OPINION:
“Trump on unprecedented collision course with retired military commanders: ’It’s not normal’” (Web, Jan. 6) brings up a solid point concerning the phenomenon of politically vocal, retired senior military officers. A bit of background may help provide a greater understanding of this phenomenon.
Presidents serve four, sometimes eight years in office. Their supporting political parties primarily provide the reserve tapped to fill political-appointee positions needed to manage the federal government’s departments and agencies. They bring their political bent, policies and philosophies with them.
That is why, for U.S. presidents, voters are actually voting for much more than a single good man or woman. A great person in a party of opposite persuasion to an individual voter may lead an administration that does the exact opposite of what the voter desires. During this four or eight years in office, the secretaries of the military departments and the Defense Department have direct input and oversight of the selection process of new admirals and general officers, as well as follow-on promotions. Historically this has enabled the administration in power to shape the future look of the cadre of military senior officers. And usually this tends to be more supportive of the philosophy of the sitting president.
The longer a president is in office, the longer that party’s philosophy will seep into the mix of promotions and thinking of the military leaders. This is not new. Historical cases in point are Gens. Eisenhower, Marshall and MacArthur during World War II.
JAMES P. KOUT
Bowie, Md.
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