Bulwark Takes Why So Many Military Leaders Are Leaving Early (w/ Mark Hertling)
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Oct 17, 2025 Retired U.S. Army General Mark Hertling discusses the unexpected early retirement of Admiral Alvin Holsey, highlighting concerns about U.S. military operations in the Caribbean. He delves into the ethical and legal implications of military strikes, emphasizing the tension between civilian and military leadership. Hertling reviews historical conflicts between military and civilian authorities and outlines the rising trend of senior officer departures, raising crucial questions about oversight and accountability in military operations.
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Scope And Authority Of SOUTHCOM
- Southern Command covers all of Latin and South America and is primarily a theater security cooperation command.
- Combatant commanders are four-stars promoted to a specific position and report through the president and secretary of defense, not service chiefs.
Command Chain Under Goldwater-Nichols
- Combatant commanders answer directly through the president and secretary of defense, not the service chiefs.
- That chain makes a combatant commander's position uniquely senior and politically sensitive.
Wave Of Early Senior Retirements
- Multiple senior officers have reportedly been uncomfortable with current administration policy and asked to retire early.
- Departures include three- and four-star officers and reflect deeper civil-military tensions.