'Brass Creep' Battle Causes Nervousness at Pentagon

The Washington Post reports that Defense Secretary Robert Gates' effort to cut back on the ranks of generals and top Defense civilian executives -- a battle against what he calls "brass creep" -- has "caused some squealing at the Pentagon."

Some one- and two-star generals and admirals fear they could be forced into retirement, and the colonels and captains below them worry that their opportunities to move up in the ranks will be diminished.

Civilian executives don't need to worry about being forced out of their jobs, but those at the upper reaches of the General Schedule certainly could see promotion opportunities dry up if Gates makes good on his pledge to cut 150 Senior Executive Service positions. And with the pace of baby boomer retirements not proceeding as quickly as originally thought, there are some people who've been biding their time for quite awhile already hoping to move up into executive positions.