Majors worse than LTs? Some truth or just a good joke?

2014-04-09T23:49:49-04:00

I saw this funny article in the DuffleBlog and wonder if it is just funny or it has some truth to it. Thoughts?

http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/12/army-study-proves-majors-worse-than-2nd-lieutenants/

Army Study Proves Majors Worse Than 2nd Lieutenants

ARLINGTON, VA - Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno announced today the results of an Army-wide study on company and field-grade leadership, which showed Majors are far more dangerous to soldiers ...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 4:53 AM

2014-04-10T04:53:01-04:00

Can't make a sweeping generalization and say all Majors. In every rank there are screw ups who get overlooked by the promotion system and get promoted over more deserving soldiers. Need an overhaul of the promotion process, which ties in with the evaluation process.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Apr 10 at 2014 10:02 AM

2014-04-10T10:02:54-04:00

MAJ is a "change" rank. 2LTs are transitioning from being civilians to military. MAJs are transitioning to field grade duties.

You've gotten really good (in theory) at being a company grade Officer and direct leadership of units. However, you are now expected to excel in staff work (typically), indirect leadership/influence, and guiding the Army as an organization.

Some people who were good company grades aren't - and never will be - good in the new role. The last decade+ of skimping on OPD seems to have increased this group.

Some will need some time to grow into it. (ILE really helps here, though it isn't needed to make MAJ)

Some will take to it like fish to water. Even if they were mediocre company grades.

Response by CPT Timothy Anderson-Bowen made Apr 10 at 2014 2:12 PM

2014-04-10T14:12:07-04:00

I have joked with my peers that once you get the word "Major" in your rank the military required that a lobotomy was soon in your future. This was mainly so that we could include Sergeants Major and expand the list of boneheaded leaders that we had all observed throughout our careers. This isn't to say that all members of these ranks are boneheaded, but I'm sure everyone of them made at least one, hopefully it's just one, boneheaded (a.k.a. unpopular) decision that haunts them through their career.

The difference is that when a 2LT screws up it's expected and the usually the story stays within the platoon or company. When a Major or a Sergeants Major screws up you would think that it shouldn't be expected because they have experience and should have known better. In addition, the audience for these screw ups is much larger and therefore more people are likely to know and talk about it.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2014 9:11 AM

2014-04-11T09:11:13-04:00

It depends. I've seen really good and I've seen really bad and that includes all ranks and responsibilities. The biggest SNAFU tendency that I've personally witnessed thus far is that once people hit 0-4 and higher, they sometimes think that the UCMJ or relevant ARs don't apply to them anymore.