I don’t particularly have anything against the army. I don’t particularly have anything for the army either. And while I don’t have anything against the idea of heroes in general, I can’t seem to comprehend the hoops that people will jump through to create the heroes. Take Pat Tillman. He’s the man who was killed recently in Iraq. Not that that would help you recognize his name. This is the guy who declined millions of dollars from the NFL and chose instead to join the army. Know him now?
I can respect that decision. It’s an amazing example. Even if you don’t agree with the reasons that the army is fighting in Iraq, it’s still an inspiration to see someone make a choice like this. I’m sorry that he died before anyone knew about the story, as it should have been promoted from the get-go. But what I don’t get is why the army feels that they need to embellish the tale by offering him a posthumous promotion.
It’s nice, it’s pretty, it gives me warm fuzzies. But the reason the army gave? They note that they promote people as a recognition that you have the potential to do more. I don’t have anything against Pat Tillman, either. But what exactly is he going to do in the future that he hasn’t done already?
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2 responses to “Army Inanity”
Very interesting perspective. While it would certainly sound funny for the Army to actually provide their reasoning – which is obviously for PR – it would certainly be a refreshing change. Thanks for the insight!
Like you, I have nothing against the Army…though I do support the troops. I was a Marine officer for 8 yrs…not the same thing obviously, but I think I have a better understanding of the Army than those who have decided not to serve…
“The Army always notes that rank and promotion are not a reward of what was done well, but a recognition that you have the potential to do more,…”
This is patently NOT the case. I cannot emphasize this enough. Promotions are, in fact, based on what you’ve done and what you’ve done successfully. There is not a single case that I can think of in the post-Reagan era (ie, post-money) military where someone was promoted b/c of the potential they had to do better.
Don’t believe me? Ask any current or former enlisted Marine about “cutting scores”, and what effect they had on promotions.
From my own direct experience, I’ve written many fitness reports on Sgts and above (I still have copies of everyone). I have many in which I firmly believed that the SNM had the potential to be a great leader and stated as such…only to see that Marine not be able to re-enlist.
The fact of the matter is, what Pat Tillman did was a great act. To walk away from a $3.6M contract to subject yourself to the hardships of boot camp and eventually Ranger School (which, regardless of what Howard Stern’s buddy “Crazy Cabbie” says is NOT the physically toughest military school…BUD/S is…), and then knowingly put yourself in harm’s way is an incredible act of self-sacrifice.
But you know what, think about it…wouldn’t it sound funny if the Army PAO/spokesperson had said, “well we promoted him for nothing more than the public relations value of it…”?