Paul M Kearney
@strategerist.bsky.social
US Army Goodpaster Scholar, Wargamer, & Paratrooper | USMA ‘09, KCL War Studies ‘15, G’town SSP ‘20 | PhD Student @ Duke PoliSci | Personal Acct per DoDI 5400.17
Reposted by Paul M Kearney
My "Littoral Commander: Baltic" #wargame is featured in Defense News!
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
What if Russia invades the Baltic? A tabletop game offers answers
“Littoral Commander: The Baltic” depicts a Russian invasion of the Baltic region around 2030.
www.defensenews.com
September 16, 2025 at 12:30 PM
My "Littoral Commander: Baltic" #wargame is featured in Defense News!
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
I’m pretty mid… better polish off the ol’ resume…
“How’s your strategic debriefer working out for you?”
“Pretty mid to be honest.”
“Pretty mid to be honest.”
September 5, 2025 at 9:07 PM
I’m pretty mid… better polish off the ol’ resume…
Reposted by Paul M Kearney
Functional areas created by the Army in the 70s are accused of causing "brain drain". @strategerist.bsky.social & Halleran argue they're key to retaining hi-quality ofcrs, w/ nearly 2/3 surveyed saying they would have left w/o the option to switch #WARROOM
warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/fun...
warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/fun...
August 28, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Functional areas created by the Army in the 70s are accused of causing "brain drain". @strategerist.bsky.social & Halleran argue they're key to retaining hi-quality ofcrs, w/ nearly 2/3 surveyed saying they would have left w/o the option to switch #WARROOM
warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/fun...
warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/fun...
🪖 NEW ARTICLE 🪖
Since the creation of functional areas for Army officers, there has been the dual worries about a “brain drain” of talent from combat branches and a concern that officers are “quiet quitting” in “easier” billet… so which is it?
warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/fun...
Since the creation of functional areas for Army officers, there has been the dual worries about a “brain drain” of talent from combat branches and a concern that officers are “quiet quitting” in “easier” billet… so which is it?
warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/fun...
FUNCTIONAL FITNESS: IMPROVING RETENTION AND FIGHTING "BRAIN DRAIN"
In the late 1990s, the U.S. Army shifted from a "dual-track" career model that required officers to maintain their basic branch along with any additional structure to a "single-track" model that at mi...
warroom.armywarcollege.edu
August 28, 2025 at 8:32 AM
🪖 NEW ARTICLE 🪖
Since the creation of functional areas for Army officers, there has been the dual worries about a “brain drain” of talent from combat branches and a concern that officers are “quiet quitting” in “easier” billet… so which is it?
warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/fun...
Since the creation of functional areas for Army officers, there has been the dual worries about a “brain drain” of talent from combat branches and a concern that officers are “quiet quitting” in “easier” billet… so which is it?
warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/fun...
Just to keep the record straight, yes, it was.
The Baathist regime was killing tens of thousands of Iraqi Kurds and Shia in horrific attacks. After needlessly attacking Kuwait and sacrificing tens of thousands of their people. After needlessly attacking Iran sacrificing tens of thousands.
The Baathist regime was killing tens of thousands of Iraqi Kurds and Shia in horrific attacks. After needlessly attacking Kuwait and sacrificing tens of thousands of their people. After needlessly attacking Iran sacrificing tens of thousands.
Was that already happening before the US attacked?
August 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Just to keep the record straight, yes, it was.
The Baathist regime was killing tens of thousands of Iraqi Kurds and Shia in horrific attacks. After needlessly attacking Kuwait and sacrificing tens of thousands of their people. After needlessly attacking Iran sacrificing tens of thousands.
The Baathist regime was killing tens of thousands of Iraqi Kurds and Shia in horrific attacks. After needlessly attacking Kuwait and sacrificing tens of thousands of their people. After needlessly attacking Iran sacrificing tens of thousands.
What the hell is the National Guard doing?!?!?!
Everyone knows the active duty force trains for this exact mission every Red Cycle. Get these amateurs out of here and let’s get a Battalion of OPERATION Clean Sweep veterans for this vital mission.
Everyone knows the active duty force trains for this exact mission every Red Cycle. Get these amateurs out of here and let’s get a Battalion of OPERATION Clean Sweep veterans for this vital mission.
August 27, 2025 at 1:46 AM
What the hell is the National Guard doing?!?!?!
Everyone knows the active duty force trains for this exact mission every Red Cycle. Get these amateurs out of here and let’s get a Battalion of OPERATION Clean Sweep veterans for this vital mission.
Everyone knows the active duty force trains for this exact mission every Red Cycle. Get these amateurs out of here and let’s get a Battalion of OPERATION Clean Sweep veterans for this vital mission.
I’m no historian but…
Was the negotiation in Carthage just haggling over the price of salt?
Was the negotiation in Berlin “who’s gonna put this shallow ditch out? It’s on fire with Hitler in it”
It seems like there’s a serious knowledge gap here.
Was the negotiation in Carthage just haggling over the price of salt?
