You have been given the authority to change three things in your branch or DoD wide … What are they?

1. All leadership DoD wide will be evaluated by their subordinates on one block of their annual evaluations.
2. Uniforms DoD wide will not be changed any more often than 15 years unless for safety or mission concerns. Common uniforms appropriate to the theater will be worn by all troops unless specific clothing is required by individual taskings.
3. EOD will be funded, trained and equipped as a separate DOD branch. This WILL expedite TTP changes as battlefield conditions dictate, more efficiently provide combatant commanders with the necessary outfitted and properly trained teams and eliminate branch overlap and duplication of effort. For DoD, USSS, DoS, and civilian requests for EOD support missions, teams will be spread evenly by mission requirements ie. Naval specific environments such as below the water line searches, will be done by teams qualified for such environments.
The new EOD Branch will be administrative controlled and tasked for missions by JSOC and will ONLY be OPCON to the USSS or DoS as missions dictate but will be ADCON by JSOC.

Hey, it can't hurt to float a request that has been brewing for 30 years or so.

Tough question, especially since everything I knew about my branch or the DOD is completely FUBAR now. Here's my list:

1) Bring back the A-10 Thunderbolt II and plan for indefinite improvements. The A-10 is the best aircraft we ever had for air-to-mud warfare. The concept of multi-role aircraft for close air support (CAS) is, and always will be, folly.

2) Reverse all the cuts and broken promises for lifetime medical care for military retirees and their families. The active duty members and prospective recruits are watching how the retiree's are being treated. We cannot afford for them to lose trust in the military retirement system as it will severely affect retention and recruiting.

3) Bury political correctness. It's a curse on readiness and proper planning.

I can only speak Marine Corps specific but here it goes (in no particular order):

1) Meritorious promotion boards. So many Marines get promoted because they look good on paper. So what if you can get a 300 PFT, have a black belt in McNinja and know how to set up a junk on the bunk? I understand that these are the basics but can you do your job? There should be a test to show you are MOS proficient before you can even be considered for a meritorious promotion. These "meritorious" Marines are expected to lead Marines within their charge and one of their jobs is passing along their MOS knowledge, how are they supposed to do that if they are barely proficient in their job?
2) ServMart/CMSC or whatever you want to call it these days. The DoD wastes so much money contracting with companies that offer supplies and equipment. Allow units the authority to open purchase if we can save the government money. I do not know how many times I have went into CMSC to purchase supplies and been astounded by the prices we pay. I have seen the same (and I mean the exact same) items in town for much cheaper, not to mention the sales, coupons and military discounts we could use. Sorry, I've been known to coupon a little.
3)Administrative separation for drug use. We waste too much time and effort on those individuals who have chosen to use illegal substances. The military has a ZERO tolerance policy on using illegal substances, so kick those individuals out post haste or send them to the brig. Stop offering them fast track or taking it to court martial. Make one standard for all, I am tired of seeing us keep Marines around for months after they have popped positive. Not only are they getting their benefits but they are getting paid while they wait (obviously they lose some money at NJP) but they still get paid. I do not care what their family situation or lack there of is, they chose to do drugs so they must suffer the consequences.

Okay, stepping down from my soapbox now.

1) Give a clear mission statement !
2) Let the 'warrior' carry out the mission w/o interference.
3)There is no such thing as 'PC' it gets the wrong ones killed.

Easy (this is infantry perspective):
1. Bring back DADT
2. No women in the infantry
3. No more PC bullsh*t
(4). Fix the acquisitions and funding process

1) Remove these useless classes i.e. SHARP, EO, Resiliency. While these are problems in our ranks, giving classes is like putting a bandaid on an amputation. Root out the troubling SM's, extra duty, take pay away. Because powerpoints won't change anyone's ways.
2) ENFORCING THE CURRENT STANDARDS
3) Train in our two tasks as members of the Military. Being a damn Soldier (Shooting, First aid, map reading, etc) and be proficient in our MOS. I can't tell you how much paperwork, classes I've had to take that are not appurtenant to my duties as a Soldier.

King for a day...hmmm....DOD wide...First, all services would have one uniform standard. Unit identifiers such as squadrons, battalions, units, ships, etc. would be still be unique, but if you are in the armed services, then everyone would wear the same uniform. Secondly, USMC personnel would go back to the gates for Navy/USMC installations, and USA personnel for USAF/USA installations. One Security command would govern and provide policy. Lastly, briefs of mission elements, announcements, deployments, returns, etc. would cease. John Q Public has no need for this information. Transparency of government actions in governing is one thing...but this information creates a security concern and allows for observations and planning to occur by opposition forces against armed services. The military and politics mandate a line in the sand in the same recourse as defined between state and church. PR must always be positive and reflective to the American values, otherwise it becomes propaganda for our enemies.

1) Give all soldiers the option to choose matching TSP contributions for a reduced retirement pension. If the TSP funds perform anything like they have done in the past, this will save the government money and increase individuals' retirement savings. This also helps improve talent management by increasing incentives to serve, especially if one doesn't plan on serving 20 years.

2) Require potential recruits to pass an APFT test before they may enlist. You shouldn't be allowed to join the Army until you have demonstrated the motivation to pass the test. This will save the Army money as well because less weaklings will be getting injured on the government's dime.

3) The military should provide healthier food and eliminate unhealthy options. Yes, I understand healthier food tends to be more expensive, and am thankful that there has been a great salad bar at every DFAC I have been to, but seriously, why are there still sugary sodas, cakes, breakfast bars, and what not? That does not increase our soldier's fitness for duty.

Love how the Army is always self-assessing and open to change though.

1: As the LTC above me said, social engineering needs to end. The military is nothing like your local 7-11, bar and grill, etc. Stop making it out to be.
2: Pay attention to the lessons of those who came before us. The Humvee proved to be a death trap on OIF… the politicians' solution… buy more Humvees! Finally, the MRAP came into play… some 30+ years after the Rhodesians and South Africans figured that out (by the way, many of the ones we've taken into inventory are designs from there which have been around since the 70s). It means we'd also need to clean up the acquisitions and contracting processes… you can't convince me someone wasn't paid off to procure more Humvees as a solution to the Humvee being a failure, purchasing that American Growler POS, etc.).
3: Uphold the standard, period. That whole scenario with that CSM from the 8th MP Brigade should never have been. Period. End of story. That sort of RHIP crap is 75% of the reason I got out. CSM Flournoy's actions and her unit's unwillingness were not only detrimental to her unit, but to the MP Corps, female soldiers, and minority soldiers collectively. Regardless of how I or others might feel about it, with new roles being opened to female soldiers, I'm sure CSM Flournoy's name and her unit will repeatedly come up in those discussions.

Only three? Well, it's a start.

1) Change the OER/NCOER for leaders to have input from the led, and base their rating off of that. You have toxic leaders who routinely get top blocked because they get results. They get results because we are professionals and we do our best in spite of that leader, not because of that leader.
2) Reward units that know how to save the Army money and not hurt them for wasting it.
3) Bring back customs and courtesies. Most people joined the military because of stories their older relatives told when they were younger.; the first 30 minutes of Full Metal Jacket.