Do we lack true military geniuses?

2015-12-20T18:58:13-05:00

True geniuses see the world differently than us mortal people. I won't believe we don't have the deep thinkers and geniuses in the military, that is statistically impossible. It appears we have bureaucracies as opposed to fighting machines in Iraq and Afghanistan. The geniuses have been constrained. We are now a low risk low reward military machine, and I am trying to figure who driving this driving this vision into fruition.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Dec 20 at 2015 7:12 PM

2015-12-20T19:12:32-05:00

Why the current administration of course.
They hold back our Military and keep them from doing what they know how to do best....he ignores their advice and keeps to a plan of his own....and I'm sure he issues silent threats to keep every one quiet and I'm sure they do not dare speak up or try and argue their point....cause no matter what, it's all mute with this administration

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 20 at 2015 7:46 PM

2015-12-20T19:46:04-05:00

I'd also take a look at how we grow our military and consider if that dampens the emergence of genius. We push how to lead, how to think, how to act, how to live, and even how to feel. So on average our leadership is more homogeneous with significant trimming of the far ends of the bell curve. So if you take a look at our true past military geniuses, I wonder if in this current state, they'd get trimmed early so we'd never benefit from their genius. Recent years I've heard how some of our great leaders were great thinkers but not much else. Great question. Got me thinking as I'm getting ready to host a Christmas "horsey-derbs" event. There're so many "mother may I's" nowadays, it's a miracle we've done this well. We just need Mother to say "Have fun boy/girls" and let us do our job a bunch more.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 20 at 2015 9:09 PM

2015-12-20T21:09:07-05:00

I think Military Geniuses are created by the right convergence of situations. When your up against something that isn't in any OPORD or NWP and there is no previous guidance that is where they come in and shine. They are always there, most of the time the opportunity just doesn't present itself but there are those rare occasions.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2015 10:49 PM

2015-12-20T22:49:01-05:00

I don't think that there's a shortage of brilliant minds, but I definitely detect a shortage of adept political top cover from senior leaders.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Dec 21 at 2015 1:40 AM

2015-12-21T01:40:35-05:00

The fish rots from the head - in this case the CINC is the head that is calling the shots. There appears to have been a purge of top officers that disagreed with his policies of leading from behind.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2015 8:30 AM

2015-12-21T08:30:42-05:00

Ken-I think the problem is that we've become too "connected" for any commander in the field to enjoy the level of autonomy experienced even as little as fifty years ago.

Everything's visible...everything is under scrutiny. I'm sure if Joshua Chamberlain had lived in our day, he'd have been brought up on charges for not properly requisitioning enough ammunition...in triplicate; rather than being given the MOH for his famous bayonet charge.

I'll never forget having to radio in to the BCT for permission to do something as relatively "simple" as calling in mortars. I don't care if you're Stonewall Jackson...if you can't make a decision without running it through the guy thirty clicks away and hoping for his star...you're pretty much ham-strung.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Dec 21 at 2015 9:32 AM

2015-12-21T09:32:11-05:00

The technological advances of C4ISR have driven decision-making for ever-smaller decisions upward, not downward. Tactical decisions, including release authority, even after confirmation of enemy and a complete weaponeering & CDA is done, is often kept at the National Security Council level. And today's NSC is tightly controlled by a single person with no military background. Military genius cannot make itself known under the current construct.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 21 at 2015 10:44 AM

2015-12-21T10:44:12-05:00

The question is, are they at the right ranks to make a difference? For all we know the greatest military strategist the world has ever seen is down at the motor pool right now swapping out drip pans....

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 21 at 2015 7:26 PM

2015-12-21T19:26:14-05:00

I just read an incriminating article. The gist is, the POTUS apologized for not being more forthcoming about plans in the ME, and the Republicans are not forthcoming with alternative plans. The implication is Washington does not have a clue.

Response by TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA made Dec 21 at 2015 8:53 PM

2015-12-21T20:53:12-05:00

https://youtu.be/xmcfbVbqPUo

ABANDONED Military base located in the freezing Arctic circle

A great video of an abandoned Russian military base in the arctic being recommissioned. The Arctic (/ˈɑrktɪk/ or /ˈɑrtɪk/)[1][Note 1] is a polar region locat...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2015 2:59 PM

2015-12-22T14:59:05-05:00

The short answer is no, we are not lacking amazing minds, at any level of service. We simply do not have an environment conducive to flourishing.