I Wonder How Hegseth Is Going to Do at the Pentagon.

[MineralMan]

I mean, he's going to be in charge of an organization full of General officers. All very experienced and knowledgeable about the branches they run. Hegseth, on the other hand, really has no managerial experience of note. Not of any kind. He's going to be telling Generals what to do. The idea makes me chuckle a little when I think about it.

Now, I haven't known too many Generals. A couple, but one thing I've noticed is that they're much more used to being in command than being commanded. And by a whippersnapper mid-range officer, at that. It's going to be uncomfortable for Hegseth, I'm pretty sure. It's not going to be all that comfortable for the Generals, either. I foresee certain difficulties.

Will Hegseth puff himself up and try to dominate? Or will he allow himself to be guided by men of experience. I don't know. I suspect he doesn't know, either. Should be fascinating to watch. I can see the Generals chatting to each other, and chuckling about some dumbass thing Hegseth said. I can see that happening many, many times.

[Frasier Balzov]

1. His primary job ought to be facilitating communication

between Trump and seasoned military personnel who are at all times ready and willing to resign.

[MineralMan]

6. Yes. Sort of a "Clash of the Giants" thing, maybe.

But Hegseth isn't a giant at all. He's like a shift manager at the local McDonalds. All full of himself and in charge of a bunch of minimum-wage teenagers. Problem is that Hegseth is stepping into an environment where the people he has to deal with are way more experienced and not at all used to listening to orders from stupid youngsters.

It should be fun.

[montanacowboy]

2. He'll be drunk on day one

He is an alcoholic - that's all you need to know.

[Attilatheblond]

3. Sometimes, heavy day drinkers fall out of airplanes

Just sayin'

[Norrrm]

13. A thousand story high airplane window?

[AltairIV]

24. Good idea but....

Less witnesses on a helicopter.

[magicarpet]

19. Cheers,...

[ananda]

4. Is it going too far to suppose that he will replace good officers with Magats?

???

[MineralMan]

7. I don't think he can do that, though.

Nope.

[ananda]

9. Well, they've already done a lot that is illegal and unconstitutional.

I really expect Hegseth to make sure that all officers
are Trump loyalists.

[haele]

29. He probably can't find enough MAGAs at Pentagon Brass level.

Most of them would be at the 0-3/O-4 level.
Basically, there would be perhaps 1 MAGA loyalist for every 10 Military or Senior Civilian purged, if the administration decided to go hard on the MAGA loyalty requirement. Even confirmed Christians will find themselves under the microscope.
Are there enough replacements that are competent enough to manage budgets, personnel, or strategic goals for a large organization - or even manage the outsourcing and oversight required by congress if the majority of the military is privatized?

The main problem comes from reality bias. Most senior officers cannot conceivably operate in a squadron level bubble like an O-3 can, where all one has to do is complete an objective and sit back waiting for further orders.
In the mean time, the word from up the chain is that they're going to study what orders are coming from the administration and what the implications are to efficiency in operations.

Meaning 8 months from now, there's probably going to be a draft report because it's far more important to do the work we've been funded to do. Or close to one.

[uponit7771]

5. Expect hot garbage, but it'll take a while to show up ... like a year or so. Then China can attack Taiwan

[malaise]

8. MIC will run the show

He’ll take orders from a fancy office

[Oneear]

10. Is the Fighter Pilot's Bar still Pouring at the Pentagon?

Should be able to get a recon team to link up and tell Us all About the Place

[MineralMan]

12. I don't know. I was never near the Pentagon, thank goodness.

[2naSalit]

11. I don't think he'll...

Be there long. Either he'll be pressured out or meet with an unexpected end.

[Norrrm]

14. Petey boy won't be able to lead. He will have to dictate/rule.

He is out of his element.

[MineralMan]

15. Yes. He doesn't have any leadership skills, I think.

I'm pretty sure that most Generals are not good at taking orders from inexperienced junior officers. It's going to be a difficult situation for Hegseth.

[Vinca]

16. I'm wondering where he'll hide his bottles.

Last edited Sat Jan 25, 2025, 05:14 PM - Edit history (1)

[MineralMan]

17. But he said he'd stop drinking.

"I can quit anytime I want," I think was what he said.

[magicarpet]

21. Hogsbreath has sworn off alcohol.

He now injects fentynal with a dirty hypo directly under the bottom of his tongue. That way no needle marks for the public to see.

[splat]

18. So why did he want the job?

Walking into a den of sneering generals can't be a good gig for him.

[redstatebluegirl]

20. All of those alpha dogs in one area.

Should make for an interesting thing to observe. I think the generals are going to eat him for lunch .

[JCMach1]

22. Purge the brass starts next week...

No blue Generals will remain

[C0RI0LANUS]

23. Non-attribution anecdote.

Years ago a friend of mine was a political appointee (SES IV) at the Pentagon where I was doing a tour as a field-grade officer. He was a competent and professional official, not a political hack given a sinecure. When I went to his spacious suite, sitting in the outer office was a USAF Lieutenant-General (three bright stars) with a bunch of papers.



Stunned, I stammered out the greeting of the day. The general gave me (a US Army officer in BDUs) the once-over, courteously returned the greeting of the day, adding, "I'm just waiting for my boss." When the door opened, the general and I stood up. My friend smiled and gave me a hug, advising the USAF general "be with you in a sec, Xxxxx."

Warmly ushered into the office I noticed an ashtray on my friend's coffee table. I suggested we meet later as a three-star general was waiting for him. My friend replied not to worry because he was his boss. Nevertheless, I made an excuse to leave and we agreed to meet later. When I walked out I bade the general farewell (military courtesy) and he replied "Uh, huh."

The generals in the High Command are going to hold their noses and comply with the former Faux News TV host, misogynist, and dipsomaniac, but will be snickering behind his back at the Officer's Club, wondering how this miscreant became their "boss."

[Beringia]

25. I guess it is not like the medical field where life and death are on the line with incompetency

I imagine they will all be seething and not chuckling, and maybe try to sabotage him and throw in monkey wrenches

[liberal N proud]

26. He will have anyone who isn't loyal to the cause purged

[dem4decades]

27. He'll probably do okay, there's no closing time when it's 24/7.

[Norrrm]

28. Don't fight him, just don't advise him. Let him flounder. He won't last long.

Passive (non)resistance.

[Butterflylady]

30. He won't last long......

Those generals will run circles around hogseth and Mr. Duump.