Linguists and The Bureaucracy

This article gives some interesting insight into the realm of military linguists and also demonstrates all too clearly the laughable waste and mismanagement of the military bureaucracy.

I've posted it because it is related to a post on the other website:

 http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/08/lost-in-translation-how-the-army-wastes-linguists-like-me/

Everyone in the military sees the waste and yet almost universally no one really cares. In fact the military often views itself as a privileged caste, the most worthy recipients of American tax dollars. There is definitely a culture of entitlement and dependency. Many cling to their military positions and though bitter about the salaries of civilian counterparts (like the soldier in this article), they stay in because of the security afforded by a military career.

Everything has changed since 2001, but I know when I was in the military most people did not have a sufficient work ethic to survive on the outside. It's a pretty relaxed system. Merit promotions are almost non-existent and unless you break the law, you don't get fired.

Most civilian jobs that would require two people...the military would use four or five. I know of more than one case where civilian personnel were reticent to hire ex-military. They usually were not very hard workers, lacked training and experience and often had high expectations, and wanted to be pampered with perks. Local and state police departments are now swollen with ex-military personnel. Sadly it's a perfect match but I don't think the public will benefit from it.

Again, I'm sure things have changed since 2001 and many have endured hardship. I don't feel sorry for them but I will grant they've endured it. And yet any war leads to unbelievable almost unfathomable waste and misallocation of resources. This article exposes a little of that.