Advisory service in Vietnam: Detrimental to an Officer’s Career?

During the Vietnam War several beliefs gained currency that had negative implications for the men who labored as advisers. One was that the U.S. Army did not select its best men for advisory duty. Another was that promotion boards disregarded statements by senior Army leaders that command and advisory performance would be given the same weight when determining officer promotions. This article attempts to shed light on the question by examining the extent to which former Vietnam advisers achieved general officer rank in the U.S. Army.