True war story (or Sea Story for the Marines).

Nearly forty-one years ago I found myself sitting at a desk at Chu Lai reviewing reports.  Among the other reports that MAG-13 required of its six squadrons was a report due every Sunday on their efforts and successes in getting the troops to buy U. S. Savings Bonds.

I reviewed the relevant authority and found that the Wing only required their report annually so I started asking why we wanted it so often.  No one in the chain of command knew.  Finally a gunnery sergeant who was on about his third tour came forward.  

Years previously the Group Commander really, really cared about Savings Bonds and really, really pushed them and required weekly updates.  Since then, no one had given a flip about them but no one had bothered to revise the order.    

So the bottom line is that even the best run bureaucracies are  likely to have reporting requirements that once made sense, but no longer do.  I just wish other leaders would emulate Mrs. Clinton's example and ask if they really need what they require of others.

And, to complete, this ramble, I managed to get the order revised.  But the Adjutant would only agree to make it a monthly report, not semi-annually.

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