Stephen D. Cook
Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive to trim 20% of the four-star ranks is a necessary first step, but it risks becoming another exercise in "reorganizing the deck chairs" if the underlying architecture of the Generating Force isn’t fundamentally dismantled. In the Operating Force, specifically within organizations like JSOC, we have already proven that flattening works. When an O-6 commander reports directly to an O-9 to achieve strategic effects, the "flash to bang" is instantaneous. Yet, in the Generating Force—the massive machine responsible for training, equipping, and sustaining the military—we’re doubling down on Consolidation instead of Flattening.
The Consolidation Trap: T2COM and PAEs. The recent standing up of T2COM (Transformation and Training Command) and the transition to Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) are touted as revolutionary. In reality, they are "Ghost Echelons." By merging disparate commands into "super-portfolios," we aren't removing layers; we’re merely hiding the same number of flag officer staffs under a single roof.
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