Boyd: Foul-mouthed maverick changed the art of war

nzherald ^ | December 30, 2002 | ROGER FRANKLIN

[Drawsing]

Sounds like a great guy. Our country is a better, safer place thanks to him.

Point of logic: The profanity has nothing to do with his influence, wisdom, and success.

[Grampa Dave]

Excellent article and thanks for posting it.

[nightdriver]

Is this the same Col. Boyd that Chuck Yeager tells about in his book?

[r9etb]

The problem I have with this apparent upswelling of "Boydism" is not Boyd himself, but of the inevitable legion of idiots who will attempt to behave like Boyd without having the mental acuity to back it up.

Note, for example, the implicit assumption that all in the normal chain of command are idiots, and that those who buck the chain of command are heros. In reality, it's often just the opposite: those in the chain of command often see the big picture, and those bucking it are fixated on some personal obsession.

Are there real problems in the normal chain of command? Sure. Was Boyd a genius? Very probably. Will a bunch of people acting like Boyd make things better? Good Lord, no. They'll merely fight like rabid polecats for their own personal obsessions, and they'll make things worse than before.

[r9etb]

Is this the same Col. Boyd that Chuck Yeager tells about in his book?

No. You're thinking of Maj. Gen. Albert Boyd. He was chief of the flight test division in 1947, when Yeager broke the sound barrier.

[nightdriver]

"You're thinking of Maj. Gen. Albert Boyd."

You're right. Thank you. I remember, now, that Yeager called him "Al" Boyd.

[Bobibutu]

There will always be abusers in and of any system:

"Note, for example, the implicit assumption that all in the normal chain of command are idiots, and that those who buck the chain of command are heros. In reality, it's often just the opposite: those in the chain of command often see the big picture, and those bucking it are fixated on some personal obsession."

I do not see this as Boydism - rather arrogance. Boyd taught specific strategies and concepts - that work i.e., 4th Gen Warfare - not attitudes. And your point is well taken.

B

[Bobibutu]

Haven't read Yeager... my guess.. both pilots in the military at the same time... both very bright bulbs... w/mucho huevos...

A high probibility.

B

[Bobibutu]

Thank you - I stand corrected..

Low probibility :-(

B

[Bobibutu]

Good observation... this was the primary factor that sent
me out of the military and have been self employed for the majority of my working life...

[Bobibutu]

Re reading your comment.... you have hit it right on... A C T I N G like Boyd rather than T H I N K I N G like him...


Bingo - you nailed it... that is the flaw... and we all dont have to have MENSA IQs to be able to think using his simple to understand concepts...


B

[T Ruth]

Because of this thread, I bought Coram's biography of Boyd and read it over the weekend. Great book. I recommend it.

[MudPuppy]

I bought this book from the Marine Corps Association and finished it last night.

Awesome book and a fascinating read....

Semper Fi!

[T Ruth]

Bravo and BUMP!

[slowhandluke]

After reading Coram's biography of Boyd, I got a copy of
'The Mind of War' by Grant Hammond. The first half is a
biography of Boyd (much shorter than Corams); the second
half is a review of what Boyd taught in much more detail
than noted in the Coram book.

[lodwick]

Outstanding post - thank you and bttt.