𝐄𝐱-𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

A former senior military chief has criticised the recurring practice of appointing service chiefs from junior military courses, saying the trend has forced many higher-ranking officers into early retirement and weakened the nation’s military capacity.

He said such appointments often disrupt the natural order of progression within the armed forces, compelling officers who are senior to the newly chosen leaders to retire abruptly, regardless of their experience or ongoing contributions.

According to him, the consequence is a significant loss of trained and highly skilled manpower at a time the country needs experienced security leadership to tackle persistent challenges.

The retired officer added that the premature exit of seasoned personnel also amounts to a waste of public resources, noting that the government invests heavily in the training and professional development of these officers throughout their careers.

He called for a transparent and merit-based selection process for service chiefs, warning that continued disregard for hierarchy could further weaken professionalism, morale, and institutional stability within the armed forces.