I've been out of the Army about 42 years.. I know things have changed. However, I simply can't figure the rationale for this. Even my inclination to be a smart ass on the subject is numbed. The techies have taken over the Defense Department. In a way I hope Hagel gets confirmed and as an old decorated grunt the first thing he says is, "WTF is this is bullcrap gentlemen?" More than anything, it is disrespectful to the people who do the face to face.