The Corporate Takeover of U.S. Intelligence

[Ken White]

There is another issue that I've not seen anything written about... The net effect has been that we see many qualified soldiers retire or leave the service and take essentially the same positions as either a civil servant or as a contractor.

It is incredible to watch someone retire one day and then assume the same job the next day -- ... -- but less control and accountability.

With uniformed military, you buy the service; with civil service, you are leasing; with contractors, you are are renting the service.

Even though we are in a war, we are still having mandatory retirements and some of the up-or-out policies. These type of policies make sense if you are in a "surge" that is short-term, but they don't make sense if we are trying to fight a long war. In the long run, "renting" costs you more money.

The current grade structure is, however, a limiting factor... the law restricts the senior grade population based on overall end strength. With the push towards more interagency coordination, greater civil affairs requirements, and an emphasis on advisors, it may well be time to relook the grade structure in the military.

There's a lot of writing bout it, just not in the main stream media because they're (IMO) way too slow to understand the problem and it is a topic that'll make the average reader's eyes glaze. Government Executive and the Service pubs all talk about the problems you cite and many more.

I don't think those who go into Civil Service are less subject to control or to accountability though obviously the contractors are. That's getting sorted out, we have a very slowly responding system of government by design and that's generally okay -- we do by pass it in a major war. I suspect the contracts will get tighter, be better written and more controls -- probably too many -- will be emplaced in the next few years.

I'm not sure what you mean by leasing with Civil Service. While I'm certainly aware of a number of problems with the system, I do know that, mostly, it works. The basic reasoning behind civilianizing a position is that the average cost per person in uniform is almost $120K while the average civilian cost is less than 75% of that. The down side is that most civilian jobs aren't deployable. Contracting lowers the cost even more (and using host or third nation folks cost even less).

A soldier on KP or a Marine or Sailor on mess duty still costs $120K a year and you're wasting a lot of money on minimum wage work; a Cook will cost you a bit more but it doesn't approach the military cost and taking the kid away from training. Same goes with Security Guards on bases, it's just a lot cheaper and of about the same effectiveness. There are many arguments pro and con on the practices but the cost factor rules -- and will likely continue to do so. Not least because the big contractors have deep pockets and lobby quietly...

Up or out was never, in my view, a very smart policy. Some of us tried to point out when it was instituted that given a war, you were going to have to dump it if the war lasted a while and there was no major force expansion -- and that time is approaching. I understand the rationale for bringing in new blood and I totally agree that's necessary but a better way than up or out is to fire folks based on poor performance. I submit that up or out is essentially supposed to be a version of that but I do not think it is. Mandatory retirements aren't all that bad, age does have penalties for all. While some can be productive after the nominal mandatory date, on balance, most are ready to go or need to -- even if they don't realize it. It's a young persons game...

Remember the guys and gals in the sandboxes are at war, the bulk of the Armed Forces here in CONUS and elsewhere are not. Two sets of rules are difficult to administer so the peacetime set wins. Probably shouldn't be that way but there are a surprising number of senior folks, Officer and Enlisted who quietly feel like Eisenhower's Army Service Force Commander in Europe did on VE Day when he announced he was glad the war was over and the Army could get back to real soldiering. The Bureaucracy must be served, the institution must be protected, rocks must be painted...

I've run across more than several of those in the last three or four years. I think they've lost sight of why they were hired, personally -- and I do know that the kids don't fail to notice...

While I agree with your penultimate paragraph; my suspicion is that many Americans and many in Congress would not -- they do not want a long war, ergo if they do not support a realistic force structure, the long war will go away. Ostriches abound. Yes, renting does cost more but, as in many other things, Congress is willing to pass that cost on to their successors.

Heh. The statutory limits on grades are more often ignored than not by all services. Standby for opinions and a rant; Other than the FlagOs who are high vis -- and there are way too many of them anyway and many are somewhat underemployed -- most limits are routinely ignored. Do the math on any rank, counting TDRL, Hospital, intransit, schools, serving while frocked and so forth on and on. The statutory grade structure was predicated mostly on the circa 1990 Armed forces which had considerably greater end strength than is the case today -- and of course, those limits do not apply to the Reserve Components.

