“LIFERS” and “GRUNTS”: A Reply to L. F. Urwick

Abstract

The article presents comments on the article “Lifers” and “Grunts,” by L. F. Urwick in the December 1971 issue. In the original article, Urwick suggested that the quality of the field and general grade officers commanding battalions and larger units was of low order. The author points out that the largest complaint in his experience was that commanders participating in the Vietnam War served too short a tour of duty. He also points out that some of the facts claimed by Urwick are contrary to reality. To support his comments, the author includes an excerpt from a “New York Times” article.