# Trump's Cabinet of Curiosities **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 10, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367 "2016-11-10T16:28:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 189
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/189 "2016-12-02T06:34:21Z")
I think there are good reasons to have a civilian mentality overseeing the Pentagon. [This article agrees, citing several reasons and providing anecdotal evidence](http://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-should-not-pick-a-general-as-defense-secretary-2016-11-28) that the law requiring a civilian SecDef is a good idea. My own opinion matters not — I know very _very_ little about the military. I have become acquainted with fellow retirees including three who are retired American career servicemen. Based on these three examples I’ve surmised that career soldiers have a very different mentality than the rest of us. Generals and Admirals do run military operations. The Chairman of JCS reports directly to the President. Having a civilian as SecDef provides balance. Yes, an exception was made for the great man who served as Truman’s Secretary of State. I see no need to make an exception for Trump’s Mad Dog. (ETA: Admittedly, this appointment is one of the least of our worries given the Basket of Deplorables Trump is choosing for the other top positions.) --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367)._