Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Quote of the day: A little personnel stability goes a long way with captains

Tom Ricks points to personnel stability as key to success in the military.

Asystole11
Asystole11

Capt. Lindsay Rodman, United States Marine Corps, writes in the December issue of Marine Corps Gazette: "By creating instability within the field grade ranks, we may also be disheartening the captains coming up in the Service. This instability results in years where good people get passed over, followed by years where anyone with a pulse gets promoted, neither of which helps the Marine Corps maintain a high level of talent."

Capt. Lindsay Rodman, United States Marine Corps, writes in the December issue of Marine Corps Gazette: “By creating instability within the field grade ranks, we may also be disheartening the captains coming up in the Service. This instability results in years where good people get passed over, followed by years where anyone with a pulse gets promoted, neither of which helps the Marine Corps maintain a high level of talent.”

Extra points to Capt. Rodman for clarity of expression.

In other military personnel news, the executive officer of the Navy band walked the plank. And the Royal Navy’s first female commanding officer of a warship is leaving the Navy over allegations that she engaged in an affair with a shipmate.

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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