Should ideology be rooted out of Leadership at the Pentagon?

LCpl Brett McMeans — Sun, 17 May 2015 15:15:58 -0400

I know our current Active Duty members will have plenty to share on this subject.

Army Wrong: The Combined Arms Center's Embarrassing Culture Manual | SOFREP

If it weren't so troubling, the irony behind the U.S. Army’s latest embarrassing cultural manual would be hilarious.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 17 at 2015 3:31 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 17 May 2015 15:31:15 -0400

Ideology is the cause for irregular warfare, not the other way around. Understanding the culture is a task. The mission is to fight like the insurgents and take the war to them.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2015 3:33 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 May 2015 15:33:19 -0400

I do not expect a maneuver commander to understand cultural effects and multiplications of combat power any more than he should expect me to know the vagaries of fires or aerial denial. That's what I get paid for, knowing how our operations will be received by the populace, leveraging that to positive effect, and mitigating negative effects so that the population does not become an impediment to the Commander's objectives.

My message to the rest of the Army:
Don't think you are expert because you read a book or the COIN manual. Do not be something other than what you are. Be an excellent Infantry Officer, we need those. Be an expert Logistician, we need those.
Leave population operations and IPB to those who know it and live it, Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations, and Special Forces. We are good at it. Even better at it now that we learned it the hard way.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made May 17 at 2015 4:33 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Sun, 17 May 2015 16:33:03 -0400

Please define what you mean by ideology. The definition of ideology is, "the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group." (dictionary.com). Most everyone is driven by some ideology and I am not sure if you can get rid of that. We may want people to act in a certain way or disagree with the way people act. But if we could eliminate one ideology, we would only replace that with another one.

Response by LTC John Shaw made May 17 at 2015 5:12 PM

LTC John Shaw — Sun, 17 May 2015 17:12:50 -0400

I tried to upvote on my mobile phone but it may have registered as a down vote. I love the question and article.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2015 11:12 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 May 2015 23:12:17 -0400

I think that the DOD and the Pentagon really have no choice but to acquiesce over these top down policies. I agree with you as to the net effect of all this hubris because it raises the level of angst, at a time of cutbacks, to the days of President Carter. I am going to be happy on Jan. 20th, 2017, when the heads of these departments are let go and we can begin the work of restoration with a few valuable lessons learned.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made May 18 at 2015 12:15 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Mon, 18 May 2015 12:15:49 -0400

Brett, ideology default is a requirement for that position. I have known individuals of all ranks that were reluctant to work there, so mostly default ended up there, but that is my opinion based on fact that others did not want to work there. As for manual writing I think the find the most gullible person and tell them to write then they sit back and enjoy the laugh.

Response by SGT David T. made May 18 at 2015 12:25 PM

SGT David T. — Mon, 18 May 2015 12:25:04 -0400

With only reading the article and not the ATP itself, this looks like a case of good intent bad execution. The intent in understanding the enemy and the local population is good. But the complexity of the topic is too vast to be covered in a publication of this type. Perhaps regional specific publications would be more appropriate but would need to be vetted by experts in those areas.