The military embraces the status quo. That may increasingly become an unaffordable luxury, which means new ways of thinking about defense are needed. Marine Lieutenant Benjamin Kohlmann, an F-18 flight instructor in San Diego, thinks it’s time to shake things up:
…the one thing a vertically integrated organization like the military hates most is change. Or at least, change that wasn’t decreed from on high. A large bureaucracy thrives best when it can promote the average individual in a one-size fits all ascension program. This, however, necessitates sloughing off the highly talented instead of promoting them in accordance with their ability. For example, a younger, Marine reservist friend of mine can be a Vice President of Goldman Sachs, overseeing their Hong Kong branch by the age of 31, but would barely be commanding a Marine rifle company at the same point.
Check out his suggested solution at Small Wars Journal.