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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volunteer_activism ADVICE
PME Reform
Reform Professional Military Education (PME) by purging Marxist educators.
These educators promote inward focus, hindering adaptability and mission command.
insights INSIGHT
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.
question_answer ANECDOTE
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.
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Stormtroop Tactics, innovation in German the Army in 1914-1918
Stormtroop Tactics, innovation in German the Army in 1914-1918
Bruce Goodmanson
Command Culture
Command Culture
Jorg Muth
Unrestricted Warfare
Two Chinese Colonels
Turn The Ship Around!
L. David Marquet
In 'Turn the Ship Around!', Captain L. David Marquet recounts his experience as the commander of the USS Santa Fe, a nuclear-powered submarine. Initially trained in the traditional 'know all–tell all' leadership model, Marquet faced significant challenges when he took command of the Santa Fe, which was then one of the worst-performing submarines in the fleet. He realized that the traditional leader-follower approach was ineffective and decided to implement a leader-leader model, where every crew member was empowered to take responsibility and make decisions. This approach led to a dramatic improvement in morale, performance, and retention, transforming the Santa Fe into one of the best submarines in the fleet. The book provides practical insights and strategies for implementing this leadership model in various organizational settings.
The lion's gate
On the Front Lines of the Six Day War
Steven Pressfield
The Lion's Gate offers a unique perspective on the Six-Day War by combining oral histories from numerous participants with biographical insights into key figures like Moshe Dayan. The book provides a gripping narrative that explores the experiences of soldiers and pilots during this pivotal conflict. It blends historical facts with personal stories to create a compelling account of the war.
In this eye-opening conversation with military reform expert Don Vandergriff, we dive deep into one of the most pressing yet overlooked issues facing America's armed forces: the bloated officer corps that's undermining our combat effectiveness. Vandergriff, nicknamed "the Sun Tzu of the American Army" by Chinese military analysts, brings decades of research and hard data to explain how we've created a top-heavy military bureaucracy that values paperwork over warfighting.
The discussion reveals startling statistics - nearly one in five military personnel is now an officer, with field-grade to junior officer ratios approaching 1:1. This stands in stark contrast to history's most effective fighting forces, which maintained officer percentages between 2.5-5%. Vandergriff traces this problem to the post-WWII "up or out" promotion system that prioritizes career progression over combat readiness and has fostered a culture focused inward on bureaucratic processes rather than outward on battlefield effectiveness.
We explore fascinating historical examples from the Prussian-German military system, Israeli Defense Forces, and even submarine warfare during WWII to understand how high-trust, cohesive units with empowered junior leaders consistently outperform bloated hierarchies. The conversation doesn't just diagnose problems but offers concrete solutions, including unit manning systems that build trust through continuity, reformed professional military education that develops independent thinkers, and leadership approaches that value moral courage over checkbox compliance.
Whether you're a military professional, a business leader, or simply interested in organizational effectiveness, this discussion provides valuable insights into how institutions can build cultures of trust, adaptability, and mission focus. The principles that create effective fighting forces translate directly to any organization facing complex challenges in rapidly changing environments. Share your thoughts with us - how can these military lessons apply to your organization or leadership approach?
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