Don has been fighting the battle to reform how we train, educate, evaluate, and promote officers for decades.

The problem isn't that we're short on smart officers. It's that we've built a system that rewards those who don't rock the boat.

We need an objective promotion system that measures what matters: performance under pressure, decision making, adaptability, character, and the ability to lead in combat.

Promotions to general officer should come primarily from commanders who have repeatedly demonstrated they can train, fight, and lead troops in the field, not from officers who spent most of their careers on staffs building perfect résumés. Command should once again be the primary path to senior leadership.

Until we reward proven warfighters instead of careerists, we'll keep getting the same results. Afghanistan, Force Design, and our repeated strategic failures are symptoms of the same broken personnel system.

A must-read article for anyone who cares about the future of our military. 🇺🇸