Senior rank is distinct from appointment to high operational command. An officer who excels at identifying and developing leaders may be valuable in training, selection, or force-culture posts even if not suited to run a fleet. The rank gives that officer enough seniority to influence the institution and make those specialist skills effective. Promotion can therefore recognize a useful role without placing every recipient on the same command path.
Notable Point · 29:19-30:41
Senior rank can preserve institutional talent without high command
Armed forces can give a specialist seniority so that expertise in selecting and developing leaders shapes the force without treating that person as suited to top operational command.