MILITARY PROMOTIONS COULD CHANGE UNDER TRUMP: WHAT GENERALS & ADMIRALS SHOULD KNOW
It is rarely discussed how the US military selects and elevates its generals and admirals, who are the highest-ranking officials in the armed forces. According to reports, the military's general officer corps may be shaped far more directly by officials nominated under President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump will have the chance to implement his plans and changes that he wants to see in the military. As the new commander-in-chief, it is to be expected that he will be the deciding factor for military issues such as increased pay, a military ban on transgenders, and even changes in the process of military promotions.
Military Promotions Through the Years
Retired generals banding together to remove the military's present leadership has been a part of the long history of the US armed forces. In 1941, Gen. George C. Marshall's "plucking board" was instrumental in replacing senior active military officers with younger officers.
As World War II approached, Congress authorized that board to check and review an Army that had aging and bloated officer members where subpar leaders could hold their positions for a long time. These senior positions frequently became available only as a result of retirements, and it became a problem for them.
Rules for military promotion within a service have changed in the decades that followed. In 1980, the rank and promotion for the contemporary military was established, setting a 20-year up-or-out retirement system. The law established uniform guidelines, standards, and deadlines for military promotions, including those of generals.
Back then, if a service member was not promoted to the next rank, they were forced into retirement. Now, it takes an officer almost 25 years to advance to the rank of brigadier general and nearly 40 years to reach the rank of four-star general.
Congress has taken notice of the number of generals at the top of the military. The Congressional Research Service claims that although the percentage of the total force has increased, it is still substantially lower than it was during the Cold War when the military was larger in size.
According to the CRS, there was one general for every 2,000 Soldiers in the military in 1965, compared to about one for every 1,600 currently. The US Defense Department report shows that the Army and Air Force account for the majority of the 866 officers, with the rank of brigadier general or higher.
Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue's Blocked Promotion
Discussion on promotions within the military organization came to the forefront when a Republican senator blocked the promotion of Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue. Some are saying that it is a possible early sign of the Trump Administration's alleged plan to target senior military leaders who were there during the military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Donahue is one of the key figures in the military withdrawal issue as he was the commander of the 82nd Airborne stationed in Kabul. He was also up for his fourth star, which was to command Army Europe and Africa.
Donahue's delay followed a story claiming that Trump administration officials had written an executive order that may target three and four-star officers for lacking leadership qualities. According to some accounts, the Trump administration may do this by putting together a "warrior board" of former generals to examine and suggest firing three- and four-star officers.
It's unclear how such a board would define those who are unfit, but Trump's nominee for secretary of defense has already discussed removing top generals who have been involved in DEI (Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion) programs.
The standard when choosing officers is to look at leadership qualities, past performance, and merit. However, retired generals and experts are concerned that any board created by political figures could be a test of Trump's loyalty. They believe that it is an attempt to remove generals who support diversity policies, which will change the process entirely.
Military Promotions & Expected Changes Under Trump
Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue was the first general to be blocked by a Republican senator. Many believe that this is foreshadowing an expected change under Trump, as his administration plans to target senior military leaders who were in command during the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
It has also been reported that officials in the Trump cabinet have drafted an executive order that could put three- and four-star officers at risk, as Trump's 'warrior board" is set to review generals and recommend removals of officers that they deem "unfit."
Additionally, there has been much debate about what power Trump has to remove generals. According to Kate Kuzminski, the director of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for New American Security, “A president can unilaterally fire a general officer, but he cannot unilaterally confirm a general officer. If he goes ahead and fires all the sitting generals right now, then there has to be a Senate confirmation of every single general officer that backfilled that fired individual.”
The number of general officer positions in each military branch and their duties have always been dictated by federal statue, and can be altered at the request of federal lawmakers, in support of homeland defense.
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