Can the Military Fix Its Leadership Crisis?

Is the military’s leadership crisis deeper than we realize?

Stephen Simmons doesn’t just see the problem—he sees the pattern. Leadership positions have been filled not by the most qualified, but by those who fit bureaucratic priorities. And the deeper you go, the worse it gets. Even if top leaders are replaced, their successors are often more entrenched in the same failing system.

So how do you fix it? Some argue for a full overhaul, removing those who have contributed to this cultural and operational decline. But Stephen warns of a dangerous line: at what point does accountability turn into a purge?

This is a conversation about more than policy—it’s about the future of military leadership. Who should stay? Who should go? And how deep should the changes run?

What do you think—how can the military rebuild effective leadership? Join the discussion below.