How important is wisdom in today's military leadership?

Sir years ago it would've been the most important thing alongside experience. Now I'm not so sure. With Sequestration, "Zero-Defect Army", "Up and Out", and revisions on what seems to be everything we hold dear, except wisdom and experience I feel that it's not required. If you can BS with the best, look like a model in uniform, have a 600 on a 300 point APFT, and be an insufferable ass to your subordinates, forget any creed out there except where you put in the part when you will be promoted ahead of peers.

Once upon an Army, getting an Art15 was a way of life. It was either expected you'd get one, or at least be recommended for it. Most who got them I knew, took it on the chin, manned up (even when rank was lost), and if allowed to stay in, were some of the best leaders I ever had. For those I knew who were not allowed to stay in, even they were some of the best being once they got over the hurt and pain of the incident, they still knew many of us were still there, and would talk to us off post whenever we got together. They'd tell us not to screw up like them. For me almost all of the SNCO's I had received an Art15 they bounced back from. You can't do that anymore. You won't recover from it. So that wisdom is gone the second the offender is. I came in under "Be All That You Can Be, Get An Edge On Life in the Army". I considered it a badge of honor being it was used when my father was in, and I hated when it became "Army Strong" (dude running the wrong way with his Alice large....still haven't lived that one down from my friends in sister services). Now they should bring back "Be All That You Can Be" with a correction of "Be All That YOU Can Be Screw The Rest" get an edge on your peers in the Army". Wisdom and Experience is not required.

For anyone who thinks I'm just a salty ass for what I said, It's not that I am upset or bothered by anything I did in my career. I had great leaders, but was a hardhead, and got what I deserved, maybe less than. I'm more bothered by what I've seen towards the end of my time with the speed changes that were implemented, removed, reimplimented, revised, removed, wash rinse repeat with better names that for the first time gave equal screwing to everyone without the chance to be right, do right but what's not popular, only what you can do to help yourself and your career. But we got a new APFU, ASU's, Multi-Cam, and soon Pinks and Greens. We also have higher TRICARE rates, service branches who won't levy their strength on the VA, and politics in the ranks at levels I've never seen before, discussed openly like I've never seen before, and blatant disrespect for elected officials that before would've had your ass in a sling, but is accepted. Wisdom and Experience would've told troops to not give up your beliefs, do not sacrifice your beliefs, but we are apolitical in uniform and you will maintain that standard no matter what you believe.

Wisdom is the ability to learn from experience. IMHO, not every seems to be able to do that. Some people seem to grow in widom as they mature. Others, not so much.
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth CSM Darieus ZaGara Capt Tom Brown Maj Marty Hogan SPC Margaret Higgins SP5 Mark Kuzinski Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC John Griscom LTC John Shaw A1C Ian Williams TSgt Ronald White Kathlean Keesler Capt Dwayne Conyers

Wisdom is a rare, very rare commodity. Thankfully, it isn't a requisite for leaders though people with wisdom are leaders without authority. The wisest man in America, for me, is Mike Rowe. I pray that no one ever lures him into seeking elected office. That ruins a person.

I prefer my leaders to have principles and common sense, very uncommon commodities