If there's a grade problem, it is overgrading across the board. Most of the over grade problems are due to DOPMA in the officer ranks and due to, in the Army, the Hoffman Building (my standing advice to all Army Officers; when you get to be Chief of Staff, destroy the Hoffman Building) and its resident Human Resources Command or whatever they are this week. The problem with ranks in the Armed forces in my view is rank creep. Upwards. It needs to be stopped. Concomitantly, the pay structure needs radical work so that people can be rewarded for doing a good job without necessarily being promoted in an effort to prove the Peter Principle works; that will eliminate the need for up or out. End opinionated rant.

[Dr Jack]

A couple of comments...

I'm not sure what you mean by leasing with Civil Service. While I'm certainly aware of a number of problems with the system, I do know that, mostly, it works.

My comment on "leasing" is based on the increased use of Title X and the impending NSPS transition. Couple this with the lack of being able to deploy many of the civilians based on position descriptions... the result is that many of the military to civilian conversions don't give you the same flexibility to deploy or move to support the war.

Mandatory retirements aren't all that bad, age does have penalties for all. While some can be productive after the nominal mandatory date, on balance, most are ready to go or need to -- even if they don't realize it. It's a young persons game...

Agree that it's a young person's game, but... it doesn't make sense to have someone do a mandatory retirement and then show up the next day to do the same job. Some jobs require experience over youth...

If there's a grade problem, it is overgrading across the board.

In some ways, but if you look at John Nagl's Advisor Corps proposal, it's rank heavy for a reason...

...my standing advice to all Army Officers; when you get to be Chief of Staff, destroy the Hoffman Building...

Hey, you can't do that! We don't own the building -- it's leased.

[Ken White]

Yes, many of the mil to civ transitions aren't deployable -- and most of them do not need to be. Those that should be deployable positions simply shouldn't be converted. Unfortunately, human stupidity and cupidity are facts of life and some slip through. We haven't done this (deploy) since the civilianization started in until 2002 (the Balkan effort doesn't really count on the basis of size) so we're learning what works and doesn't work. It'll mostly get fixed.

Depends on the job; if it's one that should be deployable, I agree with you. OTOH, if it's the Resource Manager at Ft. Benning, the Facilities Engineer at Camp LeJeune, the Depot Manager at Hill AFB or the Chief Marine Engineer at Bremerton NSY, a training material writer at Ft. Knox or a Mess Sergeant in 13 Area at Pendleton, I don't agree. Not only are the services in those cases getting a cheaper employee -- and, far more importantly freeing up a senior position to serve in the field -- they're getting considerable expertise in the process. You point is well made, some jobs do require experience over youth -- on both sides of the fence. Better the experience be employed on the field side as opposed to a job any any competent civilian could do.

I prefer not to look at John Nagl's Advisor Corps proposal if that's okay. I like his book, I liked his appearance on Cherlie Rose and I respect him a great deal. I just strongly disagree with the Advisor Corps approach not least because it is too rank heavy but on many other grounds. Probably mostly because it ain't gonna happen (Hmm. Possible bad statement; we continually prove we can implement ideas that are not smart...).

First make the landlord fix the elevators...

Then destroy the building.

And disestablish the Human Resources Command. Shy Meyer tried and they just bureaucratically waited him out; now they're in the forefront of the square wheel reinventers...

[marct]

Just a couple of (opinionated) points .

1. It has never made sense to me to have a military system where you require separate insignia to designate the fighters from the bureaucrats. If they aren't competent to fight, they should be gone.

2. I certainly think that when you can hire a civilian to do a job better (and cheaper) than you can train / retain a combat soldier, you should do it. The sole major exception I see to this is in the Navy where you have long deployments with no civilian access. I am not saying that all roles shouldn't be fillable by soldiers, just that they do not have to be filled by soldiers.

3. The purpose of a military is to be able to meet any conceivable threat (within economic restrictions). All else is makework. The real trick, IMHO, is to be able to conceive of these threats and to perceive them thereby defining what skills will be necessary to meet that threat. BTW, Ken, I think an Advisor Corps is an excellent idea myself.

4. If someone is incompetent, they should be fired. Period, end of sentence. This specifically includes General Officers. Personally, I would like to see the equivalent of a Captain's Board for each major commander in any action - say brigade level. This isn't because I want to see general officers pilloried, but because I believe they need to be held accountable for their actions.

The real problem with all of this is the answer to the question of what do you get for serving? Heinlein's Starship Troopers (the book, not the "snuff in space" piece of Bravo Sierra movie) addressed this point head on, but I haven't really seen any other work that addresses it at a fundamental level. Enlistment bonuses? Give me a break, that's just competing with private industry. Status? Since Vietnam, the cultural status of being former military has been pretty low. Secure job prospects? We're starting to see that in the PMC market (we've had it in Canada with the Corps of Commisionaires for a while). "Duty to the Nation"? Pardon me while I chortle at how the majority of Gen Y'ers are going to react to that one![1]

Honestly, something has to be developed that is restricted to ex-military. The Romans had it and their military was strong until hey got rid of it i the 4th century. The US used to have it but is loosing it rapidly in light of competition with private industry.

Marc

[1] Note, this is not an attempt to disparage nationalism or a belief in individual duty in any way whatsoever! This is an admittedly somewhat cynical take on how Gen Y'ers will, on average, respond to such an appeal.

[Ken White]

Just a couple of (opinionated) points .

1. It has never made sense to me to have a military system where you require separate insignia to designate the fighters from the bureaucrats. If they aren't competent to fight, they should be gone.

2. I certainly think that when you can hire a civilian to do a job better (and cheaper) than you can train / retain a combat soldier, you should do it. The sole major exception I see to this is in the Navy where you have long deployments with no civilian access. I am not saying that all roles shouldn't be fillable by soldiers, just that they do not have to be filled by soldiers.

3. The purpose of a military is to be able to meet any conceivable threat (within economic restrictions). All else is makework. The real trick, IMHO, is to be able to conceive of these threats and to perceive them thereby defining what skills will be necessary to meet that threat. BTW, Ken, I think an Advisor Corps is an excellent idea myself.

4. If someone is incompetent, they should be fired. Period, end of sentence. This specifically includes General Officers. Personally, I would like to see the equivalent of a Captain's Board for each major commander in any action - say brigade level. This isn't because I want to see general officers pilloried, but because I believe they need to be held accountable for their actions.

The real problem with all of this is the answer to the question of what do you get for serving? Heinlein's Starship Troopers (the book, not the "snuff in space" piece of Bravo Sierra movie) addressed this point head on, but I haven't really seen any other work that addresses it at a fundamental level. Enlistment bonuses? Give me a break, that's just competing with private industry. Status? Since Vietnam, the cultural status of being former military has been pretty low. Secure job prospects? We're starting to see that in the PMC market (we've had it in Canada with the Corps of Commisionaires for a while). "Duty to the Nation"? Pardon me while I chortle at how the majority of Gen Y'ers are going to react to that one![1]

Honestly, something has to be developed that is restricted to ex-military. The Romans had it and their military was strong until hey got rid of it i the 4th century. The US used to have it but is loosing it rapidly in light of competition with private industry.

Marc

[1] Note, this is not an attempt to disparage nationalism or a belief in individual duty in any way whatsoever! This is an admittedly somewhat cynical take on how Gen Y'ers will, on average, respond to such an appeal.

In order:

1. I agree, unfortunately the US Congress does not agree with you and I. We do fairness, by law and he who would eliminate anyone suspected of less than competent fighting ability better have some really good justification to include reams of backup; ergo, it it easier to let the marginal slide. Human fallibility gets in the way of what should happen.

2. Agreed.

3. totally agree with the thrust, you are IMO unquestionably correct. On the Advisor Corps, I don't agree -- with a cavil and a caveat -- I agree its a great idea on paper but there are several problems I can see. First, not everyone is cut out for working with other cultures and the US Armed Forces GP attitude in personnel management would not necessarily select the round pegs for those round holes. We suffered from this in Viet Nam. Secondly, most Foreign Armies are far more officer centric than we are and most would want Officers to talk to; Enlisted folks, no matter how competent would get short shrift from many Armies. Thirdly, the Active Army can't afford the spaces -- particularly in view of the fact that Congress regardless of which party does what in 2008 is unlikely to look with favor on ANY nation building efforts in the near future (and even if they did not do so, what guarantee is it that such a need will arise? That's a lot of very expensive folks sitting around -- not to mention that we will be in semi-pariah status internationally speaking for a few years ).

