Reforming Military Ethics: Tackling the Defense Industry 'Gravy Train'

A retired Army colonel argues that a significant cultural problem within the U.S. military involves high-ranking officers leveraging their positions for lucrative post-retirement jobs in the defense industry. This practice, likened to a "gravy train," leads to wasteful spending and conflicts of interest. The author believes that Pete Hegseth, nominated as Secretary of Defense, must address this cultural issue by making such behavior shameful and undesirable. This cultural shift, the author contends, is crucial for reforming defense procurement systems and ultimately making the Department of Defense more effective and ethical. The author supports the idea that lower-ranking officers possess the necessary expertise for defense industry roles without the ethical concerns associated with higher-ranking officers.