May 12, 2014
Eric Shinseki is still the right person to lead Veterans Affairs
After Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki appeared before a Senate committee last week, one television commentator indicated that when Shinseki said he was “mad as hell” about problems within the VA hospital system, he didn’t actually look all that mad. True, he didn’t. But those of us who have known and served with Shinseki realize that this lack of outward emotion should not be read as a lack of passion.
I first met Shinseki 20 years ago, when he was the Army’s chief of training. He had a low-key personality, but he was a passionate advocate for obtaining the facilities, equipment and modern concepts that would keep our Army the best in the world. I was impressed.
Shinseki was soon gone from the Pentagon and headed to Fort Hood to command the 1st Cavalry Division, a choice assignment for a young major general. But in a little more than a year he was back in Washington as the Army’s assistant deputy chief for operations, yet another select position. He did not like coming back to Washington; he preferred to be with the troops. In speeches, he used to introduce himself simply as, “My name is Shinseki; I’m a soldier.”
More from CNAS
-
Bad Idea: Relying on the Same Old Solutions to Meet the Military Recruitment Challenge
Commentary
Military service provides the sense of mission, purpose, and stability that members of Gen Z seek that few other options offer....
By Katherine L. Kuzminski & Tom Spoehr
-
Getting to Ground Truth on the Reach of Domestic Violent Extremist Groups into the Military, Veteran, and Law Enforcement Communities
Commentary
On Jan. 17, three active-duty Marines, Cpl. Micah Coomer, Sgt. Joshua Abate, and Sgt. Dodge Dale Hellonen, were each charged with four misdemeanors in connection with the Jan....
By Katherine L. Kuzminski, Carrie Cordero & Arona Baigal
-
Recruiting Women to the Military
Video
Kate Kuzminski, director of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at Center for a New American Security, joined Government Matters to discuss recruiting, and women in th...
By Katherine L. Kuzminski
-
Stop Holding Recruits to One-Size-Fits-All Standards
Commentary
Whether they are in uniform or not, if the military doesn’t attract these data scientists, engineers, and coders, it will continue to fall short of its recruiting goals, and m...
By LCDR Stewart Latwin & Lt Col Ernest "Nest” Cage
