10 Comments

I did the same thing as a PL. I'd find times at ranges, training areas, and getting hooked up from my buddy in the aviation squadron, plan out the training, and submit it to my commander. It was all lined up with his METL and direction. Then I'd go train week after week. My fellow PLs would get pissed because I was never tasked with last minute BS details or other things. We trained like crazy and had a great time.

Expand full comment
author

If I had to guess one other officer who followed this approach, I would have said “Woudenberg *for sure*” 🤣

Expand full comment

lol. We have a lot in common. It always bugged me that others wouldn't do it because it was so obvious and so easy and so much fun! Then again, had everyone else done it, booking would have been harder.

Making friends with Range Control was also important because, instead of being the 'big bad' they became my advocates and one old crusty retired 1SG, once respected, shared all the best range control plans with me so I had an entire portfolio of previously approved training plans, ranges, etc.

Expand full comment

Abstract first reality later or never is the academic mindset.

Expand full comment

Very nice essay. This manages to encompass a larger discussion of achieving, or more importantly not achieving, strategic end states during the Afghan Campaign (which I was a part of in 2007 - 2008), while starting with tips for effective tactical unit training. Excellent.

Means (resources) + Ways (in which they are used) ——> Ends

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Harold! And thank you for your service in Afghanistan!

Expand full comment

“Progress in key areas of the war effort was measured by the amount of money spent! “

“Did you spend the money?”

Sir. 🤦🏽 🙈

Sir.

I’m genuinely regretting to say this; Sir; that is absolutely a sure sign of control fraud and planned bankruptcy.

Sorry.

🤦🏽

That’s what planned bankruptcy looks like. In the corporate or banking world they take the entire staff including line workers out to dinner, or Scores (NYC strip club) , and I mean Lobster, Belevidere vodka, very expensive Champagne, etc.

These same workers will find their pensions gone after Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

This was a company I was in, Civilian life. We built something and they gutted it.

They had to spend the small amount of money comparatively for a much bigger score.

Sorry, that’s it.

Sorry, I am a vet too.

You’ve just described a Control Fraud and Mafia Bust Out.

Sorry.

Expand full comment
author

Criminal negligence at best…systems are stupider than people. In my essay on Afghanistan from 2021 I laid out how it’s almost impossible to point at individuals and demonstrate malfeasance. Afghanistan was a catastrophe.

Expand full comment

In Managerialist systems by design you never know who, they read Burnham’s Machiavellians too well. Like Iraq massive profits but oh dear who knows? It’s like the Billions that vanished from the safe in Iraq as Bremer got on his plane…

I certainly think the money isn’t lost in the burn pits 🤣

Expand full comment

Lol 😂 what ends?

$$$$$

Expand full comment