Usually a "senior" officer needs some command experience to make it beyond O-6. I know the Navy in particular, attaches qualifications to certain positions whic

Usually a "senior" officer needs some command experience to make it beyond O-6. I know the Navy in particular, attaches qualifications to certain positions which would make it hard for yes-men to get promoted, even if they're on the CNO staff. For example, a CVN Carrier skipper, has to command a smaller ship, and be nuclear qualified, and usually a tour as carrier XO, before they get their command. For the medical corps, above O-6, they usually have commanded at least one smaller facility, before they get an administrative flag assignment. More than a few have flamed-out at O-5 and O-6 commands. In a carrier squadron, being XO or CO is preceded by being a department head. Maintenance department is a good one to get a command, but there are other departments. The Army Medical Command had the problem with senior staff, where they were a large number of senior officers, O-8/O-9, involved in the Walter Reed scandal in 2007, were either fired or retired. Covering over issues with memos and paperwork up the chain-of-command by "yes men" didn't cut it.