KNick wrote:... This posting will happen sooner rather than later, as the GSN has been grooming her for flag rank since graduation.
....
No well run military service (and this includes any protagonist side navy in any Weber universe) "grooms x for flag rank
from graduation."
It is a persistent, pernicious myth.
This was not even true in the most purchase-driven, patronage rife days of the Royal Navy. (There is perhaps slightly more reason to accuse the British Army of the Iron Duke's era of some of this - Lord Cardigan got in there somehow.)
Grooming for high rank most certainly DOES occur, in almost every service. Indeed, it is generally viewed, or even codified as a DUTY of senior officers, for the sake of the future of their service.
But it does not occur before the younger officer in question has shown multiple aspects of ability. Otherwise it is a waste, or a crapshoot, or worst of all a net negative for the service, and senior officers KNOW THAT!
The earliest it is reasonable to begin seeing someone "groomed" is near the end of their first command, what ever level that occurs at in their particular service/environment. In my particular service, the US Army, perhaps about the time an officer reached O-4.
In looking at officers with LESS experience than that, the evaluation motivation leans more to correcting the fixable flaws of young officers, giving OPPORTUNITIES to show their mettle, and winnowing out those who just aren't cut out for the service.
Now I recognize that this is just one ex-officer's opinion, reinforced by the guidance of my seniors over the years on how THEY looked on their part in subordinates career development.
I would be very interested to see comment from other current and former military fans on how they perceive this mentoring and development process works.
dreamrider
