Don't know who wrote this but it's right on.
Many years ago as a flight commander in an F-4 squadron, I was required to
write an OER (Officer Effectiveness Report) on each of the pilots and WSOs
(weapon systems officers) in my charge. This onerous task was flawed from
the outset since it was assumed that the rater would render a totally honest
assessment of an individual officer’s unique skills and capabilities as
compared to a baseline his peers. Of course this did not happen, as the
slightest negative comment would almost always assure an undeserved denial
of promotion… hence the infamous OER inflation creep emerged… where almost
everyone was awarded “walk on water” evaluations. Consequently, continuing
PME (professional military education), endorsements from higher
headquarters, the officer’s official picture, error free and perfectly typed
and punctuated paperwork, assurance that every available space for comments
was used, additional duties, and a dozen other irrelevant factors that had
little or nothing to do with the officer’s primary job as a fighter pilot or
WSO. All of this flawed process was exacerbated by the fact that this
occurred during the “pre-computer era”, thus denying the rater with data
banks of “flowery remarks”, synonyms, spell checkers, and printers.
It was during this period that a Marine F-4 exchange pilot was assigned to
my flight. After about six months, I got a letter from HQ Marine Corps
requesting that I prepare an OER for this pilot. The OER form was enclosed,
with instructions that it was to be prepared by me, in my handwriting and
returned as a single copy. There were several blocks to be checked,
followed by a space for remarks that was only adequate for two to three
short sentences… then above my signature block was a question with two
choices: “Would you go to combat with this officer?” Check either “yes or
no.” Talk about cutting through the crap! I was impressed at the time and
to this day have never forgotten its bottom line simplicity and brilliance.
Try applying that test to the current crop of “leaders” who are in charge of
America’s destiny. For starters:
President Barrack Obama
Vice-President Joe Biden
The President’s cabinet
The President’s Czars
Attorney General Eric Holder
A majority of our elected congress
The main stream media
Al Gore and his Climate Change BS
Senator John (two silver stars) Kerry
Others too numerous to mention
Maybe it’s just me, but I damn well would not willingly go to combat with
any of them. How in hell did we let this happen before our very eyes… on
our watch? We as a nation had better get a grip, turn out in mass for the
2012 national election and throw these self-serving jerks out of power
before it is too late. I fear that four more years of political
correctness, blatant socialist/Marxist policies, lack of backbone and
disregard for our constitution will do irreparable damage.
If we are to remain the greatest nation the world has ever seen, which was
built on the loyalty, integrity and sacrifice of generations of patriots
whose gym bag our current leadership couldn’t carry… we best get it done. |
