The current Vice President, a CIVILIAN, has assumed the role of President of the United States, or, the Commander in Chief. In a way, this is STOLEN VALOR.

She is consciously saluting military personnel, as if she were in their chain of command. She is not. Civilians do not salute unless they are veterans and it is during an appropriate ceremony or event where saluting the flag or National Anthem are pro forma.

The goal is to promote the illusion that Ms. Harris is already Madame President. She is not. In fact, if Ms. Harris were in the military she would have been fired long ago, if not just from her appointed roles, i.e. Border Czar, then from the position of Vice President.

Recently, while describing gifts she plans to give people if she becomes the next President, she said, “I’m gonna give,” (blank amount) to the people. “I’m gonna give?” As if the money were coming from her personal bank account.

In the military, which used to be a meritocracy, if you don’t perform, you’re fired from your position. Or, you get demoted, or you get kicked out, or you go to jail. Ms. Harris would be in the running for all of these if her record were totally scrutinized by authorities over her (where are the CHECKS and BALANCES I learned about in high school government class?).

As one progresses in one’s military career there are opportunities for promotion, which are mostly based on the quality of one’s periodic professional evaluations. Good evaluations and positive results in one’s endeavors and responsibilities could lead to promotion. Performance and achievement are usually rewarded in the military.

In the case of Ms. Harris, who can tell us what her OER support form would look like? This Officer Evaluation Report support form is completed by the officer seeking promotion, for the superior officer who has the authority to grant or recommend promotion. In it, the promotion candidate details accomplishments and achievements.

Isn’t she up for a public referendum (election) on her performance? After all, she is asking to be promoted, and not just from second lieutenant to first lieutenant, but from the second highest office in the land to the very tip top position – where leadership equals influence and setting the example is paramount. She is asking We the People for this promotion. We are the promoting authority. We need to see the OER support form.

On her support form, we need to see examples of her demonstrated leadership skills, evidence of her professional competence, effective communication skills, demonstrated personal integrity and ethics; examples of teamwork and collaboration; proof of her ability to problem solve, of her adaptability, resilience and resolve; we need to see evidence of her commitment to serve as loyal commander in chief. We need to know whether or not she has been a mentor and is able to develop others. We need to understand the facts pertaining to her ability to form and maintain positive relationships and demonstrated networking skills. And, finally, we need evidence of her accomplishments and performance.

Military officers must show and demonstrate and be able to document their claims, or guess what? No promotion.

If you were to write Ms. Harris’s OER support form, what positive things could you put in it?

The bottom line is that if one wishes to be promoted in a professional environment, military or civilian, one must show demonstrated skill, competence and acumen for the job they are seeking. Kamala Harris has not shown any shred of competence in her current job. Any CEO, HR professional or shop keeper would immediately put her resume in the circular file.

She is not exceptional.

Exceptionalism is the driving force behind achievement, behind progress, behind leadership.

If we elect someone who is not exceptional, we are cheating ourselves out of a brighter future, and we are letting down those who depend on us for good decision making for their future – our children and grandchildren, who, if Ms. Harris is elected, would certainly suffer a far worse future than if another candidate were chosen.

Montgomery Granger is a retired educator and veteran, and can be found in social media under the @mjgranger1 tag.