I am taking this page to put up on the web things I want to share with all of you. It may be a joke, it may be an idea, it may be a thought I want to pass on, possibly an editorial by me or a photo I like. It will change from time to time. I will give you an e-mail link (click on my name below) for your thoughts on what I put here. If you have something you like and want to share send it I may put it up here too.
How the Military Staffs a Unit
Once upon a time the military had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. The Inspector General's (IG) Office performed an inspection and gave the following write-up: "Improper Security. Someone can easily steal from this area."
So, the military created positions for four MPs (Military Police) to guard the facility night and day.
The IG re-inspected, and gave the following write-up: "Improper procedures. There are no written instructions for the MPs to do their job."
So, the military created a planning section, and staff it with two NCOs, one to write the instructions, and one to do time-studies.
The IG re-inspected and gave the following write-up: "There are no procedures in place to ensure the MPs are performing their duties correctly."
The military responded by creating a Total Quality Management (TQM) section and staffed it with two NCOs, one to do studies and perform inspections and the other to write and file reports.
The IG re-inspected and gave the following write-up: "Insufficient supervision. There is no definable chain-of-command."
So, the military created an administrative section, and staffed it with an officer as OIC (Officer in Charge), a senior NCO as NCOIC (Noncommissioned Officer in Charge), and two enlisted administrative specialists.
The IG re-inspected, and concluded: "This operation has met the requirements of the regulations. However, the command has been in operation for only one year and is already $18,000 over budget. The command must streamline operations and cut back on unnecessary staffing positions."
So, the OIC eliminated the four MP positions.
