The Puzzling Misadventures of Blank & Bradley: A Reflection

Day 1,417, 04:42 • Published in USA USA • by Blank Keating
This article links to tidbits of logs from my presidency. They are unedited and mostly between myself and Bradree. If someone in them wants to be removed, just ask.

One dynamic of my presidency that promised to be interesting was JCS relations. I just beat one of their own in a long and arduous race, and I did have a history of siding against the JCS system in favor of militias. But regardless, like I approach almost everything, I was optimistic. I always figured the JCS wasn't befriended because people came into the presidency already hostile. I was ready to end that. I mean, Bradree and I, washouts in each other's forte, back against the wall, fighting to destroy a common foe in ONE. It has the ring of a glorious buddy comedy, does it not?


                  This is most apropos since I often told Bradree "I'unno wut you sayin'!"

The reality of the JCS relations is a lot more complicated than meets the eye, and being president thrusts you dead center in the middle of it. The one thing I learned if nothing else was this: there is a vast difference between the everyday JCSF soldier, and the oligarchy of the JCS.

Most of you already know that I cooperated with Israel Stevens to supply members of the Army branch in exchange for a voice in their orders. This combined with access to the JCS channel and an encouraging message from Bradree on my first day made me a happy guy.


                      I also became Paul Proteus for a while. But that's irrelevant.

Indeed, I was to be the conqueror of intolerance, the uniter of the tribes, the one who finally ended all of the animosity. Unfortunately, the good times did not roll. After the good man Reala went off on a sabbatical (medical or camping, something personal I don't remember), he came back a changed man. Following an argument for what orders should be #1, Bradree went off the rails on a crazy train, and nothing made sense between me and him from then on. Fixing the rift was impossible.

The gap furthered when I realized that "priorities" were something different for the JCS. We approached priorities in a trickle-down procedure like "secure #1 55%+, then move onto #2", while the JCS was using more of a scattershot principle. The JCS wasn't open to using my form of priorities, so I began distilling our most key priorities and copying them to the active JCS as a humble recommendation. Even that gained detraction.



By the term was over, I only had these little quotes and a fair bit of exasperation to show for all of it. Despite the trouble I had with Bradree and CW, I got along with many members of the JCS during the time, like Morri and Bia. It was because of this, for all the animosity, that I saw that the people of the JCS military - the privates and the corporals, the real men and women - do want to see the bridges built, but it takes time and simultaneous civility in their leadership and our government to get it done. We're like an old couple that can no longer get into sync. Always JCS leader with a chip on their shoulder, a president with no patience, or both.

I fear that Bradree shoved away more opportunities for cooperation than just me. Even though CW and I had our share of quarrels, other people in NSC were able to talk to her well, and I hope she is mature enough to begin mending the fence when the time comes. Peace between the JCS and the government is possible: just not with our fists clenched.

The key is to remember that we are all Americans first and unit members second. Even if the rift between the units continues, don't let your external opinions get in the way of battling for your country and her allies in the game. As long as you have that, you can call yourself part of the solution.

Peace and love, bro,

Vote the DoE article!