Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling

And even guys like me as retired generals, they say, hey, you've got to stay in that zone, too, where you can't really show disrespect to the administration that's been dutifully elected by the majority or, in this case, the plurality of the population.

But I will tell you, there is unbelievable amounts of talk from what I'm hearing, not just at the senior leader level, but from soldiers I used to work with. And they're scared. They are very concerned. We could go into the Department of Defense and what they're doing to denigrate women or transgender.

But I will tell you, there is unbelievable amounts of talk from what I'm hearing, not just at the senior leader level, but from soldiers I used to work with. And they're scared. They are very concerned. We could go into the Department of Defense and what they're doing to denigrate women or transgender.

But I will tell you, there is unbelievable amounts of talk from what I'm hearing, not just at the senior leader level, but from soldiers I used to work with. And they're scared. They are very concerned. We could go into the Department of Defense and what they're doing to denigrate women or transgender.

But I mean, even that is, I think, going to cause challenges with recruiting and retention, because why would you want to stay in an organization that doesn't? doesn't seem to care for you while you're there, and then also doesn't treat you well after you leave.

But I mean, even that is, I think, going to cause challenges with recruiting and retention, because why would you want to stay in an organization that doesn't? doesn't seem to care for you while you're there, and then also doesn't treat you well after you leave.

But I mean, even that is, I think, going to cause challenges with recruiting and retention, because why would you want to stay in an organization that doesn't? doesn't seem to care for you while you're there, and then also doesn't treat you well after you leave.

Yeah, well, that's been reported by a lot. I mean, I don't think we have a whole lot of proof of any of that happening other than what Trump said happened.

Yeah, well, that's been reported by a lot. I mean, I don't think we have a whole lot of proof of any of that happening other than what Trump said happened.

Yeah, well, that's been reported by a lot. I mean, I don't think we have a whole lot of proof of any of that happening other than what Trump said happened.

Yeah, but it seems to be a very strange pick. I met Dan Cain one time in a very short office call with him in one of his assignments. And he was an Air National Guard guy who rose to three stars and then left the military. I'm sure he's a very competent guy. But I do worry about the continued politicalization of the military by the current Department of Defense secretary and others.

Yeah, but it seems to be a very strange pick. I met Dan Cain one time in a very short office call with him in one of his assignments. And he was an Air National Guard guy who rose to three stars and then left the military. I'm sure he's a very competent guy. But I do worry about the continued politicalization of the military by the current Department of Defense secretary and others.

Yeah, but it seems to be a very strange pick. I met Dan Cain one time in a very short office call with him in one of his assignments. And he was an Air National Guard guy who rose to three stars and then left the military. I'm sure he's a very competent guy. But I do worry about the continued politicalization of the military by the current Department of Defense secretary and others.

You know, President Trump meets somebody and says, hey, they look the part. They're the movie role characters. model of a general. They say the right things in a three or four minute interaction. And then as Mr. Trump has found out with Mattis and Kelly and others, and Milley, by the way, I mean, I keep going back to the fact that he chose Milley to be the chairman and he chose C.Q.

You know, President Trump meets somebody and says, hey, they look the part. They're the movie role characters. model of a general. They say the right things in a three or four minute interaction. And then as Mr. Trump has found out with Mattis and Kelly and others, and Milley, by the way, I mean, I keep going back to the fact that he chose Milley to be the chairman and he chose C.Q.

You know, President Trump meets somebody and says, hey, they look the part. They're the movie role characters. model of a general. They say the right things in a three or four minute interaction. And then as Mr. Trump has found out with Mattis and Kelly and others, and Milley, by the way, I mean, I keep going back to the fact that he chose Milley to be the chairman and he chose C.Q.

Brown to be the chief of the Air Force. So, you know, that those initial impressions sometimes are not long lasting. And what I'm very concerned about is there seems to be a tug on toward doing everything the president wants, whether it's illegal, immoral, or unethical. And I think that's what he's trying to set up in a bunch of different organizations. And that concerns me.

Brown to be the chief of the Air Force. So, you know, that those initial impressions sometimes are not long lasting. And what I'm very concerned about is there seems to be a tug on toward doing everything the president wants, whether it's illegal, immoral, or unethical. And I think that's what he's trying to set up in a bunch of different organizations. And that concerns me.

Brown to be the chief of the Air Force. So, you know, that those initial impressions sometimes are not long lasting. And what I'm very concerned about is there seems to be a tug on toward doing everything the president wants, whether it's illegal, immoral, or unethical. And I think that's what he's trying to set up in a bunch of different organizations. And that concerns me.

Well, it gets to the requirements of the various cabinet secretaries. And if we want to use Secretary Hegseth as one of them. Do they have the competencies of running the large organization that they've been put in charge of? Do they even know what those organizations do?