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There are certainly Marines who've been tremendously successful after their military career--but that's not what the training and culture optimizes for. Look a
by khafra 16y ago
There are certainly Marines who've been tremendously successful after their military career--but that's not what the training and culture optimizes for. Look at Marine heroes--Chesty Puller[1] was such a "candid speaker" that the thought of a political career is laughable. Smedley Butler[2] retired, then wrote a booklet called "War is a Racket." These are the men that are the subjects of Marine running cadences, not George Schultz and James Baker.
Full disclosure: I did a tour in the Marines, found I couldn't get a civilian job, joined the Army for one more tour, and am now employed by a Fortune 500 company.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesty_Puller http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesty_Puller
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler
- balding_n_tired 16y agoI agree that I cherry-picked reservists (and could have gone on to Chaffee, long-time senator from Rhode Island, Paul Moore, long-time Anglican bishop of New York, etc. etc,) But frankly, the regular Army types who have gone on to distinguished political careers have been relatively few and not always distinguished as politicians: among presidents, Taylor, Grant, Eisenhower. To the extent that Army veterans, regular, reserve, or Guard, are more conspicuous, the disproportion in numbers must count for something.