History buff question...Has there ever been a time in U.S History where so many retired military Generals were in key positions of power?

GySgt John O'Donnell — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 18:26:51 -0400

With General Kelly now as White House Chief of Staff, General Mattis as SecDef, and General Dunford Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, is there any historical comparison?

Response by SSgt Gary Andrews made Jul 28 at 2017 6:31 PM

SSgt Gary Andrews — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 18:31:44 -0400

The military side of me thinks this a good thing. The civilian side of me wonders if they can adjust to the new environment they find themselves in.......if they try to run our government like they ran their units in the military........it might not work so well. Remains to be seen.......I will withhold judgement until they have been there for awhile.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Jul 28 at 2017 7:00 PM

Maj Marty Hogan — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 19:00:50 -0400

Not that I can recall. One of the lessons in SOS is about the love the military is getting now vs objectivity of civilians to soften our warrior ethos. In my opinion, that is how we got here and it has been growing since Desert Storm. The fear; however, and the reason it is mitigated by civilian leadership- is the fear of a military coup created by those loved generals that leave with love/respect of the troops. I think that is Hollywood and not reality however. Personally I think it lends strength to a weakened status projected to the rest of the world.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2017 7:02 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 19:02:18 -0400

Wheres all the Army Infantry Grunts at what is the world coming too.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Jul 28 at 2017 7:04 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 19:04:04 -0400

Harry Truman certainly had more generals in his administration than President Trump does and prior to the 1960s military service was almost required of politicians. That said, I get the feeling that President Trump prefers former General Officers for three reasons. First they have a sense of loyalty beat into them during their career, second they grew up in a system where competence and performance are required, and finally the whole idea of deposing a President is anathema to them.

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Jul 28 at 2017 7:16 PM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 19:16:53 -0400

Gunny I don't know, however, I like it. I kind of like real warriors and think they are great advisors to the President

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Jul 28 at 2017 7:22 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 19:22:06 -0400

Not to my knowledge... next question. Has there ever been a time in history with so FEW veterans in Congress?

Response by CW5 Randall Hirsch made Jul 28 at 2017 7:43 PM

CW5 Randall Hirsch — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 19:43:39 -0400

There is another Marine general in charge of the Secret Service.

Response by MAJ Don Bigger made Jul 28 at 2017 8:14 PM

MAJ Don Bigger — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 20:14:26 -0400

George C. Marshall (5-Star) served as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense under Truman

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Jul 28 at 2017 9:13 PM

SGT Aaron Atwood — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 21:13:40 -0400

Perhaps in pre-Roman Greek history, but I don't remember any specific timeline. Another would be after the major warring eras in Japan (post-Sengoku, post-Boshin War). Oh wait, my bust. You said US History...

Response by LTC John Mohor made Jul 28 at 2017 10:56 PM

LTC John Mohor — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 22:56:22 -0400

GySgt John O'Donnell I believe thanks to both Confederate Generals and Union Generals counting post masters, as well as Ambassadors that Grant may actually have had as many Generals. Of course none were four star generals. Technically they weren't retired but that's as close as I can think. Neat question!

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Jul 29 at 2017 12:13 AM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 00:13:00 -0400

Post Civil War. Just about everyone in power was a ex-flag officer.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 29 at 2017 1:02 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 01:02:30 -0400

GySgt John O'Donnell My only response is, where did all of these Marines come from? Don't the Marines have the fewest number of flag officers in the U.S. Military?

Response by SSgt Scotty Marks made Jul 29 at 2017 1:19 AM

SSgt Scotty Marks — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 01:19:13 -0400

Reconstruction. There were retired and active duty generals in charge of almost everything.

Response by CW5 Ranger Dave made Jul 29 at 2017 7:48 AM

CW5 Ranger Dave — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 07:48:07 -0400

Okay, let's get the facts straight. I never met a General that wasn't a politician.

Response by SGT Eric Knutson made Jul 29 at 2017 8:50 AM

SGT Eric Knutson — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 08:50:35 -0400

I know that Ike Had his CoS Gen Beadle Smith, from Europe head up the CIA, I think it was, I cannot remember, but I think my dad said he had a few other senior officers (at least COL's) running around the place somewhere.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jul 29 at 2017 9:14 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 09:14:01 -0400

As far as percentage of an administration, I'd wonder about the original GW an a couple afterwards. So many officers of varied militas.

Response by SFC Dave Beran made Jul 29 at 2017 4:03 PM

SFC Dave Beran — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 16:03:45 -0400

Good questions. But chairman of the joint Chiefs is not really on Presidential staff.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 29 at 2017 9:44 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 21:44:01 -0400

