used to rate hanging from the yardarm are now treated as ‘Boys will be boys.’ A
great deal of it does derive from a change in the legal structure, as the General
said. I would rather have five ships properly maintained, properly manned, shipshape
and Bristol style, than ten ships undermanned and shot through with men who should
never have been accepted in the first place. A stupid and sullen seaman is worse
than no one at all.”
The President said, “Judges, chapter seven.”
The Admiral looked puzzled. The Marine Commandant suddenly said, “Gideon’s
Band!”
“Exactly. I suspect that we have been trying to meet
quotas-numbers of men-rather than placing quality first. I’m sure it’s not as simple
as that, but that does seem to be part of it. General, does the Air Force have any
different slant on this?”
“No, Ma’am, I think the Navy and the Corps both speak for me. And the Army.
. – although Smitty’s problems are different from ours. Our worst problem is hanging
on to trained men.. – because what we teach them, flying and electronics especially,
are very salable on the outside. I want to add something, though. Marijuana is not
on the list of drugs. It may very well be true that grass is no worse than liquor.
But neither one mixes with driving a flying machine. Or anything in an airplane. But
grass is harder to cope with. A stash is easier to hide than a bottle, and it is
harder to tell when a man is stoned than when he is drunk. And much harder to prove.
I welcome suggestions.”
“I think we all do. Although I think we’ve pinpointed one essential. Quality
before quantity. Gentlemen, we’ll let this marinate about ten days while all of us
try to spot all of the basic things that are wrong
then meet again and exchange ideas. In writing. Call the shots as you see them,
don’t be afraid of hurting feelings, pay no attention to sacred cows. Admiral, you
found things wrong with the military legal system; please analyse the matter, with
specific recommendations. If you truly feel that we need to go back to keelhauling
and hanging at the yardarm, say so.”
“I do not, Ma’am. But I do think the present rules are more suited to a
Scout camp than to a fighting force. Punishment should be swift and certain;
mutineers should not be coddled. We need a new code.”
“Work on it. I assume that you have legal aides. Mr. Secretary of Defense, I
have not intended to monopolize the floor. Before we adjourn, I want you to give us
your opinions on problems of discipline. I would like to hear comment on those
figures I supplied, all categories. But you aren’t limited to that. Feel free to
bring
up anything. I think that discipline in the Armed Forces is as serious a problem as
I face . . – and the most difficult.”
“Discipline is not one of the duties of the Secretary of Defense.”
“So? What are your duties?”
“To manage my department. Discipline belongs to these gentlemen. Not to me.
And certainly not to you. You are way out of line.”
“You forgot something, sir. The President is in the direct line of command,
at the top, and cannot avoid responsibility for any aspect of her command. The
Secretary of Defense is not in the line of command; he is an executive secretary for
the President. However, since you see your job as merely managerial, and not
concerned with morale and discipline, I won’t press you about it. I have your signed
resignation in my desk, inherited from my predecessor. I’m accepting it. At once.”
The ex-Secretary leaned back and laughed. “How just like a woman! Ruffle her
feathers and she flies off the handle. But it’s okay, Shortie; I didn’t intend to
stay this long. After the Chief died I was ready to quit. But Charlie asked me to
stick around a little longer, keep an eye on you. I know what you did to him the day
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of the tragedy, standing in his way when he was entitled to the job. You never were