The affliction of abusive leadership has recently even infected some civilian leaders at the Pentagon, according to military documents obtained by The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act.
As an example, according to the paper, Army officers described the working atmosphere under Joyce E. Morrow, a powerful civilian official at Army headquarters, as "toxic," corrosive" and "like you were in a prisoner of war camp."
The officers said, "They were forced to fetch Morrow's iced tea, which she would refuse to drink if it was not served in a cup with a lid and a straw, but no ice."
Some officials believe that the US military system promotes and tolerates "too many lousy leaders," the newspaper said.
In its report published Tuesday, the Post also raised several cases in the military in which top brass have been accused of brutal behavior.
US Air Force Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Schmidt, as an example, retired this month after an Air Force inquiry concluded that he was "cruel and oppressive" and mistreated his staff members.
Brig. Gen. Scott F. "Rock" Donahue, a retired commander with the Army Corps of Engineers, was also reportedly "a verbally abusive taskmaster." An Army investigation cited the Donahue for "exhibiting paranoia" and making officers cry, the report said.
Army Brig. Gen. Eugene Mascolo of the Connecticut National Guard was described by troops who served under him as "dictatorial," "unglued" and a master of "profanity-fused outbursts."
According to the newspaper, an Army investigation found widespread evidence of "verbal mistreatment," adding that Mascolo received a written reprimand but remains in the National Guard.
In recent months, the US armed forces have been shaken by a series of gambling, drinking and sleeping around scandals.
Say it isn't so! The US Military? Emotionally abusive? Dictatorial and Opressive?!?
The sarcasm should be quite apparent here. The US Military has long had a reputation for being overly aggressive and authoritative in uncalled-for and often outright abusing ways. I'm not surprised at all that it spreads outward to civilian leaders in close proximity to the Military. I certainly hope this isn't the first time they're being called out for it.