HAMMER: In that chapter Proud Legions the Doolittle board and their effect on the Army’s ability to create disciplined units able to fight. Officers and NCOs were ‘stripped’ of their power. How are we still feeling the effects of those changes? What tools do we have now to overcome this? Are they effective? Later on in that chapter he states “…the public demanded that the Army be changed to conform with decent, liberal society.” Some could argue that this is going on right now. Is this for the betterment of the Army/Nation? What are the positives/negatives of such movement?

It is difficult for a democracy to create a military that does not reflect the wishes and make up of the people it is sworn to protect. After WWII the military was brought much closer to the public consciousness (as compared to its outlier status of the interwar years) and as a result became more susceptible to the feelings of the day rather than the long term interests that would come with being a new superpower. The weakening of the chain of command, coupled with a loss of appetite for high budgets that would allow for maintaining equipment and training, would result in a woefully unprepared fighting force. Many would say this “softening” has continued today and would use the Army’s focus on written counselings and making “paper trails” for underperforming soldiers, as compared to “good ole’ fashioned smoke sessions,” a natural evolution of the Doolittle Board. In reality, each change the military has undergone as been caused by an increase in oversight by the public/government. Just as today’s tactical operations can have strategic or operational ramifications, so too can Congressional investigations or civilian activism change the military (the recent drunk driving incident in Japan affecting 2ID’s drinking policy could be an example of one incident resulting in broader change, unfortunately). The best today’s soldiers and leaders can do is try their best to understand the bureaucracy, learn relevant regulations, and affect change in whatever community they are a part of whether it be a squad, platoon, or even a battalion.