We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:20:03 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:41:25 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87773 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87773 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:44:01 -0600
As for OCS graduates, most of them were A LOT more mature than either the West Point or ROTC graduates, which should come as no surprise.  I think the differences pretty much disappear by the time you reach field-grade rank, anyway.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87753 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87753 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:35:14 -0600
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/5136185

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87724 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87724 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:26:55 -0600
But I envied West Point’s top notch education (community college? Please!), their traditions, the discipline they endured, their focused effort for 4 solid years.

But my experience is anecdotal evidence, of course. And so is everyone else's (largely). We like to generalize. For every "This one West Point guy was a jack-a**" there are two "That ROTC / OCS grad was about brain dead". Or, the best officer I ever saw was “X”.

So, why are some going after yet another bedrock institution of our country? I don’t buy the arguments. The service academies are a core part of our military, of our nation. Keep them.

If there was any cool proposal to float, it would be the requirement that all prospective officers enlist for 2 years. THEN, head off to college / service academy.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87704 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87704 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:10:02 -0600
What we don't want to do is to allow any route to commissioning to be considered 'second class'.    Each has strengths and weaknesses and requires a slightly different skill set, but turns out good to excellent officers.   Goal should be highest quality regardless of path.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87701 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87701 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:27:24 -0600 Nothing like a little wake up call to get your crap in order and prove the accuser wrong.

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87684 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87684 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:54:19 -0600 I never even considered a military academy, but I did enroll in ROTC in college.  I have to agree with your last statement- all venues have their advantages and disadvantages, but getting rid of any of them would be a damn shame.  Not to say that they can't be improved upon, as Josh suggests, but getting rid of any of them would be detrimental to the service.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87674 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87674 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:27:34 -0600 Don't worry DDS kicks everybody's a*s.  I made it through all my math classes at the Academy on sheer, rote memorization and finally graduated with a degree in PoliSci.

My experience post-Academy proved the point to me that all three commissioning sources bring something different and valuable to the table.  It would be a shame and a waste to do away with any of them.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87661 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87661 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:42:27 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87650 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87650 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:30:39 -0600 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87645 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87645 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:12:56 -0600
OCS is great, but maybe we ought to hold onto the service academies, as well.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87639 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87639 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:48:43 -0600
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/bill_gates_unplugged.html

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87638 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87638 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:17:20 -0600
It all worked out well, but, sure, looking back.....Annapolis would have been better.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87637 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87637 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:05:43 -0600
West Point's academics are undeniably rigorous.  Anyone who says differently is talking out of their fourth point of contact. 

I treasure my time there.  I found out that I wasn't an engineer, quickly!
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87635 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/resolved_that_t.html#comment-87635 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:11:54 -0600