Brain Fertilizer

I have to admit, I generally don't like Phillip Carter. He's my ideological opposite in many ways, despite being a former Army officer (which shouldn't surprise me, I guess, but it does).

I kept wanting to pick holes in his arguments in a piece he co-wrote over on Slate. But although I disagree with many of his assumptions and arguments in the beginning part of the piece*.

But then when he actually starts making recommendations on how to fix things, I can't help but agree nearly 100%. We could retain more quality soldiers if we improved Basic Training, to include more effort preparing people for basic training. I know I wasn't borderline or anything, but even though I was practicing doing push-ups, I wasn't practicing correctly, and I would have benefited greatly from a mandatory exercise program while I was on the Delayed Entry Program. It would probably reduce exercise-related injuries, as well. I have several friends who at least wouldn't mind joining the military but know they are too far out of shape to meet even initial standards without help.

And Mr. Carter also argues that the Reserve system needs to be changed, and even makes a suggestion of how to do so. I find both of these to be spot on. Go read the article for yourself. If you are interested in military matters, you won't be disappointed.

*specifically, if a Battalion Commander wants someone out, the person has already been determined to be a waste of time. He even provides some cherry-picked quotes to back the assertion up.

My experience in the military has been that you can't seem to discharge the oxygen-thiefs in a timely manner, but there are at least as many people forced out over a bad deal (like not being given a chance to recover from a single mistake, or medical discharges for non-permanent but long-term injuries) as there are that aren't worth keeping.