4 ms·

Just jumping right in as a Lt Col? Is there a lot of precedent for that? I know that the armed forces have worked with a lot of scientists before, like in the M

Just jumping right in as a Lt Col? Is there a lot of precedent for that? I know that the armed forces have worked with a lot of scientists before, like in the Manhattan Project, but my understanding is that most of them remained civilians.

bryanlarsen 1y ago
Isn't this the sort of thing that warrant officers were created for? Why wouldn't they give him a high warrant officer rank rather than a commissioned rank?
- jltsiren 1y ago
  If you bring in people from other organizations, you usually give them titles that reflect their actual roles. Warrant officers are a leftover from an era when you had to be nobility to become a commissioned officer. Today a lieutenant is just a kid with a college degree, and a lieutenant colonel is someone who did an MBA and was promoted into middle management.
  - ethbr1 1y ago
    Warrant officers were a realization that you didn't want the only promotion path to be into management (commissioned officers) -- deep skill specialization is critical too.
    - jltsiren 1y ago
      Lack of social status was historically the key. The guys who knew how to operate the ship had some critical expertise, but because they lacked the social status of nobility (or a college graduate), they were made warrant officers instead of proper officers. Roles that historically required higher education – doctors, lawyers, and chaplains – are typically commissioned officers. Air forces similarly have commissioned officers doing the actual fighting. While they are not in management positions, their status and responsibilities are comparable to commissioned officers in other branches. In some cultures, the same extends to special forces.
verst 1y ago
Yes, I believe some folks who joined the Defense Digital Service received similar rank.
- itsdrewmiller 1y ago
  Who?
NoGravitas 1y ago
Manhattan Project scientists were civilians. Doctors were often drafted as captains, I'm led to understand (via MAS*H).
TMWNN 1y ago
There is a long history of direct commission officers <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_commission_officer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_commission_officer> in the military.
1659447091 1y ago
And from the wsj link: > They will have more flexibility than the average reservist to work remotely and asynchronously, and will be spared basic training. No officer basic training course to teach them how to be an army officer? They are privileged consultants playing dress up.

bryanlarsen 1y ago

Isn't this the sort of thing that warrant officers were created for? Why wouldn't they give him a high warrant officer rank rather than a commissioned rank?

jltsiren 1y ago
If you bring in people from other organizations, you usually give them titles that reflect their actual roles. Warrant officers are a leftover from an era when you had to be nobility to become a commissioned officer. Today a lieutenant is just a kid with a college degree, and a lieutenant colonel is someone who did an MBA and was promoted into middle management.
- ethbr1 1y ago
  Warrant officers were a realization that you didn't want the only promotion path to be into management (commissioned officers) -- deep skill specialization is critical too.
  - jltsiren 1y ago
    Lack of social status was historically the key. The guys who knew how to operate the ship had some critical expertise, but because they lacked the social status of nobility (or a college graduate), they were made warrant officers instead of proper officers. Roles that historically required higher education – doctors, lawyers, and chaplains – are typically commissioned officers. Air forces similarly have commissioned officers doing the actual fighting. While they are not in management positions, their status and responsibilities are comparable to commissioned officers in other branches. In some cultures, the same extends to special forces.

verst 1y ago

Yes, I believe some folks who joined the Defense Digital Service received similar rank.

itsdrewmiller 1y ago
Who?

NoGravitas 1y ago

Manhattan Project scientists were civilians. Doctors were often drafted as captains, I'm led to understand (via MAS*H).

TMWNN 1y ago

There is a long history of direct commission officers <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_commission_officer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_commission_officer> in the military.

1659447091 1y ago

And from the wsj link: > They will have more flexibility than the average reservist to work remotely and asynchronously, and will be spared basic training. No officer basic training course to teach them how to be an army officer? They are privileged consultants playing dress up.