This is surely going to sound snarky… but it is just a question. Several folks have mentioned this demotion as being a “career-killer”. Does anyone know if now Col. Karpinski had much of a shot to advance from Brig General ? How likely was it that now Col Karpinski was going to advance to next level anyway?
I’m pretty sure that “hot prospects” are identified before they ever leave the various acadamies and are guided into desirable career paths from then on. Of course when they get these plum assignments they have to perform or their promise falls by the wayside.
I got this idea from following the progress of a young man from my home town, John D. Ryan, who went off to West Point in 1933. Every now and then after he left West Point there would be some small public mention of Ryan here and there in the national press and it was always picked up by the local paper, of course. Items such as that Ryan had become and Aide to General So and So, or had gone to the Army’s Command and General Staff School and such like.
Eventually he went on to become Commander of SAC and Air Force Chief of Staff.
David I’m sure that John Ryan’s career was followed by the hometown paper; the USAF still has the “hometown news” form that will get the info to the local burg.
However, he WAS a great leader and had to be to rise as high as he did.
Yes, the Air Force Academy “identifies” future leaders, but success at the Academy does NOT guarantee success in the field.
Leaders in the Air Force are pilots, period. If you are not a pilot you will not be Chief of Staff of the Air Force. You pretty much have to be a fighter pilot also (F-15 preferred) to get even close to that position.
The Air Force Academy traditionally has a high percentage of graduates who ENTER UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training), but once they get to UPT they stand on their own merit. If someone is the #1 Academy graduate but has a couple of hams on his hands and can’t fly for squat, he will be washed out of UPT. End of Air Force career.
I gave hundreds of checkrides to UPT students, and I never knew their background before the checkride. They were all evaluated on their flying skill, NOT on their background or reputation.
The “Academy Stud” could get a multiple-item bust, and the class anchor could fly a great ride and get an “Excellent” overall…they were graded on performance only, NOT expectations.
Botom line: the guys who are truly exceptional will rise to the occasion, regardless of the circumstances. No need for special treatment for the true leaders…
[QUOTE=pilot141Yes, the Air Force Academy “identifies” future leaders, but success at the Academy does NOT guarantee success in the field.
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Oh sure. That’s why I added that after the promising ones got the good job they had to perform or fall off the ladder. However, I’m pretty sure that none of the services wastes their top graduates on ho-hum assignments as long as they can meet expectations. And I know for a fact that Navy admirals keep an eye out for lower ranking people they work with who may be late bloomers who didn’t star at the academy but came along well.
It also helps if they know a lot of verses of Ivan Skivinsky Skivar. 