Sometimes I wonder how life might be if we went back to the classical model, where everyone was a private, a corporal, a lieutenant, or a general. And then I remember how baked into the foundation all this nonsense has become.
Where there is still opportunity is private enterprise. Business don't need to choose a vertical, rank-based hierarchy, but many do. Or they wander there by default as they get too big to maintain their founding ideals.
After a decade working with Air Force Reserve, I found they have a superior model. Those who want to be fly, turn wrenches or be super technicians can spend their entire career doing so. Promotion opportunities are presented but the individual must seek them out. As a citizen Airman they can choose to be full time or a weekend warrior. It is a place where individuals can thrive.
My son joined the Reserve directly for ROTC. He sees the same advantages I saw. He’s thriving in the environment.
IMO more if not the majority of the Air Force Mission should move to the Reserve. It will improve morale, retention and the mission.
I think your closing point is a "think big" suggestion that is worth investigating. There was an opportunity for this in the mid-90s to shift a lot of capacity into the reserves, and this would have been consistent with our overall traditions and previous post-war demobilization. We didn't, and to me the reason is clear: the military-industrial complex had by then captured Congress enough to prevent it. At this point I can't see us ever reducing active military end strength by any appreciable degree unless there is electoral and lobbying reform to pave the way.
Your other points make sense to me and also chafe at me a little, as they always have in all of our previous exchanged over the years, and I'm sure vice-versa. I can always find a way to navigate a dysfunctional system to find my own individual or close-circle advantage. And like anyone, I do that. But I also want to see systemic and structural reform to address the root causes so fewer people experience shite outcomes.
In this case, up-or-out is something we could fix, should we choose to do so.
So I agree, and disagree, and agree. And I thank you as always for reading and engaging.
Using rank as a proxy for pay and privileges drives this pathology.
Sometimes I wonder how life might be if we went back to the classical model, where everyone was a private, a corporal, a lieutenant, or a general. And then I remember how baked into the foundation all this nonsense has become.
Where there is still opportunity is private enterprise. Business don't need to choose a vertical, rank-based hierarchy, but many do. Or they wander there by default as they get too big to maintain their founding ideals.
After a decade working with Air Force Reserve, I found they have a superior model. Those who want to be fly, turn wrenches or be super technicians can spend their entire career doing so. Promotion opportunities are presented but the individual must seek them out. As a citizen Airman they can choose to be full time or a weekend warrior. It is a place where individuals can thrive.
My son joined the Reserve directly for ROTC. He sees the same advantages I saw. He’s thriving in the environment.
IMO more if not the majority of the Air Force Mission should move to the Reserve. It will improve morale, retention and the mission.
I think your closing point is a "think big" suggestion that is worth investigating. There was an opportunity for this in the mid-90s to shift a lot of capacity into the reserves, and this would have been consistent with our overall traditions and previous post-war demobilization. We didn't, and to me the reason is clear: the military-industrial complex had by then captured Congress enough to prevent it. At this point I can't see us ever reducing active military end strength by any appreciable degree unless there is electoral and lobbying reform to pave the way.
Your other points make sense to me and also chafe at me a little, as they always have in all of our previous exchanged over the years, and I'm sure vice-versa. I can always find a way to navigate a dysfunctional system to find my own individual or close-circle advantage. And like anyone, I do that. But I also want to see systemic and structural reform to address the root causes so fewer people experience shite outcomes.
In this case, up-or-out is something we could fix, should we choose to do so.
So I agree, and disagree, and agree. And I thank you as always for reading and engaging.