SECDEF resigns...how will the lack of long term leadership affect the DoD?

2014-11-24T17:33:12-05:00

With Secretary Hagel's resignation, how will this affect the DoD? The new SECDEF will be the 4th under this administration (which in itself is not a problem), but the fact that the last two SECDEFs have served less, combined, than Secretary Gates served.

Should the SECDEF be like the Chiefs of Staff and the CJCS, where it is a 4 year term, minimum? How can we continue to grow as a defense department when our senior leader keeps rotating out?

Thoughts?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/25/us/hagel-said-to-be-stepping-down-as-defense-chief-under-pressure.html

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Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 5:35 PM

2014-11-24T17:35:58-05:00

Two More years!!!

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 5:41 PM

2014-11-24T17:41:46-05:00

LTC Private RallyPoint Member, I think it's probably unrealistic to make SecDef a four-year "term," because as a cabinet member, the Secretary of Defense serves at the pleasure of the President. He's not a judge or something, he's a cabinet member.

As for global crises testing the Pentagon (in the NY Times article), I submit that global crises are testing this administration, and Secretary Hagel is a "victim" of that problem.

Response by SSG John Erny made Nov 24 at 2014 5:45 PM

2014-11-24T17:45:15-05:00

Chucky Hagel! We of the corn husker State do not want you back! Give back your man card and Never put on any Husker gear!

MAJ Brian Oberg, sorry sir.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Nov 24 at 2014 7:21 PM

2014-11-24T19:21:41-05:00

Short term effects will happen. Long term the DoD will press on with the undersecretaries doing there jobs making the machine run.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 25 at 2014 7:25 AM

2014-11-25T07:25:34-05:00

We've been doing marginally OK without it for 6 years so far :-)

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 25 at 2014 7:28 AM

2014-11-25T07:28:08-05:00

"Hit the road Chuck, and don't ya come back, no more, no more, no more, no more!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Tiz6INF7I

Hit the road Jack!

In memory of Jack.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Nov 25 at 2014 8:27 AM

2014-11-25T08:27:53-05:00

As we'd expect, much more will come to light regarding this situation over the coming weeks. Much of what I am reading now, however, is clearly suggesting that Sec Hagel was effectively fired. I don't necessarily have an opinion on whether he was a "fall guy" for specific situation(s) like the ISIS response, so I'm not going to throw things out there like that. But I would be interested to hear RP members' thoughts on the reasoning behind his removal/resignation. Note: please don't turn this into senseless bashing of a political figure without substantiating your position. Thanks in advance.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Nov 25 at 2014 11:05 AM

2014-11-25T11:05:40-05:00

The problem is the administration. So many SECDEF's in this administration gives one the conclusion that the DOD's real leadership was coming from the House. All former SECDEF's complained of interference from the White House and micro managing.

As long as Obama is the president, I don't think we will have real leadership from any SECDEF. I respect all of them, but when your hands are ties, what can you do?