This public admin class is killing me, I’ve read like six articles hemming and hawing about command relationships and authority and structuring an organization and it’s taking all my willpower to not just scrawl “MISSION COMMAND, COMMANDER’S INTENT” across it and turn it in for a grade

As a public admin type, let me say this: a lot of the best practices found in the material is really self-evident stuff, dressed up as insights. Much of the academic writing is incredibly convoluted and is more about the conversation between two scholars than any practical application.

Look, it’s not perfect but the Army has figured out a pretty good balance between obedience and “disciplined initiative,” and I’m trying to engage with the material but I’ve got well over a decade of this stuff drummed into me