Reply #29: "How many times in the history of any military has the leader asked the lower rung folks how to do

[wmbrew0206]

anything right?"

It happens all the time.

When Petraeus was writing his book on COIN operations, he consulted with junior officers and NCO's that had served in Iraq. When the military had to redo their suicide prevention training, they had a lot of import from junior soldiers.

Any time that a significant change in military policy happens, the junior ranks are given an opportunity to weigh in on them. This normally happens through symposiums where different units select an outstanding Sgt or Petty Officer to represent they views of their unit on different issues.

I know the Marine Corps does this on a regular basis, just to keep the brass up to speed on the current issues facing the Marines. They do it with junior Marines, NCO's, SNCO's, and Warrant Officers. These symposiums can cause a lot of controversy within the Marine Corps by themselves. The Warrant Officers pissed off the SNCO's after they recommended that non-combat arms MOS 1st Sgt's and SgtMaj's not be allowed to serve in Combat Arms Battalions.