Tom said:
But I also saw any number of MAJs occupying slots simply because someone said the job required an O4 when it really did not require a Soldier. Today we are critically short MAJs and PPT slide master slots for O4s are not critical needs --if they ever were. What has long bothered me is a good maneuver company commander--if he commands "early" --will wait 14 years or so before he commands a maneuver battalion. I still see great potential value for MAJs commanding companies but at this stage and time, that too is a frog with wings idea. But MAJs can command MiTTs and they can advise host nation maneuver commanders and commanders of US partner units.
Too true. Lot of sharp Majors object to their misuse...

Old Eagle said:
All that said -- as I posted elsewhere -- TMAAG did not scratch the itch, for many of the reasons that Bob Mentions.
True but scratching with no fingernails is better than not scratching at all. We probably don't have enough Backscratchers to issue widely...