Was the negotiation in Berlin “who’s gonna put this shallow ditch out? It’s on fire with Hitler in it”
It seems like there’s a serious knowledge gap here.
JD Vance: "This is how wars ultimately get settled. If you go back to World War 2, if you go back to every major conflict in human history, they all end with some kind of negotiation."
August 25, 2025 at 1:32 AM
I’m no historian but…
Was the negotiation in Carthage just haggling over the price of salt?
Was the negotiation in Berlin “who’s gonna put this shallow ditch out? It’s on fire with Hitler in it”
It seems like there’s a serious knowledge gap here.
Was the negotiation in Carthage just haggling over the price of salt?
Was the negotiation in Berlin “who’s gonna put this shallow ditch out? It’s on fire with Hitler in it”
It seems like there’s a serious knowledge gap here.
Calling All Army Functional Area Officers!!!
If you have 5 quick minutes (even on your phone) could you answer this short survey about how functional areas impacted your mid-career decisions to stay or leave the Army.
duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
If you have 5 quick minutes (even on your phone) could you answer this short survey about how functional areas impacted your mid-career decisions to stay or leave the Army.
duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
duke.qualtrics.com
August 20, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Calling All Army Functional Area Officers!!!
If you have 5 quick minutes (even on your phone) could you answer this short survey about how functional areas impacted your mid-career decisions to stay or leave the Army.
duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
If you have 5 quick minutes (even on your phone) could you answer this short survey about how functional areas impacted your mid-career decisions to stay or leave the Army.
duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Reposted by Paul M Kearney
Reposted by Paul M Kearney
Important perspective from @risabrooks12.bsky.social, one of the sharpest civ-mil experts around. The military can't save democracy, but in my judgment they can and should save their profession by defending its values.
My take is that senior officers are completely unprepared for this moment.
When demo is healthy, there is little tension btw adhering to civilian control & serving democracy
Faced w/ the manifest clash in principles these missions present, they are doing what's familiar--following orders.1/
When demo is healthy, there is little tension btw adhering to civilian control & serving democracy
Faced w/ the manifest clash in principles these missions present, they are doing what's familiar--following orders.1/
What's a MAJ supposed to do when they watch GOFOs and COLs do nothing and say nothing about what went down with LA, the parade, Bragg, and criticism of MoH recipients?
There's no top cover, no leadership, no hard convos. Just abdication and servility from the top creating difficulties on down.
There's no top cover, no leadership, no hard convos. Just abdication and servility from the top creating difficulties on down.
August 13, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Important perspective from @risabrooks12.bsky.social, one of the sharpest civ-mil experts around. The military can't save democracy, but in my judgment they can and should save their profession by defending its values.
Reposted by Paul M Kearney
The Department of Homeland Security is holding up more than $100 million preapproved dollars intended to help hurricane-battered North Carolina clean up storm damage and fix infrastructure, according to documents obtained by The Post.
DHS is delaying millions in already approved North Carolina recovery funds, documents show
Communities across the region still need to be reimbursed for about a hundred projects including debris removal, waste water treatment repairs, roads and bridges, damaged buildings and parks, as well ...
wapo.st
August 9, 2025 at 2:00 AM
The Department of Homeland Security is holding up more than $100 million preapproved dollars intended to help hurricane-battered North Carolina clean up storm damage and fix infrastructure, according to documents obtained by The Post.
Is anyone else expecting Putin to open a second front declaring the longstanding and traditional status of Alaska as Russian territory and launching a deNazification campaign?
Trump says he will meet with Putin in Alaska a week from today.
August 8, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Is anyone else expecting Putin to open a second front declaring the longstanding and traditional status of Alaska as Russian territory and launching a deNazification campaign?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the “Border Tsar” on CNN saying ICE was detaining people using “physical appearance” as being “reasonable suspicion” of a crime?
Man, that’d be an embarrassing example of hypocrisy…
www.cnn.com/2025/07/13/p...
Man, that’d be an embarrassing example of hypocrisy…
www.cnn.com/2025/07/13/p...
August 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the “Border Tsar” on CNN saying ICE was detaining people using “physical appearance” as being “reasonable suspicion” of a crime?
Man, that’d be an embarrassing example of hypocrisy…
www.cnn.com/2025/07/13/p...
Man, that’d be an embarrassing example of hypocrisy…
www.cnn.com/2025/07/13/p...
Besides the hilarity of Derek Guy’s response, “Alex” and his ilk bother me.
They want Derek to not comment on matters outside his narrow expertise but have elected football coaches into high office. Which is it?
They want Derek to not comment on matters outside his narrow expertise but have elected football coaches into high office. Which is it?
August 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Besides the hilarity of Derek Guy’s response, “Alex” and his ilk bother me.
They want Derek to not comment on matters outside his narrow expertise but have elected football coaches into high office. Which is it?
They want Derek to not comment on matters outside his narrow expertise but have elected football coaches into high office. Which is it?
Gentle souls,
This movie is LITERALLY shown in the Defense Nuclear Weapons School’s course on Nuclear Policy.
But considering how many tropes from post-apocalyptic movies we’re all now living through, I’ll forgive you if you don’t have it in you to imagine this nightmare too.