The USA is relatively new in world history GySgt John O'Donnell. One of the most unique aspects of the USA is that this is the first nation which DID NOT have military leaders as leaders in civil government.
The Roman Republic is a great example of national leaders who were Generals - from the First Triumvirate of the late Roman Republic when Julius later titled Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus through the dark ages, the Crusades, through the Renaissance in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas ... military leaders have led nations and appointed soldiers and admirals to key posts Alexander the Great, Charlemagne, Richard the Lionhearted, through Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden to Bismarck of Germany.
In our own history: Seventy percent of George Washington’s first cabinet were military men. And let’s not forget that Washington had served as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, so if we include him in our calculations, then 80 percent of the first presidential cabinet in the history of the United States was comprised of men with military experience. Thomas Jefferson, the Secretary of State, was the sole civilian.
Washington hand-picked every member of his cabinet. For Secretary of the Treasury, he chose Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton had been born on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean. He was illegitimate. John Adams, who detested Hamilton, once described him as the “bastard brat of a Scottish peddler.” A nasty assessment that was nonetheless true. We don’t know who Hamilton’s father was, and his mother died while Hamilton was still a boy. In spite of these setbacks, he made his way to America, where he became an ardent supporter of American independence. When the Revolution began in 1775, Hamilton joined a militia company. At age 22 he was an artillery officer; that is how he met Washington.
General Nathaniel Greene urged Washington to invite the young man to join his staff. Hamilton, Greene said, had a lot to recommend him: he had military experience, he was highly intelligent, and he was fluent in several languages. Washington had taken a shine to the young man, so he took him on as an aide-de-camp. Hamilton had become, as the good people at Mount Vernon put it, “a member of Washington’s military family.”
For the post of Attorney General, Washington chose Edmund Randolph. Socially, Randolph stood at the opposite end of the spectrum from Alexander Hamilton. He was a member of one of the wealthiest, most distinguished families in Virginia. He was a champion of American independence, a point of view that put him at odds with his father, a committed Loyalist. When war broke out, Edmund’s father packed up and moved to England.
Randolph had no military training, but he was eager to serve. Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry wrote to Washington, recommending Randolph and asking the commander to take the 22-year-old patriot under his wing and give him some experience of the military. Washington agreed, and Randolph joined Hamilton as one of the general’s as aides-de-camp. Randolph’s military career did not last long. Toward the end of 1775, his uncle died and Randolph was called home to settle his uncle’s estate and take over management of the Randolph fortune.
Henry Knox was America’s first Secretary of War (today we call the office Secretary of Defense). He was from Boston, the son of Scots-Irish immigrants. He made his living as a bookbinder, but in his spare moments he studied engineering and military tactics. When the Revolution began in April, 1775, Knox enlisted. He designed an artillery rampart in Roxbury, which Washington inspected and admired. Soon thereafter Washington named Knox his chief of artillery.

Even the first Postmaster General, Samuel Osgood, was a military man. At the Battle of Lexington and Concord, he led a company of local militia, and as the British ran back to Boston, Osgood and his men went in pursuit, picking off the redcoats with sniper fire. During the Siege of Boston, Osgood was given the rank of Major. When he joined the staff of General Artemas Ward — the man who fortified Bunker Hill — he was promoted to Colonel. "
https://spectator.org/george-washingtons-cabinet-of-warmongers/
I could go on and on but I think you get the drift that for the first century many if not most leaders had military backgrounds.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. xx LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 Private RallyPoint Member SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT MSG Andrew White SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC Private RallyPoint Member SrA Christopher Wright Maj Marty Hogan LTC Bill Koski LTC Wayne Brandon

George Washington’s Cabinet of Warmongers

Fair Warning: Before reading any further, you may want to retreat to your safe space, and remember to bring along your 101 Mandalas coloring book. Here we go: Seventy percent of George Washington’s first cabinet were military men. And let’s not forget that Washington had served as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, so if we include him in our calculations, then 80 percent of the first presidential...

Response by 1SG John B. Enlow made Jul 29 at 2017 9:48 PM

1SG John B. Enlow — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 21:48:14 -0400

Great question, and I really wish I knew the answer. I like having retired or former service members in government for the same reason I hire from that same talent pool - although usually not at that level. I, along with most private sector employers, hire former military because 95% of the time we know what we're getting - or should I say we know what we're not getting. we're not getting clock-watchers, whiners, the undisciplined, thieves, quitters, drug users, the untrustworthy, poorly educated, etc. etc.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jul 29 at 2017 9:52 PM

SFC William Farrell — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 21:52:54 -0400

GySgt John O'Donnell I think Trump is doing only so he can continue to say my generals, as if he owns them. I consider it a very condescending remark by POTUS.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2017 10:27 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 22:27:39 -0400

I'd imagine there were far more formal generals in key positions of power in the era just after the Civil War. You have to remember, many commanders of the era were directly commissioned based on their civilian occupations and social standing. During the Civil War, approximately 1,000 documented officers held some official rank as a general. A good number of these most likely entered politics because of their previous experience as a civilian and the their experience as a military leader.

Response by CW2 Fred Baker made Jul 30 at 2017 12:08 PM

CW2 Fred Baker — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 12:08:08 -0400

April 30, 1789

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jul 30 at 2017 12:42 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 12:42:17 -0400

I'm sure as hell liking it and have more confidence in those advising our leadership.

Need to transition that into our elected officials as a whole at the local, state and national levels.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2017 5:38 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 17:38:26 -0400

If it were a different time of be worried about a military coup but this is not that time to many avenues of oversight even by regular citizens nobody would let that happen and the leaders that are in charge most are sensible people.

Response by MSG Greg Kelly made Jan 2 at 2023 6:32 AM

MSG Greg Kelly — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 06:32:37 -0500

I think a bigger question is which of these Flags can the American people trust to protect them.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2023 2:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 14:39:11 -0500

yes... until 45 fired them one by one.

Response by GySgt Charles O'Connell made Jan 2 at 2023 3:18 PM

GySgt Charles O'Connell — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 15:18:32 -0500

I think during the 18th and 19th centuries. Of course during these periods the requirements for Flag rank were not the same as todays, and the placement of said officers in high office was also the norm.