Posted on Jul 22, 2015
Has anyone read, "Bleeding Talent, How the U.S. Military Mismanages Great Leaders and Why It's Time for a Change"?
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This book is referred to in an article in Time magazine. I would like to know if anyone has read it and what your thoughts are on it. Now I have a new book on my list to read.
http://nation.time.com/2013/01/21/why-cant-the-u-s-military-grow-better-leaders/
http://nation.time.com/2013/01/21/why-cant-the-u-s-military-grow-better-leaders/
Posted in these groups: 
Leadership
Leadership
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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Author Tim Kane was a AF Academy graduate, when his branch detailer challenged him about pursuing a career in civy city, he resigned and went into a successful business. On reflection, he surveyed a number of academy graduates and collated the results into an interesting book which denigrates many of the military personnel policies. One RP member ? CPT? participated in the study. The book is available via Apple Books.
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I have not, but I'll add it to my reading list.
Make sure to tag this post with "Books" so that it pops up under that Group as well!
Make sure to tag this post with "Books" so that it pops up under that Group as well!
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CPT (Join to see) I haven't read it but I did read your article that you linked and Like two of the three premises or changes that the author is recommended. Love the first and third one; I still think the evaluation system he is recommending is not the way to go. Forget the written evaluations and rankings and work on immediate feedback. Through his first option the best and brightest will get the high performance assignments, as long as it isn't run like the Federal Civil Service system we have today. That's another story. That's my quick 3 minutes take on it. I will add that to list of books that I must read going forward. Currently on "American Wife" Love, War, Faith, and Renewal by Taya Kyle (Wife of Chris Kyle) with Jim DeFelice Co-author of American Sniper!
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Sir, I came to much the same conclusions you did, however this sentence caused concerns for me:
"Through his first option the best and brightest will get the high performance assignments, as long as it isn't run like the Federal Civil Service system we have today."
The USMC has striation at our entry level officer ranks, using the "thirds" system. This ensures we get coverage of Good/Moderate officers in all Fields/Branches. Couldn't a similar system be used for performance assignments? (I'm not advocating that it does, just pointing out the possibility). In theory those officers who fail to make the cut, will be trimmed out and eventually it will be those who performed best who rise to the top, not those who had the best billets.
I'm not sure if I'm phrasing this right, but the concept of "fast tracking" (and its reverse) seems very likely if someone were to run into a single bad evaluation while in a higher profile/performance assignment, while if they are really a "Top Performer" they should be a top performer regardless of where they go. However, someone the "bottom thirders" will slit their own throats very quickly.
"Through his first option the best and brightest will get the high performance assignments, as long as it isn't run like the Federal Civil Service system we have today."
The USMC has striation at our entry level officer ranks, using the "thirds" system. This ensures we get coverage of Good/Moderate officers in all Fields/Branches. Couldn't a similar system be used for performance assignments? (I'm not advocating that it does, just pointing out the possibility). In theory those officers who fail to make the cut, will be trimmed out and eventually it will be those who performed best who rise to the top, not those who had the best billets.
I'm not sure if I'm phrasing this right, but the concept of "fast tracking" (and its reverse) seems very likely if someone were to run into a single bad evaluation while in a higher profile/performance assignment, while if they are really a "Top Performer" they should be a top performer regardless of where they go. However, someone the "bottom thirders" will slit their own throats very quickly.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS Yes, I that makes sense - thanks for enlightening me on your system. I was just referring to the Army's current system and the politics involved in trying to get a GS Position. I really didn't expound upon it much - my bad!
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