...... That is not to say there's not a need, there is. I think an Advisory Group (3-500 max)in the active Army to train units and to train up a to be formed Advisory Division or Corps (start small and work up if the need is there) in the USAR would work and I also think most of Nagl's enlisted Advisor spaces need to be Officers -- Warrant Officers would work (and could be trained in an Aviation Warrant Officer Candidate like scheme).

4. Again I agree. However, again the US sense of 'fairness' intrudes. I place that word in quotes because many do not understand that misplaced sense is totally unfair to the competent and to the troops that have to work for the marginal. It is also a fact that peer groups tend to protect their members [can't believe I'm saying that to you ] and Generals do tend to try to do their disposals quietly -- in a major war, ala WW II, all bets are off --well, most of 'em anyway -- but in peacetime -- and make no mistake, the US is at peace (except for the kids actually in the sandbox and a few other places). Whether that should be the case is another topic but it is fact at this point.


Lastly, you raise excellent points and I do not have facile answers. My guess is, however, that the profession will continue to attract a certain genetically and environmentally attuned set of people who give it a try. Many will not like it and will leave but many will stay and they will do so because they like the job with all its detrimental aspects. The money will hlep but only a bit, love of the job will keep 'em there. More or less worked for the British Army and us for most of the past 200 years, to include long periods of low level hostilities. Thus, the answer is, I suspect, that the Gen Y'ers who give it a shot will stick around in adequate numbers.

Particularly if the Armed Forces get their acts together, realize what things the kids are capable of, stop treating 'em like children, and -- in line with all the foregoing -- get their acts together, eliminate as much of the bureaucracy and make work as possible and improve professional competence across the board.

With some effort, the Armed Forces here and in Canada could be premier employers with a waiting list to get in..

[Ski]

I think the US military, specifically the ground forces, are in the midst of a very serious and trying cultural change. There are the old guard, most of whom were commissioned when the Cold War was still around and were rasied and trained in that environment. These are now the 05-010's running the show. Then there are the rest of us officers, the ones who were commissioned in the Post Desert Storm era, who have seen mostly "peacekeeping", "humanitarian relief", "counterinsurgencies" and "small wars" instead of the wet dream Fulda Gap defense.

These two cultures are butting heads, especially as the wars in HOA, Iraq and the Ghan continue on. At the Boyd Conference, a retired Marine General had an interesting statement about the junior officers of today - he said that all they've seen since they've been commissioned is war, train for the next deployment, war. He isn't optimistic about officer retention if these wars continue at the current OPTEMPO.

We will come out of this mess in a vastly different form than where we started. Perhaps that will be good, perhaps not. We can only do the best we can in the time alloted.

To address Marct's comments:

1. Yes, everyone should have rudimentary infantry skills, with a gradation upward depending on what job you possess.

2. I'm not sold on the "better/cheaper" argument. I saw a retired 06, who was very competent, work in a Combined Staff in Afghanistan, and wondered why we couldn't put an 05 or even an 04 who would benefit from the experience? Are we diluting military talent by outsourcing these jobs, or does it even matter?

3. Yes, well, in a perfect world we'd have a military that could do everything, at least decently. We don't live in a perfect world. We have never really anticipated future threats all that well, or maybe we have and were just content to stay with the systems that existed at the time because we could adjust on the run? Look at Kasserine Pass and the learning curve afterwards. An advisory corps would be great, run it similar to the PSYOPS/Civil Affairs programs for the organizational design concepts.

4. You ask what we get for serving? A profession. That's what the military is today. You might say differently, but that's all it is from my limited view of the world. Sure, people are real nice to you in airports or train stations when you have a uniform on, but what else? I had a guy ask me to my face yesterday if I had killed anyone in Afghanistan. First question out of his mouth. Sigh. I don't ask for any special favors as a member of the military and quite frankly I don't want any. The country has spent their tax dollars on my education, training and experience, and I only hope that I've been able to pay it back with results that are for the country's benefit.

