With a (retired) Marine as SECDEF & a Marine as JCS Chairman, it's a historic first. What does the RP community think?

What policy are you guys talking about? I've been out close to 20 years and am not that current. I do see a lot of dissent directed at SecNav but without reading every feed have no idea what it's about. Dropping job rating or word "man"? Women in combat, including plans for SEALS? Paying for sex changes? FWIW a service chief will usually come out on short end of stick if they take on their Secretary, especially if they do it publicly. I do know from limited reading that USMC held out against women in combat and it was based on internal studies and a lengthy study by Rand Corp. that didn't speak favorably to the concept. I believe Gen Dunford was CMC around that time and it was simply because of the tremendous loads that combat Marines must bear and the impact on combat readiness. MacArthur went down the dissent road but on a larger scale with Truman and it didn't end well for him. He kept his 5 stars because they are for life unless removed but he did "just fade away" after addressing Congress. Not trying to stir the pot, just curious is all.

LT Tom Baillie - Your condescension makes it clear that discourse with you is relatively pointless. That's unfortunate, because I am perfectly willing to examine the possibility that you know something about Richardson that I don't. You, however, are lifting your existing rank relative to my 30-year-old rank, and thinking that it makes you automatically more well-informed. Well. It might, because far be it from me to think that I know everything. Yet still, perhaps my life experience tells me things that might also be as cogent. *Shrugs* Up to you, what you believe. As for me, I ain't losin' any sleep.

LT (Verify To See) - I can't respect ADM Richardson for letting a liberal social-engineer SECNAV have his way with the Navy, with no pushback at all. Doing away with ratings? Bah! Not deserving of respect - which is earned.

LT (Verify To See) - Yep. But at that level you have the ability, and in fact the OBLIGATION, to speak for what you believe to be the right thing to do. "Telling truth to power" is one of the core characteristics of a good leader.

Especially when you are the top uniformed guy working for a transient civilian boss.

^^^^THIS^^^^^
1SG(P) (Join to see) , my thoughts exactly. Best man for the job. Period. I don't care if he was a Coastie. ;-)