4 ms·

Is a general without combat experience fit to lead?

by dleeftink 3y ago

thomquaid 3y ago
Of course.
duxup 3y ago
I think that’s plausible.
gnfargbl 3y ago
A better analogy would be a general who had never been a junior officer.
- nradov 3y ago
  It's possible in theory. Someone with unique skills can be directly commissioned at the O-4, O-5, or even O-6 ranks without ever being a junior officer. After commissioning they can eventually be promoted to O-7 (brigadier general or equivalent) just like any other officer. https://talent.army.mil/direct-commissioning/ https://talent.army.mil/direct-commissioning/
  - sio8ohPi 3y ago
    William Knudsen was even commissioned directly at O-9 (Lieutenant General) during WWII. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S._Knudsen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S._Knudsen
alangibson 3y ago
You might want to change that to "lead in a war?" There's a bunch of high level people at the Pentagon that are glorified procurement officers.
CamperBob2 3y ago
That's kind of a loaded question from an ethical standpoint, because the obvious answer ("No") tends to justify getting into an unnecessary war every so often to keep your armed forces from getting too rusty. But it's an interesting one.
irrational 3y ago
My father was a medical doctor in the army. He rose to the rank of Colonel and they wanted him to become a general, but he didn't want to put in the number of years that would required to get his pension at the general level, so he declined. So... yes, you can become a general with zero combat experience.
- dleeftink 3y ago
  For sake of analogy, I simplified. There are many pathways up the ranks, and the general of today may not ever engage in a theatre of war depending on country. Experience however, does contribute to one's station -- whether basic training, joint exercises or in inopportune times, the battlefield.
- jhbadger 3y ago
  And the famous early computer scientist Grace Hopper retired as a rear admiral in the US Navy despite not having combat experience either. But that's because she was career Navy, and basically the only way the military can give you a promotion is by increasing your rank.
bachmeier 3y ago
My university had a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff[1] as the president when the pandemic hit. IMO we were lucky to have him as president. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Myers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Myers
mkoubaa 3y ago
Logistics experience seems more relevant to that job

Is a general without combat experience fit to lead?

thomquaid 3y ago

Of course.

duxup 3y ago

I think that’s plausible.

gnfargbl 3y ago

A better analogy would be a general who had never been a junior officer.

nradov 3y ago
It's possible in theory. Someone with unique skills can be directly commissioned at the O-4, O-5, or even O-6 ranks without ever being a junior officer. After commissioning they can eventually be promoted to O-7 (brigadier general or equivalent) just like any other officer. https://talent.army.mil/direct-commissioning/ https://talent.army.mil/direct-commissioning/
- sio8ohPi 3y ago
  William Knudsen was even commissioned directly at O-9 (Lieutenant General) during WWII. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S._Knudsen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S._Knudsen

alangibson 3y ago

You might want to change that to "lead in a war?" There's a bunch of high level people at the Pentagon that are glorified procurement officers.

CamperBob2 3y ago

That's kind of a loaded question from an ethical standpoint, because the obvious answer ("No") tends to justify getting into an unnecessary war every so often to keep your armed forces from getting too rusty. But it's an interesting one.

irrational 3y ago

My father was a medical doctor in the army. He rose to the rank of Colonel and they wanted him to become a general, but he didn't want to put in the number of years that would required to get his pension at the general level, so he declined. So... yes, you can become a general with zero combat experience.

dleeftink 3y ago
For sake of analogy, I simplified. There are many pathways up the ranks, and the general of today may not ever engage in a theatre of war depending on country. Experience however, does contribute to one's station -- whether basic training, joint exercises or in inopportune times, the battlefield.
jhbadger 3y ago
And the famous early computer scientist Grace Hopper retired as a rear admiral in the US Navy despite not having combat experience either. But that's because she was career Navy, and basically the only way the military can give you a promotion is by increasing your rank.

bachmeier 3y ago

My university had a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff[1] as the president when the pandemic hit. IMO we were lucky to have him as president. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Myers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Myers

mkoubaa 3y ago

Logistics experience seems more relevant to that job