"You say socialism like it's a bad thing!"
Some readers are taking me to task for impugning the military with the word socialism. I should be clear: though I may be one of the last three people in America who feels this way, I don't use...
View ArticleWhat is life in the military actually like?
More from readers of last week's inaugural column: On the one hand, several people argued that military benefits aren't all they're cracked up to be, and pointed to high levels of poverty and...
View ArticleThe moral cost of the civilian-military gap
In my last column, I wrote about the civilian-military gap, and asked whether the most common laments about it make sense when examined closely. We tend to think that the military is "special" in some...
View ArticleStars in their eyes
Some readers wonder if I'm exaggerating the general cluelessness -- with regard to military matters -- of civilians on the National Security Staff. I wish. There are plenty of impressive exceptions --...
View ArticleBridging the civilian-military gap
I asked readers to offer their own comments on the civilian-military gap, and their ideas for reducing it. Here are a few of the responses I received: Jim Hanson, a former Special Forces Weapons NCO...
View ArticleWhy do so many Army guys have their knickers in a twist over my column?
A twitter commentatornotes that last week's column "succeeded in jumbling many-an-infantryman's panties." I feel bad about that, twisted knickers being a discomfort I wouldn't wish upon my worst...
View ArticleTough love
A retired Pentagon general who prefers to remain anonymous because of the election season shared these observations: In the military we have what we call "tough love," and when you ask strong, decisive...
View Article'You'll never eat lunch in this town again!'
They say that "may you live in interesting times" is a Chinese curse, and my last few days have certainly been interesting. Last week's column on the inner workings -- or not-workings -- of the...
View ArticleWell done, Mr. Secretary!
Finally! The Pentagon today announced that the ban on women in combat positions will be lifted. It's about time. The prohibition on women in combat served no useful role. Instead, it devalued the...
View ArticleAn Air Force officer: The military doesn't want to retain talent (or at least...
In January, I wrote a column wondering whether the military will nurture creative, talented thinkers: I'd like to believe that the military is not only a learning organization but an idea-generating...
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