Oh, I’m not arguing that point, Katy. I agree with you. Soldiers are much more pragmatic and striving for an end result that makes sense. The civilian bureaucrats are pretty much the opposite. They go by the rule of “it really doesn’t matter what you do as long as you look good while you’re doing it”.

“Rank has nothing to do with leadership – any real soldier will tell you that”

No, I disagree. The military is very structured and lower ranking folks can’t take a wizz without getting permission first (exaggeration, but you get my point). I was a real soldier once and know how the system works. Step out of line and you get squashed. I’m not complaining. I understand that it needs to be that way.

You’re welcomed. No need to kneel. You can resume standing and proceed with your normal activities – which I don’t want to know about. 🙂

But when it comes to military strategy and getting the job done, the bureaucrats mostly look for somewhere safe to reside.

I’ve studied military structure and organization for decades. I’ve interviewed dozens of soldiers, and military elite. And I’ve been around the bureaucrats, as well as the soldiers. The difference is so clear.

Rank has nothing to do with leadership – any real soldier will tell you that. Going to a military academy is just another path, and one in which someone can make the most of, or be a jerk about and rub people’s faces in it.

Katy
Katy

God almighty……

The money is government guaranteed but it’s the banks that administer and manage the loan program financially and profit from it. Who the hell do you think manages the student loan program??? The Federal Reserve??? heh.

I disagree with ya there, Katy. If that isn’t indocrination by definition I’ll eat my hat. I understand the reasons behind it. And those who signed up for it did it voluntarily. So I have no problem with it. When I went into the military I was indocrinated big time for 8 straight weeks in basic. Thankfully a lot of it wears off as one moves through life.

“The natural leaders rise to the top, but everyone has at least been trained so they can be disseminated into the the rest of the population”

That’s not really my experience either. The leaders put in charge are generally those who suck up the most to their leaders and who have figured out how to play the game. I’ve knew some real ‘natural leaders’ in my military experience who never rose above the rank of E-4 because they refused to suck up. But then, that’s life, isn’t it???

I work at a leading consumer goods manufacturer in IT. To help us in IT get a better understanding of the business, they had us attend their Sales 101 training class. The class was taught by a senior sales manager who has been with the company 20-plus years. He was explaining the importance of getting new-hire sales reps to understand the basics of the business. This includes understanding how consumers shop. To teach the new-hires, most of whom are right out of college, they send them out to stores to stock and arrange shelves, set up displays, etc. He says he will get calls from upset parents saying, “I spent 100-grand on my kid’s education and you have him stocking shelves?!” He replies to them, “Tough.”

After the Plebe year, they spend the next three years in leadership training. The natural leaders rise to the top, but everyone has at least been trained so they can be disseminated into the the rest of the population.

What you are describing at meal time is hilarious.

Katy