Tonight it was a great promotion night.  Far too oftern in the Army right now people are promoted because its another pay grade higher.  It shouldn't be like that but the reality of staffing right now is time in service without screwing up qualifies you to be promoted.  Often many of the smartest people are getting out to greener and less deployable jobs.  Sadly a big proportion of the people who stay seem to be the mediocre who are happy to stay and muddle on through a safe career.  Tonight was an exception.

Here is a quote from Colin Powell that couldn't be more true about the Global War on Terrorism and about many organizations...

"Organization doesn't really accomplish things.  Plans don't accomplish anything, either.  Theories of management don't much matter.  Endeabors succeed or fail because of the people involved.  Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds."

Those people have been quiting the military in droves for various reasons.  Many never even consider military service.  Tonight the right type of soldier was rewarded for the right reasons.

There was a Warrant Officer who got promoted to Chief Warrant 4.  We actually did it in a video teleconference room that was back to a base in the US.  His wife, daughter and a couple of friends were present there.  He was actually promoted by the Commanding General(2 stars).  He was originally a private under the General(as a captain) 18 years ago.  As the CG said, the promotion wasn't because of what the individual had accomplished.  It was in recognition of the potential and expectation to accomplish more in the future.

The soldier had a chaplain say a prayer and he spoke how just before this deployment he decided to make religion a bigger part of his life and how it was helping get him through the drudgery and separation.  He choked up a bit and even his daughter (8000 miles away) asked, why was dad crying?"  She isn't old enought to understand sentimental crying yet.    He especially thanked his wife for her support throughought their 11 year marriage.    This was a scene I expected more but sadly it has been more of the exception than rule of reality.

Anyway not a lot really happened today.  Strategic politics continues to be a topic of conversation for those of us who understand the importance of the testimony next week.  Although it may not really matter.  The Partisan lines have probably been drawn and the testimony is likely more a show for constituent consumption more than a discussion or hearing to actually determine the truth of the situation here.