[Professional Engineer]

We lost SO many mid-ranking officers (Captains, brand new Majors, etc.) and SO many Senior NCOs (E-7, 8 & even some lifer 9’s!) during those eight nightmarish years that it doesn’t surprise me in the LEAST that the same thing is happening all over again...

This is the reason FOR the current mediocrity IMHO.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You nailed it.

[Thunder 6]

The ‘Zero-defect’ 90’s killed a lot of careers. It left guys who had nowhere else to go, or those willing and ruthless enough to step on the skulls of their peers/subordinates to get promoted. That had narrowed the talent pool by 2001.

Now? If you are a 1LT/CPT/MAJ...unless you are a mass murderer or child molester, you're getting promoted. It does not bode well for our army 10-20 years from now.

Regards,