How is the Military Like Goldman Sachs?

On November 15th, Michael de la Merced of the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/15/business/15goldman.html?_r=1&oref=slogin), profiled investment house, Goldman Sachs and their success in creating today's most influential leaders. Everyone from Henry Paulson (current Treasury Secretary), Bob Rubin (former Treasury Secretary and current Chairman of Citigroup), Jon Corzine (former senator from New Jersey and now its governor) and Josh Bolton (White House Chief of Staff) all plied their trade at Goldman.

The crux of the article was that this ocurred because of the culture at Goldman. Everything from its roots as a partnership to its 360 degree executive reviews have to its management's choice of acquisitions have gone into building the "Goldman Model."

In yesterday's Washington Post, Anne Scott Tyson (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/16/AR2007111602258.html?nav=most_emailed_emailafriend) has noted a transformation ocurring within the United States Army; one which sounds surprisingly like the "Goldman Model." General David Patreus, commander of forces in Iraq, has been briefly called back stateside to assist in the promotion boards of Colonels to the rank of Brigadier General. Historically, this promotion has ocurred because the Colonel in question has caught the eye of his superior, who would nominate him for this promotion. Often, these colonels were politically experienced with significant Washington credentials on their resumes (read that as meaning staff positions instead of combat postings).

General Patreus, who re-wrote the counterinsurgency (COIN) manual for the army, is beginning to rewrite the promotion manual. It would appear that they have begun the 360 degree review process (or reviews not only by your superiors, but also by your subordinates and colleagues), they are valuing combat experience more and even paying extravagent (by Army, not Goldman, standards) retention bonuses to keep experienced officers in the service.

Will the US Army be as successful as Goldman Sachs? One can only hope.