Can the miltary be a simpler place? USC, CFR, DOD, Branch, even VA regulations-directives-memo: Do they conflict and/or change too often?

PO3 Aaron Hassay — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 04:30:44 -0500

Has anyone ever been confused at how often regulations and directives change almost yearly? I am researching directives I have an interest in. With the internet it is easy to see the life cycle of a directive.

It seems if a new GENERAL or ADMIRAL takes a position they put their stamp on something and make a memo and change directives, with some warning that the COMMAND must implement all these changes and fast.

I was never a CO or in that level of leadership to read these changes and memos. But now that I do the research I am a bit surprised how often things change in directives.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2015 4:32 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 04:32:14 -0500

The Paper Shuffle. It always changes!

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jan 3 at 2015 11:28 AM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 11:28:30 -0500

A few thoughts:
- Yes, easy to be confused by changing regs and directives at several different levels that are not nested.
- Especially at lower levels (CO/BN), it is almost impossible for a command or a commander to be in compliance with all regs and directives due to lack of time, resources, personnel, etc.
- As a younger officer, I looked at regs and directives as orders or laws that must be followed.
- As an older officer, I look at regs and directives as more guidelines to follow.
- The above statement is not meant as "we can blow off regs/directives". It is meant more as "a commander must make prioritization decisions with the limited resources that he/she has in order to accomplish the unit's mission and take care of unit personnel".

Response by PO3 Aaron Hassay made Jan 18 at 2015 5:04 AM

PO3 Aaron Hassay — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 05:04:07 -0500

My only solution I think to put any kind of normalcy to all the directives and or regulations that can be changed or implemented seemingly without much master planning is to do this. And maybe it is already done and I just am not seeing it.

But from my studying of directives and regulations changes I notice that they can change irregulary based on a new co change.

What if for example regulations and directives were only allowed to change after a vetting process similar to congress with checks and balances for laws and not just based on a CO changeover.

What if for example directives and regulations were only allowed to be brought up for review on a timed period in years, for example 1: 5 : 10 Years scheduling reviews changes of directives and regulations, to go throught the VETTING process desribed previous.

And lastly the VETTING process and REGULATION or DIRECTIVE REVIEW PERIOD at the time period agreed upon would be driven by recommendations of those who in the end must live and implement and have a quality of life in defense of the nation during peace time training time and war time to best extent possible, that include non other then the enlisted and unit COs or Unit Division Officers in charge etc etc.

Basically it would be a BOTTOM UP REVIEW and Change of directives etc and Not the typical TOP DOWN REVIEW