Last year, Tom Ricks really smacked the Academies in the baby maker. This year is proving to be a bit more even fight, as outlined here by the Small Wars Journal. The blogosphere got all hot and bothered by this - again - particularly some Academy graduates. Predictably, some of these responses were laced with entitled self-righteousness that couldn't help but take some shots at other avenues to officerdom.
I'm not going to do the ROTC version of that, don't worry. I knew some good officers that came from West Point, and I knew some bad ones. Concurrently, I knew some good officers that came from ROTC, and I knew some bad ones. Same song, same dance for OCS (officer candidate school.)
Generally speaking, the strengths and weaknesses of military Academy and ROTC grads differed. To wit, West Point grads *tended* to be more technically proficient as young lieutenants. This is good, it earns instant respect from soldiers and superiors alike. Concurrently though, ROTC grads *tended* to be able to communicate better with soldiers and superiors alike. Frankly, in my oh so humble opinion, not being a social retard is really the most important lesson a young platoon leader can learn. Like anything else, the military is a people business.
The best commander I ever served under - The Hammer, for those of you that read the book - went to West Point after attending a "normal" school for a year. He seemingly got the best of both worlds, as he was a bad mamba jamba technically (and tactically ... and mentally ... and physically), yet he didn't evoke burning resentment from others every time he spoke. Perhaps his leadership development offers a twenty-first century panacea for young leaders, I don't know.
West Point ain't going anywhere, no matter what the Google machine says. Neither is ROTC. So let's hug it out, fools! (Until next spring, at least.)
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Small correction Matt OCS is not just for the Mustangs. Last I checked I never enlisted but yet I am scheduled to attend Navy OCS sometime later this summer. I don't have any first hand knowledge with regards to the Army side but according to the infallible Wikipedia Army OCS is for both prior service and non prior service candidates.
ReplyDeletegood call Ben, I knew that, too.
ReplyDeleteI thought the best officers came from Texas A&M.
ReplyDelete