Ken makes a very interesting point that I'd like to expand on. Quote: Particularly if the Armed Forces get their acts together, realize what things the kids are capable of, stop treating 'em like children" When I redeployed from Afghanistan, I have had the misfortune to work for an 06 who treats Majors as if they are Specialists. Luckily this ends in six months but the last 16 months have been miserable to say the least. It's the love of the job that keeps me going, I realize we are, to quote Oh Brother Where Art Thou? "Damn, we're in a tight spot!" and I'm sticking around to help get us out of it.

[marct]

Hi Ken and Ski,

Thanks for the responses . While I'm in the mood to say things I probably shouldn't, I'd like to tag nto a comment Ski made

You ask what we get for serving? A profession. That's what the military is today. You might say differently, but that's all it is from my limited view of the world. Sure, people are real nice to you in airports or train stations when you have a uniform on, but what else? I had a guy ask me to my face yesterday if I had killed anyone in Afghanistan. First question out of his mouth. Sigh. I don't ask for any special favors as a member of the military and quite frankly I don't want any. The country has spent their tax dollars on my education, training and experience, and I only hope that I've been able to pay it back with results that are for the country's benefit.

Let me play academic for a minute and make a couple of observations:

1. I totally agree that it is a profession in the modern sense of the term.
2. I have a feeling that both you, and Ken, are thinking about "profession" in the older sense of the term, i.e. something to profess as "good".
3. I get the feeling that you believe that you have a "calling" to the profession of arms.

I must say that I've seen a lot of things that indicate this type of attitude here at the SWC. Personally, I am really, really, glad to see it.

So, having made those observations (and shifted the discourse), can I ask both of you if you believe that the this will be enough to staff the armed forces for the long war? Also, what do you think can be done about shifting the social and cultural emphasis against the military as a calling and profession?

Marc

[Nat Wilcox]

I had a guy ask me to my face yesterday if I had killed anyone in Afghanistan. First question out of his mouth. Sigh.

For what it is worth, I'm very sorry to hear about such thoughtlessness. The world seems increasingly full of bad manners.

[Ken White]

I think the US military, specifically the ground forces, are in the midst of a very serious and trying cultural change...

. . .

These two cultures are butting heads, especially as the wars in HOA, Iraq and the Ghan continue on. At the Boyd Conference, a retired Marine General had an interesting statement about the junior officers of today - he said that all they've seen since they've been commissioned is war, train for the next deployment, war. He isn't optimistic about officer retention if these wars continue at the current OPTEMPO.

. . .


2. I'm not sold on the "better/cheaper" argument. I saw a retired 06, who was very competent, work in a Combined Staff in Afghanistan, and wondered why we couldn't put an 05 or even an 04 who would benefit from the experience? Are we diluting military talent by outsourcing these jobs, or does it even matter?

. . .

Couldn't agree more about the change, cultural, technical and tactical. Hopefully, we will not swing the pendulum too far in the right direction...

I also agree with putting Majors or even Captains in jobs like the one you mention; the old guys do lend a lot of expertise but overseas, civilian employees should be rare and the training value of putting a grade or two or even three under in a job is great. Not to mention that sometimes -- mot od the time -- the 'inexperienced' will surprise you with better than school solutions...

Agree on the butting of heads and if we're lucky, Land War in Europe will die a long overdue death. Never been to Europe, sure have eaten a lot of rice. I do not agree with the Marine MG -- well, not totally. There will those who leave due to the OPTEMPO no question and that's okay, I think Some will not have wanted to but family pressure will drive them out anyway; regardless, some will leave.

A lot more though will say things like "When I redeployed from Afghanistan, I have had the misfortune to work for an 06 who treats Majors as if they are Specialists. Luckily this ends in six months but the last 16 months have been miserable to say the least. It's the love of the job that keeps me going, I realize we are, to quote Oh Brother Where Art Thou? "Damn, we're in a tight spot!" and I'm sticking around to help get us out of it." Yeah, they're out there, the system catches most but a few slip through. Fortunately, guys like you are tougher and smarter than they are, thank Mars!

Thanks to you, too.