This movie is LITERALLY shown in the Defense Nuclear Weapons School’s course on Nuclear Policy.
But considering how many tropes from post-apocalyptic movies we’re all now living through, I’ll forgive you if you don’t have it in you to imagine this nightmare too.
How Stanley Kubrick’s film “Dr. Strangelove” exposed dangers inherent in nuclear command-and-control systems.
Almost Everything in “Dr. Strangelove” Was True
How Stanley Kubrick’s film “Dr. Strangelove” exposed dangers inherent in nuclear command-and-control systems.
www.newyorker.com
August 3, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Gentle souls,
This movie is LITERALLY shown in the Defense Nuclear Weapons School’s course on Nuclear Policy.
But considering how many tropes from post-apocalyptic movies we’re all now living through, I’ll forgive you if you don’t have it in you to imagine this nightmare too.
This movie is LITERALLY shown in the Defense Nuclear Weapons School’s course on Nuclear Policy.
But considering how many tropes from post-apocalyptic movies we’re all now living through, I’ll forgive you if you don’t have it in you to imagine this nightmare too.
Advertise your account with a gif
August 3, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Advertise your account with a gif
As always, I’m eager to hear @proftalmadge.bsky.social ‘s thoughts on this development.
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
Trump meets with candidates for 4-star general in break with tradition, White House acknowledges
www.stripes.com
July 31, 2025 at 9:31 PM
As always, I’m eager to hear @proftalmadge.bsky.social ‘s thoughts on this development.
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
Use its proper name
July 30, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Use its proper name
News Anchor: “Local man continues his intellectual hunger strike, refusing to consume even crumbs of intelligible ideas. More after these words from our sponsor.”
How do you think the US would react if Mexico joined an anti-US military alliance; started building up an army on the US border, funded and directed by Russia and China, and making statements about how war with the US was inevitable; and China reserved the right to station nukes on the border?
July 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
News Anchor: “Local man continues his intellectual hunger strike, refusing to consume even crumbs of intelligible ideas. More after these words from our sponsor.”
A reminder: military build up in the face of threats is not a way to make an adversary “docile”. It is a way to credible signal to that adversary that you are going to increase the costs of aggression.
Particularly with the hope that the cost will seem too high and the adversary won’t invade.
Particularly with the hope that the cost will seem too high and the adversary won’t invade.
I'm sorry, Ryan, I like a lot of your work, but this is just not serious analysis. If they had been more confrontational, Russia would have been more docile? Come on. You sound like a hysterical warmonger, the kind that are constantly using threat inflation to justify US militarism and imperialism.
July 23, 2025 at 7:37 PM
A reminder: military build up in the face of threats is not a way to make an adversary “docile”. It is a way to credible signal to that adversary that you are going to increase the costs of aggression.
Particularly with the hope that the cost will seem too high and the adversary won’t invade.
Particularly with the hope that the cost will seem too high and the adversary won’t invade.
Reposted by Paul M Kearney
More evidence that US efforts to coerce China in a Taiwan conflict by closing Straits of Malacca unlikely to be successful
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
How China Curbed Its Oil Addiction—and Blunted a U.S. Pressure Point
The Chinese government is boosting domestic production and the EV industry in the name of national security. There are 14 million chargers nationwide.
www.wsj.com
July 22, 2025 at 1:34 PM
More evidence that US efforts to coerce China in a Taiwan conflict by closing Straits of Malacca unlikely to be successful
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
6 figures is a rounding error to the Federal Budget. It’s less money than the $6 million (7 figures!) the government obligates every single minute of every single day, all year long.
An unelected bureaucrat put that over children’s lives, without shame or remorse.
An unelected bureaucrat put that over children’s lives, without shame or remorse.
July 22, 2025 at 1:36 PM
6 figures is a rounding error to the Federal Budget. It’s less money than the $6 million (7 figures!) the government obligates every single minute of every single day, all year long.
An unelected bureaucrat put that over children’s lives, without shame or remorse.
An unelected bureaucrat put that over children’s lives, without shame or remorse.
“Adversaries will see this hasty withdraw as yet another example of flagging American will.”
-NYT, or Foreign Affairs, or maybe The Onion. Who can tell at this point.
-NYT, or Foreign Affairs, or maybe The Onion. Who can tell at this point.
July 22, 2025 at 12:15 PM
“Adversaries will see this hasty withdraw as yet another example of flagging American will.”
-NYT, or Foreign Affairs, or maybe The Onion. Who can tell at this point.
-NYT, or Foreign Affairs, or maybe The Onion. Who can tell at this point.
Reposted by Paul M Kearney
This is basically my issue with Western policy on Ukraine. There’s no consideration on how the Russians fear us and how we can use that to our advantage. The conversation is only ever about Russian escalation.
i think we need to start assigning us grant's memoirs to democratic politicians. or maybe not even the whole memoir but just this single passage:
July 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This is basically my issue with Western policy on Ukraine. There’s no consideration on how the Russians fear us and how we can use that to our advantage. The conversation is only ever about Russian escalation.