Posted on Apr 14, 2015
What are your thoughts on Anna Granville's (a Navy officer) reasons for resigning?
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NOTE: The photo of the Naval Officer attached to the original taskandpurpose blog post is not a photograph of the author of the taskandpurpose blog post, as is noted on the photo at taskandpurpose. This has been brought to my attention by a colleague of the officer in the photo, who is currently serving. I can't seem to get RallyPoint to remove the photo except by removing the URL to the blog, so I'm removing the URL. The photo does not add anything to this discussion, so I'm removing it.
This young Navy officer's reasons for resigning seem applicable across the Services.
1. Promotions are based more on “hitting the wickets” than exemplary performance.
2. Unsustainable strain on your personal relationships.
3. The military is a homogeneous, anti-intellectual organization.
4. Ownership of self.
On point 3, she writes: "When I was a week into my first deployment, I was preparing my slides for a watch turnover brief as the assistant chiefs of staff all filed in. A fellow junior officer, whose watch station was adjacent to mine, muttered, “Man, the Navy has a never-ending supply of middle-aged white men.” And she was absolutely right. The majority of senior military leaders are white, Christian, conservative men with engineering degrees from a service academy, masters’ degrees from a war college, who grew up middle-class or privileged and whose wives do not have a career outside the home. There is nothing wrong with any of this — indeed, this is probably the profile of most executives in America. But this also means there’s a lack of diversity of ideas, a resistance to alternative ways of thinking, and the lethality of group think."
How do those she describes here (senior officers) respond? Is Service homogeneity a problem, and does it create a "lethality of group think" and a "resistance to alternate ways of thinking"?
You can find the article at taskandpurpose; it is titled "4 Reasons I Am Resigning My Commission As A Naval Officer."
http://taskandpurpose.com
This young Navy officer's reasons for resigning seem applicable across the Services.
1. Promotions are based more on “hitting the wickets” than exemplary performance.
2. Unsustainable strain on your personal relationships.
3. The military is a homogeneous, anti-intellectual organization.
4. Ownership of self.
On point 3, she writes: "When I was a week into my first deployment, I was preparing my slides for a watch turnover brief as the assistant chiefs of staff all filed in. A fellow junior officer, whose watch station was adjacent to mine, muttered, “Man, the Navy has a never-ending supply of middle-aged white men.” And she was absolutely right. The majority of senior military leaders are white, Christian, conservative men with engineering degrees from a service academy, masters’ degrees from a war college, who grew up middle-class or privileged and whose wives do not have a career outside the home. There is nothing wrong with any of this — indeed, this is probably the profile of most executives in America. But this also means there’s a lack of diversity of ideas, a resistance to alternative ways of thinking, and the lethality of group think."
How do those she describes here (senior officers) respond? Is Service homogeneity a problem, and does it create a "lethality of group think" and a "resistance to alternate ways of thinking"?
You can find the article at taskandpurpose; it is titled "4 Reasons I Am Resigning My Commission As A Naval Officer."
http://taskandpurpose.com
Culture
Commission
Officers
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 53
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MAJ Jeff Jager, This letter resounds with the same theme and sub-themes of; 'Bleeding Talent' written by Tim Kane, a resigned 1990 USAF Academy graduate. The sub-title is, 'How the US Military Mismanages Great Leaders and Why It's Time for a Revolution"
When USAF Intel officer Tim Kane requested 'branch' to allow him to pursue a PhD in Economics so he could teach at the Academy, his branch office said, "I am calling your bluff, we need Intel officers"
Mr. Kane subsequently resigned the USAF and became a successful civilian. He cared enough about the military to survey the opinions of serving and resigned military academy graduates as material for his book.
From that book, and other readings, to my continuing chagrin; one must conclude that hierarchy of the Army - Navy - Air Force - USMC have a reluctance to change similar to aged granite.
When USAF Intel officer Tim Kane requested 'branch' to allow him to pursue a PhD in Economics so he could teach at the Academy, his branch office said, "I am calling your bluff, we need Intel officers"
Mr. Kane subsequently resigned the USAF and became a successful civilian. He cared enough about the military to survey the opinions of serving and resigned military academy graduates as material for his book.
From that book, and other readings, to my continuing chagrin; one must conclude that hierarchy of the Army - Navy - Air Force - USMC have a reluctance to change similar to aged granite.
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MAJ (Join to see)
CSM Charles Hayden Absolutely agree--and while I find Kane's proposals unrealistic (simply because the military is not predisposed to change), I am encouraged by the new SECDEF's comments on the broken personnel management system, as well as some of the messaging coming from senior leaders at HRC and the Army (including the CSA) about the need to change the system to promote talent. I'm familiar with Kane's work--I participated in the surveys on which he based his book.
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CSM Charles Hayden
MAJ Jeff Jager, As you said, The military resists and resents any change.
I am re-reading WEB Griffin's series, 'Brotherhood of War'. He speaks of the infighting and resistance about the birthing of Army Aviation and arming birds w/ 3.5" Bazookas. The current book dwells on the 82nd attempting to assume control of SF when it was first formed at Ft Bragg.
The parochial attitude evidenced by all branches and services is detrimental to the nation.
In addition to the amusement of the 'familial situations' and careers evidenced by Griffin, Rudyard Kipling is another favorite author of mine that is not such a quick read.
I am re-reading WEB Griffin's series, 'Brotherhood of War'. He speaks of the infighting and resistance about the birthing of Army Aviation and arming birds w/ 3.5" Bazookas. The current book dwells on the 82nd attempting to assume control of SF when it was first formed at Ft Bragg.
The parochial attitude evidenced by all branches and services is detrimental to the nation.
In addition to the amusement of the 'familial situations' and careers evidenced by Griffin, Rudyard Kipling is another favorite author of mine that is not such a quick read.
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i wasn't an officer but i resent her attitude about commissioned white men. it is a positive reflection upon white males that so many of us sign up to serve our country and an even better reflection that so many can serve as officers. if we're the ones signing up in numbers then we deserve credit for it, not the judgement or condemnation of a person who can't read beyond the optics of a situation. shame on her. and glad she's out. i'd give a lot to have had the opportunities she had and is throwing away.
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MAJ (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) Sir: And she is. One can at least give her kudos for following her convictions and stepping away.
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