Posted by Michael A. Dorosh from Canada on March 12, 2021 at 23:39:32:
In Reply to: Re: Take the LDA training first, Dave.... posted by Dav Langstroth on March 08, 2021 at 21:12:28:
I agree with you that the level of careerism is sickening and a sap on cohesion, morale, effectiveness and a host of other things, and I think (or would hope) that the majority of us in the ranks are as concerned about it as you.
I think maybe, though, the desire of a few (or even of many) officers to cover their asses may have benefited all of us. No doubt a lot of guys that really needed this LDA stuff will just ignore it - but if there are troops out there who ARE being abused, etc., (and I don't mean their Sergeant calling them a bad name but real abuse) that this will help them realize their rights. As a young private, and a member of a small subunit, I was in a situation where a senior NCO had direct control of his own little empire for many years, and ruined a lot of careers and cost a lot of people a lot of money (and drove a lot of good people from the military altogether). Maybe is we had known about these pesky "rights" issues, it wouldn't have happened. Lord knows myself and one other NCM did our bit to try and fight it, but the system can be good at covering itself sometimes.
Anyway, I don't want to sound like I'm inciting revolution from the lower ranks (and that's how Communism in Russia got started, after all). You express very real and very valid concerns - which got lost (to me, anyway) amidst the rambling tone of your original post.
Thank you for clarifying your thoughts for me. I would still like to know what you think of it all once you've gone through it. I don't imagine there will be any surprises for you, now.