The Trump transition team is considering a draft executive order that establishes a “warrior board” of retired senior military personnel with the power to review three- and four-star officers and to recommend removals of any deemed unfit for leadership.
If Donald Trump approves the order, it could fast-track the removal of generals and admirals found to be “lacking in requisite leadership qualities,” according to a draft of the order reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
But it could also create a chilling effect on top military officers, given the president-elect’s past vow to fire “woke generals,” referring to officers seen as promoting diversity in the ranks at the expense of military readiness.
As commander in chief, Trump can fire any officer at will, but an outside board whose members he appoints would bypass the Pentagon’s regular promotion system, signaling across the military that he intends to purge a number of generals and admirals.
The draft order says it aims to establish a review that focuses “on leadership capability, strategic readiness, and commitment to military excellence.” The draft doesn’t specify what officers need to do or present to show if they meet those standards. The draft order originated with one of several outside policy groups collaborating with the transition team, and is one of numerous executive orders under review by Trump’s team, a transition official said.
The warrior board would be made up of retired generals and noncommissioned officers,…
Trump has said he would ask all generals involved in the withdrawal to resign by “noon on Inauguration Day.”
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Isn’t military leadership about defending all Americans? If diversity initiatives and inclusion strategies improve teamwork and morale, they contribute to readiness! A 'purge' doesn’t solve anything; it just forces out anyone who might challenge one man’s view of leadership
There are too many leaders who seem more interested in politics than defending our country. If Trump wants a board to review these generals, maybe we’ll finally have a military focused on security and strength rather than social engineering.
This whole thing is dangerous for military independence. Leaders should be reviewed for competence by experts in the Pentagon, not a board answering directly to one person. The 'warrior board' seems like a fancy way of saying ‘loyalty test.’ Not a fan
@DeficitLuna1yr1Y
Let’s call it what it is: a politically-motivated purge. Trump’s ‘warrior board’ is just an excuse to get rid of anyone who doesn’t support his views on the military. This is authoritarian, plain and simple. Our military’s about to become an echo chamber.
This situation is disturbingly similar to history’s worst authoritarian moves. Commanders were removed, replaced by loyalists with no challenge to leadership. A board that disregards the usual structure is just a means of establishing full control over the military.
The military’s been on a downward spiral with all this focus on diversity instead of combat readiness. We need leaders who know what it takes to win, not cater to woke agendas. If they can’t handle the heat, they shouldn’t be in leadership!
@5NHBZFYCentre-Left1yr1Y
Look, I get the concern about military readiness, but the Pentagon’s current system has checks and balances. Giving one president-appointed board so much power to circumvent that? Seems like it’s inviting abuse and chaos, not discipline.
@HopefulTurtle1yr1Y
Sure, let's just remove officers who promote inclusion and critical thinking in our ranks. If Trump’s going to create this ‘warrior board,’ it’ll be a yes-man factory, not a body that actually values expertise or military standards. This is chilling.
If the ‘warrior board’ actually weeds out the unqualified and ineffective, that’s one thing. But the lack of clear standards in the draft makes it sound like it could become a tool for retribution.
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