Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Insight into the military personnel system

From the grand old man of military personnel policy scholars.

150504-N-FQ994-605 
MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 4, 2015) Sailors assigned to guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) navigate around a sea turtle while aboard a rigid-hull inflatable boat. Ross is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price/Released)
150504-N-FQ994-605 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 4, 2015) Sailors assigned to guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) navigate around a sea turtle while aboard a rigid-hull inflatable boat. Ross is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price/Released)
150504-N-FQ994-605 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 4, 2015) Sailors assigned to guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) navigate around a sea turtle while aboard a rigid-hull inflatable boat. Ross is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price/Released)

 

 

From the grand old man of military personnel policy scholars.

His core recommendations:

“• Keep your eye on the future, particularly what any change will do to the experience profile 

of the force in the future.

• Maintain the desired experience profile over time.

• Ensure adequate flow of personnel; i.e., maintain the basic up-or-out concept.

• Be as flexible and permissive as possible in allowing the services to manage the

assignment of personnel.

• Lengthen careers beyond 30 years of service, particularly for the specialty corps.”

This strikes me as an overly cautious approach, but not bad as points of departure. I think he is too risk-averse. Who dares wins.

Photo credit: U.S. Navy

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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