The Midrats Horn of Plenty
get your natsec mind right before Turkey Day
Before everyone dives into a week of family and fasting, time to catch up with Sal and Mark on Midrats.
From the retention crisis to some stark comments from senior leaders about the Western Pacific, we’ll cover the waterfront and more.
You can listen here or at the Spotify widget below.
Showlinks
Summary
In this episode, Sal and Mark discuss the complexities of national defense, focusing on the importance of personnel in the military, the challenges of recruitment and retention, and the impact of deployment lengths on service members' lives. They explore the zero-sum nature of military personnel management, the strategic decisions that need to be made regarding deployments, and the role of allies in global military dynamics. The conversation critiques current military strategies and reflects on the future of military engagements, emphasizing the need for a reevaluation of military policy and priorities. In this conversation, Sal and Mark discuss the economic vulnerabilities of nations, particularly focusing on the UK's reliance on maritime access and the implications for military readiness. They explore the challenges of budgetary pressures on defense spending, the inefficiencies within government bureaucracy, and the need for a reevaluation of military strategy in light of current geopolitical realities. The discussion emphasizes the importance of joint operations and the necessity for a more efficient allocation of resources to ensure national security.
Chapters
00:00: Introduction and Thanksgiving Greetings
03:02: The People Behind National Defense
06:10: Challenges in Retention and Recruitment
08:54: The Zero-Sum Game of Military Personnel
11:49: The Impact of Deployment Length on Retention
15:08: Strategic Decisions in Military Deployments
17:51: The Role of Allies and Global Military Dynamics
21:01: Critique of Current Military Strategies
23:58: The Complexity of International Conflicts
27:12: The Future of Military Engagements
29:56: Conclusion and Reflections on Military Policy
32:15: The Economic Vulnerability of Nations
35:52: Military Readiness and Strategic Realities
39:42: Budgetary Pressures and Social Welfare Challenges
43:17: Government Efficiency and Bureaucratic Challenges
49:10: Rethinking Military Strategy and Deterrence
57:11: The Future of Military Operations and Joint Forces
Picture reminds of the story of the SECNAV tasting the wares in the enlisted chow line of an underway carrier which had a skipper obsessed with winning the NEY award.
Secnav looking at the vegetables and impressed by how fresh they appeared - given this was the Indian Ocean - remarked - "wow, are these things indigenous?"
To which the Philippine-American MS Chief immediately replied - "oh no sir, we throw them out before they get that bad".
Your articles always remind me of my 11.5 years at sea in my career (plus three years in WESTPAC traveing a lot). Thank you. My pentagon tour in my first 0-6 tour was an eye opener about how the political appointees can manipulate the promotion process (for example - 'hey, you were a good Marine Corps E4 in my front office so I will you spot promote you to E-5, that simple - I will just call my friend the Marine Corps Commandant and he will get you promoted right away'). The Pentagon is a horror story of decadence if anyone wants to check it out. As an 0-6 I happened to work for an SES in the Navy Secretariat who did not want to be troubled with nonsensical meetings, so I ended up filling in for meetings all the way up to the DoD Comptroller level (basically to take notes as an 0-6 in the Pentagon which is still meaningless). I know some maybe troubled by my comments, but it is the truth