No Way Out From Empire to Einheit: Hegseth’s Reform Challenge with Don Vandergriff
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Mar 14, 2025 Don Vandergriff, a military reform expert dubbed the "Sun Tzu of the American Army," discusses the inefficiencies of the bloated officer corps in the U.S. military. He highlights alarming statistics, noting that nearly one in five military personnel are officers, a stark contrast to most effective forces. Vandergriff critiques the post-WWII promotion system and advocates for cohesive unit structures and reformed military education. With historical examples, he illustrates how empowering junior leaders can outperform bureaucratic hierarchies, calling for vital cultural shifts to enhance combat readiness.
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PME Reform
- Reform Professional Military Education (PME) by purging Marxist educators.
- These educators promote inward focus, hindering adaptability and mission command.
Inward Focus
- Officer bloat impacts military culture, shifting the focus inward instead of outward.
- This leads to excessive information flow up the chain, hindering decision-making at lower levels.
Goodmanson's Rejection
- Dr. Bruce Goodmanson, a highly qualified expert, was rejected from a position at the School of Advanced Warfare.
- The reason for rejection was his non-conformity to the political agenda, highlighting the system's flaws.
