Send military members to Civilian schools →

The Pentagon wants to send more officers to earn graduate degrees at top-notch civilian universities, a key piece of soon-to-be released personnel reforms that could fundamentally alter the career tracks of senior military leaders.

Having spent several years in civilian graduate school, I know how beneficial this opportunity can be. But, the issue isn't how to replace the war colleges. As long as the military operates graduate schools – Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) – it will be difficult to justify sending members to civilian institutions.

Russ Roberts' interview with Leonard Wong →

I enjoy listening to EconTalk. This week, the host, Russ Roberts, spoke with Leonard Wong about honesty in the military.

Leonard Wong of the Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about honesty in the military. Based on a recent co-authored paper, Wong argues that the paperwork and training burden on U.S. military officers requires dishonesty--it is simply impossible to comply with all the requirements. This creates a tension for an institution that prides itself on honesty, trust, and integrity. The conversation closes with suggestions for how the military might reform the compliance and requirement process.

This discussion stemmed from Wong's recent paper:

"Lying to Ourselves: Dishonesty in the Army Profession," by Leonard Wong and Stephen J. Gerras. Strategic Studies Institute, February 2015. PDF file.