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2007-03-13 Home Front: WoT

A senior defense official tells ABC News that Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley is out as the surgeon general of the U.S. Army. Acting Secretary of the Army Pete Geren asked Kiley to submit his retirement papers, which he has done. The move is supported by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The official says that Maj. Gen. Gale S. Pollock, Kiley's deputy, will replace him as the acting surgeon general. Meanwhile, the Army will convene a panel to select a permanent replacement.

Posted by Fred 2007-03-13 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11135 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 FOX > O'REILLY > Patients claim than when informed of alleged perceived probs at Walter Reed, GEN KILEY allegedly responded by saying AS A [Army]GENERAL HE DOESN'T DO MEDICAL/PATIENT BARRACKS INSPECTIONS???

Posted by JosephMendiola 2007-03-13 01:26|| 2007-03-13 01:26|| Front Page Top

#2 Something like this cluster of firings & early retirements should have happened right after 9/11, but didn't.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-03-13 02:09|| 2007-03-13 02:09|| Front Page Top

#3 Something tells me the house of cards all came tumbling down when senior rankers began to harass the soldiers with formations, inspections and instructions not to talk to the media. The situation at Walter Reed and Bethesda is worrisome, but invision a scenario where MASS casualties were involved. I don't even wish to think about it.

Posted by Besoeker 2007-03-13 07:15|| 2007-03-13 07:15|| Front Page Top

#4 Joe, he said it during his testimony:

Kevin Kiley, the three-star general in charge of all Army medical facilities, seemed stumped as he testified yesterday about his responsibility for the Walter Reed scandal. "I'm trying not to say that I'm not accountable," he told members of the House oversight committee.

Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley, Walter Reed's commander from 2002 to 2004, responded when asked about the squalid conditions there: "I don't do barracks inspections at Walter Reed."

Posted by Steve 2007-03-13 07:34|| 2007-03-13 07:34|| Front Page Top

#5 "I don't do barracks inspections at Walter Reed."
No, probably not... but a quick, no-announce, minimal entourage walk-through might have kept WR's management up to the mark, as far as conditions for the troops went.

I was once startled out of my skin by a one-star SAC general who just walked in the door of the broadcasting detatchment one summer morning, wandered up to my desk and said "Hi, I'm just going around saying thanks to all the other tenant units who support my people... can I have a tour of the radio and TV station?" (Yeah, like I'm going to say no to a General who wants an instant quick tour)
So I took him around, unannounced, and after everyone got over dropping to the floor out of shock, and hissing through their teeth "How can he just do this, without any advance word!!??", he left with thanks and probably a better idea of what our mission was, and our capabilities and limitations than anyone else we ever had to go a dog and pony show for.
I'd recommend this sort of thing, actually. Once the senior NCOs and staff get over having heart attacks, it's a great way for a commander to find out the whole picture.

Posted by Sgt. Mom 2007-03-13 10:29|| www,ncobrief.com]">[www,ncobrief.com] 2007-03-13 10:29|| Front Page Top

#6 a quick, no-announce, minimal entourage walk-through might have kept WR's management up to the mark, as far as conditions for the troops went

Lack of same was a key factor at abu Ghraib. Karpinski didn't have a clue about conditions or operations there. Only one of her subordinate commanders was running a strak unit, the rest did as they pleased.

Posted by occasional observer 2007-03-13 10:41|| 2007-03-13 10:41|| Front Page Top

#7 one-star SAC general who just walked in the door

SAC lived and died by their "no-notice" inspections. The first people to know one was coming was air traffic control when a unscheduled plane showed up in the pattern and identified themselves. It kept you on your toes.

Posted by Steve 2007-03-13 10:42|| 2007-03-13 10:42|| Front Page Top

#8 Steve-

I was present on what may have been the one and only time a SAC base got warning that the IG was inbound within the next day or so. Everybody went on 12s, we spit-shined the place, and stood by in full combat gear. The IG showed up, realized what happened, and asked for the IG plan (Every base had a higher headquarters eval plan). The team commander - an 06 - riffled the pages, then slowly and deliberately tore it to shreds and announced, "Let me tell you the new IG plan..."

Longest ten days of my life.

But back to the subject - if a SINGLE NCO at WRMC deliberately harrased one guy in an attempt to keep people from going to the press, then every last one of them needs to be a PFC with orders to the infantry. That kind of attitude and behavior is inexcusable at best.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2007-03-13 13:40|| 2007-03-13 13:40|| Front Page Top

#9 "Management by walking around" It's been a staple in the private sector since the 80's, if not before (I hadn't started reading Mr. Wife's management books before that, so I come by my ignorance honestly). Mr. Wife has always believed it's the best way to see what his people are really doing... and the best way to let the big guys know what he's doing, unmediated by the fears or ambitions of anyone in between.

And as has been posted here repeatedly, you get results on what you inspect.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-03-13 14:18|| 2007-03-13 14:18|| Front Page Top

#10 MBWA is a really great management and audit (inspection tool) in a former job, part of my work involved quality assurance audits on suppliers. my first stop, after checking in at the front desk was to use the men's room in the production areas. you can learn a whole lot about the company's REAL culture there as opposed to the dog and pony show from the front office. works that same in the military.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2007-03-13 14:42|| 2007-03-13 14:42|| Front Page Top

#11 Then there's MBTTSUWWAWA -- Management By Threatening To Show Up Without Warning And Walking Around. Leaders could get some mileage out of that without actually showing up. The acronym even looks sinister, like some jihadi organization.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-03-13 15:34|| 2007-03-13 15:34|| Front Page Top

#12 1972, Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, summer ROTC training. On weekends one of the company messes would support the cadets who remained in the battalion area. Had always heard the Charlie Company mess was the pits, but then all the cadets whine for one reason or another. Went promptly to the brunch meal [only two meals served on Saturday or Sunday]. They were right. Poor prep, poor servings, lousy meal. How do you screw up breakfast? Got back minutes later to the barracks and told the other cadets to get chow now cause theyll run out. Those who waited thirty minutes returned without a meal. Then it happened. General Haldain who was the camp commander arrived to have breakfast with the cadets at the start of the second hour. When I returned to the evening mess serving, there were new personnel, food stuff to the walls, and generous servings being had. Closest to instant retribution I ever wanted to be near.

Posted by Procopius2k 2007-03-13 19:30|| 2007-03-13 19:30|| Front Page Top

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