thanks for the quick response marct
Reason I ask is I'm researching the role "ethnographic mapping" in stabilization, security, transition and reconstruction (SSTR) operations in Iraq. Any insight in how PRT's develop operational information, i.e how do they determine the most productive reconstruction efforts - the who, where, and what of development, and what role HTT or HTS like programs might play? Also are is there any plans to transform PRT's in regards to the SOFA agreement.
The emperor has no clothes...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Steve the Planner
Two things I learned as deep lessons: (1) the US Civilian Reconstruction side does not understand foundational modern planning and public administration tools, and does not use them; and, (2) the military has huge need for traditional GIS, mapping, infrastructure, demographic data, but has no system to create it on a routine and reliable basis.
Steve,
Thank you for expertly and succinctly stating the facts.
Regards,
Steve
Another Attaboy. Good Post, STP
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Steve the Planner
I spent the better part of a year trying to get this across, and got to the top ranks in the right places. Lots of nodding heads, but it just never got resources...Lots of piecemeal stuff, no systemic framework.
All said and done, the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.
Again, change the educational process -- the over emphasis on 'specialization' -- an educators dream because it makes their job easier in most cases. They find it easier to school a Planner than they do to school a Manager who can plan in addition to doing a host of other things. Not picking on planning, the same thing can be said of many fields.
The Army used to produce good generalists who after 20 plus years made good Generals. Currently all have acquired 'secondary specialties' at which they will often spend more time -- and thus develop more intangible loyalty to -- than their primary role of commanding troops in combat and they are not really generalists, they are dual track specialist and their primary reason for existence is subsumed by bureaucratic requirements.
Specialists are needed, no question but in typical American fashion, we have just overdone it. One would think Management courses would teach integration of specialty products and of course they do but most are properly civil society and market oriented. One would also think the War Colleges would teach integration and multi spectrum, multi agency operations in the governmental operations sense. They may, don't know, haven't been to one.
Whatever, your comment is valid and that inability of left and right hands to keep track of each has always been present to a minor degree but in its current almost total form really appeared at the tail end of Viet Nam and it got progressively worse during my civil service time. That trend caused me to retire from my second career earlier than planned because I tired of putting Band aids on PPPP. :eek:
FWIW, it is not restricted to the Armed Forces or the Federal Government. I saw it in State and local government in the last three states in which we've lived, I saw it at Hughes Aircraft where I worked briefly and I see evidence of it daily. We just returned from a trip -- road construction in and around Atlanta is ample evidence... :D
Particularly the idea of charging a toll for to be built, elevated HOV lanes... :rolleyes:
A lot of it goes back to the self esteem bit -- if one has a bunch, one does not take advice from subordinates much less ask for any as one is omniscent. I've never seen so many people with great self esteem and NO self confidence. If they had any, they'd beg for advice from anyone and they'd experiment. Can't do that nowadays, demeaning to ask and a failed experiment is seen as a death knell... :(
In some places, "hard" subjects ...
never disappeared. But, if they have in your local school district, send your kids to HCH - Home of the Bulldogs (p 9 of Student Handbook) - we can use the extra students:
Quote:
The following is a list of HCH graduation requirements beginning with the class of 2011:
8 credits English
8 credits Mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)
6 credits Science (Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry or Physics)
6 credits Social Studies (Western Civilization, US Hist., Gov’t./Econ.)
2 credits Visual, Performing, Applied Arts
2 credits PE / Health
2 credits Computer Science
10 credits Electives
Total: 44 credits
2 credits = 1 full year of a course (so, 4 years of English) - required courses in ()s. We (back in 50s) had 4 yrs of PE or participation in organized school athletics.
Probably a dinosaur, but that's the way we are up here. No presently active or retired flag officers that I know of (O-6 and down) - more than a few SNCOs, however.
Crocker on Afghanistan-Strategic Patience
Ken:
We've been talking about how to bring the breadth of social sciences to the table, and the need for better education---fundamental geography, history, and actually knowing things about the things behind the things we are trying to accomplish.
In that context, I've been re-reading a September 5, 2009 Newsweek Article by now-retired Ambassador Ryan Crocker, and looking at the breadth of his experience and knowledge re: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the current lessons he offers on Afghanistan:
"Americans tend to want to identify a problem, fix it, and then move on. Sometimes this works. Often it does not. Of course, imposing ourselves on hostile or chaotic societies is no solution either. The perceived arrogance and ignorance of overbearing powers can create new narratives of humiliation that will feed calls for vengeance centuries from now. What's needed in dealing with this world is a combination of understanding, persistence, and strategic patience to a degree that Americans, traditionally, have found hard to muster."
http://www.newsweek.com/id/214988/page/1
As they say, he has forgotten more than most "experts" have learned about this region. More than anything, this article speaks directly to your educational comments.
Let's hope that somewhere in current generations, there are some young grad students like Ambassador Crocker and Rory Stewart setting off to walk across a region and really learn it's ways and byways. We are sure to need them later.
Steve
PS- I had the unforgettable opportunity to sit with him in Baghdad. The same as watching General Petreaus out for a walk around the lake at Al Faw---two physically unassuming men bravely, competently, and relatively quietly, carrying the weight of the World on their shoulders. And Tom Ricks says "Dave Does Dull"????