMMENT)
As well am I:
I, as well, am a graduate of The Ohio State University; and am very proud to acknowledge that. And I remember the campus climate of the Vietnam period (while serving there), and the very different atmospheric with recent post-911/War on Terrorism time (having spent 7 years out of the last decade in the ME Region including all the glamor spots). And I've never been more disappointed in the civilian trained leadership since my days immediately after returning from Vietnam.
(COMMENT)
I was speaking of this level (higher education) as well; whether that be a MA from the IMO Program (NDU), or a STRAT Intelligence (MA) Degree from the National Defense Intelligence College.
While there is good reason to understand the history of the subject (no question), there are those (like myself) that don't agree with the cloning of the officers that seems to be the outcome of the programs in effect today. This, I consider to be one of the most serious and inadvertent outcomes of the military education system.
But running a close second is the politicalization of the senior ranks; both in the military and foreign service. And history (lessons learned) is the first thing that are discarded in a strategic situation. Decisions are not based either on sound Military Decision Making Processes (MDMP) or National Security Decision Making Processes (NSDMP); both processes have been proven faulty. And both the MDMP and the NSDMP are driven by the civilian political leadership; the NSDMP directly, and the MDMP through indirect means. And that concerns me the most.
In the MBA Program, the first thing they beat into your head is the mantra "Maximize the Wealth of the Shareholder." It sounds harmless enough, yet in the real world - the implementation has lead to some serious events; including the ENRON Scandal, the near collapse of major Banking institution and financial markets, the outsources of many industries and jobs, and a serious reduction in the reinvestment in Americas infrastructure (just to name a few). This is very analogues to the weaknesses in the MDMP and the NSDMP that lead to Vietnam, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the evolving situation in Yemen (and a dozen other places I could name). And most of those decisions were made by well educated men and women (from The Whiz Kids to the PNAC) from the very best institutions; impeccable credentials. And the civilian educated decision drivers (the Washington Power Elite) have not, in my opinion, fell short in the understanding the historical topic. They were billed as the brightest and the best. Like the maximization theorem in the MBA program, these power brokers are in it for the influence and power they can attain.
You will, I trust, forgive me if I am a bit skeptical of promoting a program that might further adversely impact the decision making processes that have brought America to the point where it is today.
Again, just one man's opinion and concern.
Most Respectfully,
R
This is just my personal opinion, not a justification.
Originally posted by Albany Rifles
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As well am I:
- The Intra-agency TSCM Program (1982).
- The NDU/DCI Intermediate Executives, for the Management of ADP Facilities (1983)
I, as well, am a graduate of The Ohio State University; and am very proud to acknowledge that. And I remember the campus climate of the Vietnam period (while serving there), and the very different atmospheric with recent post-911/War on Terrorism time (having spent 7 years out of the last decade in the ME Region including all the glamor spots). And I've never been more disappointed in the civilian trained leadership since my days immediately after returning from Vietnam.
Originally posted by Albany Rifles
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I was speaking of this level (higher education) as well; whether that be a MA from the IMO Program (NDU), or a STRAT Intelligence (MA) Degree from the National Defense Intelligence College.
Originally posted by Albert Einstein
While there is good reason to understand the history of the subject (no question), there are those (like myself) that don't agree with the cloning of the officers that seems to be the outcome of the programs in effect today. This, I consider to be one of the most serious and inadvertent outcomes of the military education system.
But running a close second is the politicalization of the senior ranks; both in the military and foreign service. And history (lessons learned) is the first thing that are discarded in a strategic situation. Decisions are not based either on sound Military Decision Making Processes (MDMP) or National Security Decision Making Processes (NSDMP); both processes have been proven faulty. And both the MDMP and the NSDMP are driven by the civilian political leadership; the NSDMP directly, and the MDMP through indirect means. And that concerns me the most.
In the MBA Program, the first thing they beat into your head is the mantra "Maximize the Wealth of the Shareholder." It sounds harmless enough, yet in the real world - the implementation has lead to some serious events; including the ENRON Scandal, the near collapse of major Banking institution and financial markets, the outsources of many industries and jobs, and a serious reduction in the reinvestment in Americas infrastructure (just to name a few). This is very analogues to the weaknesses in the MDMP and the NSDMP that lead to Vietnam, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the evolving situation in Yemen (and a dozen other places I could name). And most of those decisions were made by well educated men and women (from The Whiz Kids to the PNAC) from the very best institutions; impeccable credentials. And the civilian educated decision drivers (the Washington Power Elite) have not, in my opinion, fell short in the understanding the historical topic. They were billed as the brightest and the best. Like the maximization theorem in the MBA program, these power brokers are in it for the influence and power they can attain.
You will, I trust, forgive me if I am a bit skeptical of promoting a program that might further adversely impact the decision making processes that have brought America to the point where it is today.
Again, just one man's opinion and concern.
Most Respectfully,
R
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