Back when I was a young Junior Officer on my first submarine, my Department Heads, XO, and CO would always admonish us to “get out in your spaces.” They did it and we needed to do it. This was especially true during our ritual Friday morning Field Day, in which the crew cleans and preserves the ship. This showed that you 1) cared about who your sailors were and that what they were doing was important, 2) showed an interest in learning about the ship (good, bad, ugly) because what better way to learn than to crawl around in the bilges with the guys who are the experts, and 3) demonstrated that you were not some knighted prince who sat in his stateroom issuing decrees and not following up on what was really being done. As a Department Head, I made it a point to balance my day so that I could get around to find out what was going on. This allowed me a personal view so that I could make changes if necessary or provide horsepower where needed to get things done more efficiently. As a leader, one of your primary functions is to take care of your men because they are the ones who do the heavy lifting and who stand the most chance of injury or death when the bad stuff happens.
That’s why this testimony before Congress yesterday made me sick:
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.
But try as he might, he couldn’t fix blame on himself.
How could he not have known that wounded soldiers were living in squalid conditions across the street from his own home? “I don’t do barracks inspections at Walter Reed,” he said.
I just don’t understand why some guys up there at the top don’t get it. Our young Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deserve far more as do their commanders who do take care of them.
An absolutely incredible contrast was MGEN Weightman, who was fired last week as the WRAMC Commander :
Weightman, by contrast, turned around to the McLeods and spoke warmly, addressing Annette directly. “I’d just like to apologize for not meeting their expectations, not only in the care provided, but also in having so many bureaucratic processes that just took your fortitude to be an advocate for your husband that you shouldn’t have to do,” Weightman said, as Kiley finally turned to face the McLeods. “I promise we will do better.”
When the two generals were eventually excused, Weightman again turned to the McLeods and shook hands with them; though he spoke quietly, the words “I’m sorry” were clear. Kiley left the room without a glance backward.
You can read the whole thing in the WAPO here. Seems LTGEN Kiley could learn a thing or two from his former subordinate…
Update 07MAR: CDR Salamander has some words on this issue today.
I am certainly no expert on how they do things in the Army, but I can spot piss poor leadership and retubution at a 1000 meters.
Everyone who has ever served in the militay has loads of experience in living and working in lousy conditions. There are never enough maintenance funds to do all the things that should be done and we generally accept it as a fact of military life.
However, it is the sacred duty of those in command, and those in positions of authority, to look out for the welfare of thier people. I don’t generally agree with much that the Washington Post says, but I think they have nailed this one dead center. Starting with LGEN Kiley right on down the chain of command there has been a systemic failure of leadership. Not a single one of these “leaders” seems to give a rat’s ass for the troops that have been entrusted to them.
There is absolutely NO excuse for the failure to provide adequate, and timely, medical care and administrative support. There is NO excuse for a bunch of REMFs to jerk wounded warriors around.
I applaud SECDEFs steps so far, but he needs to review LGEN Kiley’s actions. Starting from his tour as CG at WRAMC Kiley has shown a curious indifference to the reported problems at Walter Reed. And since the Post started the series of articles on the problems at Walter Reed he has been throughly antagonistic toward anyone who raises questions. Instead of acknowledging that problems exist and moving out smartly to correct them, Kiley seems more interested in denials and obsufication. He should be relieved for cause and retired immediately.
He should be relieved for cause and retired immediately
Not enough. This “person” should be publicly canned and stripped of retirement benefits. And the system that allows advancement for people like him should be seriously overhauled.
You active duty guys KNOW that he is just the tip of the iceberg.
I have been very dissapointed in the last three years to see the difference between rhetoric versus reality when it comes to officer code of conduct. From adultery, to committing crime, to negligence in official duty. The new SecDef would be well served to make a strong example of this..
Never had much faith in flag/general officers. They are so far removed from reality and protected by layers of staff pogues and bureaucracy and are generally untouchable. It seems like they’re not permitted to visit anywhere without notifying a protocol office and having a divisional dress parade organized for them.
Of course, even if this general is canned, he’ll have a job with some defense corporation or (more appropriately) a health insurance company, where he can continue to screw people over and not have to be accountable for it.
Isn’t it odd that all the dems that have been visiting our vets at walter reed for lo these many years, never noticed UNTIL NOW the conditions at walter reed?
That’s why this testimony before Congress yesterday made me sick:
Disturbing. Endemic of the greater problems of the medical system. Makes you want to just throttle somebody.
Kiley is a MD, that is a doctor, and cannot be held the the same standards as a regular Army officer.
He may be a good physician, but not a manager of facilities and people. He probably lacks the training, education, and experience to be supervising and managing others, except maybe an operating room.
The Air Force has the same problem when they put some airplane driver in command of an Air Force command, when the only thing he is good at is flying an airplane.
Regardless of whether LTGEN Kiley is an MD or not, to me, is immaterial. The fact that he is an officer makes it his duty to find out the real deal with his command. Whatever it takes. Period.
Marine6 nails it: ” it is the sacred duty of those in command, and those in positions of authority, to look out for the welfare of thier people.” These guys need to pay. (I don’t generally agree with the WAPO either.)
I have to disagree with Joel’s comments, but not his sentiments.
It has nothing to do with his rank – that’s who he is as a person. My dad was a flag rank medical officer, and growing up, I met plenty of my dad’s friends and co-workers. Jerks are jerks, period. Good guys as O5′s are good guys as O7s, etc.
General Kiley’s remark that he didn’t do barracks inspections is all you need to know about him. He might be a fine physician, but I’ll bet he’s a lousy officer. Not dishonest, and not lazy. Just…lousy. I’ll bet his nomination to be the SG was more political than anything else.
I’ll bet his nomination to be the SG was more political than anything else.
At that rank, everything is political.
I can’t believe this guy still has a job, though I’ve met flag officers like him before. It’s a rare general that actually walks around his facility or sections just to see what’s going on, and doesn’t bring an entourage of your commander, his commander, and multiple other flunkies with him.
Does any general officer REALLY think he’s going to get a straight answer to the “how’s it going, Captain?” question when your commander is glowering over his shoulder, ready to pounce the moment you make him look bad? Retribution is everywhere in the military, and you only have so many opportunities to object to problems before you get labeled as a whiner, a troublemaker, or that kiss-of-death: “he’s just not a team player.”
Maybe it’s a line/medical corps difference. One of the best generals I ever encountered was a deployed spec-ops-type brigadier, who actually approached our table in the chow tent one day (just myself and a bunch of surgeons), asked if he could sit down, and asked “how’s it going, guys? How are thing for you docs?”
Boy, did he ever get an earful. To his credit, he took it all in, never got mad, and actually had some insightful things to say afterwards. The best part? It was all unsolicited, unscripted, and he was sincere (and all of us had our bullsh*t detectors cranked up to 11).
Wish we had more leaders like that.