Is the military, as a whole, becoming more political than it is professional?

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 07:11:20 -0400

Response by Maj John Bell made Aug 26 at 2016 7:17 AM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 07:17:23 -0400

This is the first election I can remember Flag Officers endorsing or repudiating candidates.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 26 at 2016 7:20 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 07:20:49 -0400

Kind of goes against the grain of things.

Response by COL Lee Flemming made Aug 26 at 2016 7:26 AM

COL Lee Flemming — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 07:26:37 -0400

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member it becomes pretty apparent right around election time doesn't it? You have seen attempts by former JCS to dial it back a bit, but the competition for dollars and resources is an inherently political task. We brief congress on most major initiatives, the COCOMs have direct report roles to the President and serving officers find it hard not to identify with one political party or another. So I would say yes in some very distinct instances.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Aug 26 at 2016 7:49 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 07:49:26 -0400

Certainly seems so to me. During my 25 years in the military you saw and heard political undertones, but certainly not as "in your face" as it has been this election cycle. Frankly I'm even amazed to see how many active duty RP members are expressing their political views on this site. Sure we all should have opinions, but coming out and speaking about them while still serving is something new to me. As COL Lee Fleming says you always need to keep the political affiliation of members of Congress that you are briefing on military matters in mind. I recall different versions of briefings depending on who was being briefed when I was in a Joint Command, but this is a very limited group of people, not the majority of the military.

Response by SGT David T. made Aug 26 at 2016 8:00 AM

SGT David T. — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 08:00:11 -0400

As a tool of the politicians, the military has always been political. Even look back to its inception and read Washington's letters you will see how political the whole thing was. I don't think it has ever become less political in the span of our history.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 26 at 2016 8:04 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 08:04:17 -0400

As our Constitution is aligned we are led by politicians. Political direction sets the path for the military to follow. One man or woman can change the very core of the military beliefs system. As leaders it is our job to uphold the orders and laws of those appointed over us, therefore it is the lead, follow or get out of the way mantra that keeps the military moving.

It is my belief that, if it feels political and an individual or group cannot support those orders, when this occurs ones only option is to leave. While the military supports democracy its members do not reserve all of the rights associated. In I've 30 years I often felt conflicted. I stood my ground and the tied turned for me at least. That must be true of every individual or your service will always be unfulfilled.

One mans opinion.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2016 9:31 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 09:31:28 -0400

If you are speaking about the political process as in the election, than Yes. If you are talking about inside the military itself...yes as well.

I'm pretty certain that pretty soon here we will have the A-CSM sending out a warning letter to the troops reminding us that we are not allowed to endorse a candidate in uniform, or attend rally's in uniform. Generally speaking service members are not well represented in politics. The right tends to be more vocally supportive than the left, but when it comes down to it both sides will agree to cut something...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2016 10:34 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 10:34:11 -0400

British Lieutenant General Graeme Lamb was fond of Clausewitz adage that 'war is the continuation of politics by other means', and often argued that the sentence should've been finished: 'and to politics it must return'. We are in that state currently. The major force conflicts are over, and so we are once again becoming a force of political posture. That being said, many changes are coming, and whether we agree or disagree with many of them, it is not our place to judge, but to support the intent of Commanders appointed above. We are a force in a state of evolution, and Soldiers must evolve with the times or move on. While the driving force behind the evolution may indeed be political, our ability to evolve is rooted in professionalism, and in our conduct as professionals. I sell it to my Soldiers with the idea that everything is an assessment... if you can't be flexible enough to do what is right, then you have no place in our formations. I would argue that in most cases, particularly in garrison, conducting oneself professionally, e.g. with integrity, respect, and dignity, is also carrying oneself politically, so the two are not mutually exclusive.

Response by MSG Mitch Dowler made Aug 26 at 2016 10:56 AM

MSG Mitch Dowler — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 10:56:17 -0400

Nope, it has been this way pretty much since I have been around. I remember both the Clinton and Bush elections while on active duty. Some things just never change.

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Aug 26 at 2016 11:17 AM

CPT Tom Monahan — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 11:17:08 -0400

Oh how we forget the Military singing the blues with Carte and Slick Willie. Remember that we are the sharp point of diplomacy. When the politicians can't accomplish things through discussions they bring us in. This happens the same way at the State level with the duties assigned to the Guard. When the populace tidies S up against civil authority, Governors send in their soldiers.

Response by Capt Chris McVeigh made Aug 27 at 2016 1:41 AM

Capt Chris McVeigh — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 01:41:27 -0400

Just read the average post on this site and it answers your question. Count the number of politically partisan posts vs the number of professional ones. (The answer is yes).

Response by SSG Guthrie Cook made Aug 27 at 2016 11:03 AM

SSG Guthrie Cook — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 11:03:37 -0400

It really seems to be that way and it shouldn't be. I intentionally leave political discussions alone on all social media fronts. This site makes it clear that some others do not have that kind of self discipline. Folks that are currently serving really ought to be careful about what they write on this site in order to ensure they don't get themselves into trouble.

I think what bothers me the most is that both sides of the political discussion seem to be demonizing the other side. In my opinion, that is problematic. I understand that people have their own opinions regarding how certain social programs should work or not work, how the military should be funded, etc. But if we are electing people based solely on politics rather than the strength of their character, we are setting ourselves up for failure.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2016 3:09 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 15:09:28 -0400

The military, as an instrument of national power, is an extension of policy through other means (diplomatic, information, and economic being the other three). The context of "political"......what do you mean? We don't have a democratic approach within the military, we execute policy as directed by our civilian leadership and resourced through priorities established by our senior green suiter.