Gates says officers’ criticism should be honest, but discreet

[unhappycamper]

Gates says officers’ criticism should be honest, but discreet
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, April 23, 2008

ARLINGTON, Va. — Officers have a duty to provide “blunt and candid advice” to their superiors, including civilian leaders, but also to keep their disagreements private, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told cadets at West Point in New York on Monday.

“Listen to me very carefully here: If as an officer you don’t tell blunt truths — or create an environment where candor is encouraged — then you’ve done yourself and the institution a disservice,” Gates said during a speech on Monday.

Gates urged cadets to follow their conscience while being “respectfully candid” with their superiors, even in situations where their career is at risk.

“The time will come when you must stand alone in making a difficult, unpopular decision,” he said. “Or when you must challenge the opinion of superiors or tell that them you can’t get the job done with the time and resources available — a difficult charge in an organization built on a ‘can do’ ethos.”

Gates cited the example of Army Gen. George Marshall, who disagreed with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt over Army funding before World War II.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54249

[leveymg]

1. Gates knows about this.

I'd be very alarmed if he goes the way of Pace and Fallon.

:nuke: