This argument goes back to who we want running the show -- those that can do their paperwork correctly or those that can get the job done when it counts. In today's joint world, time in the desert does a whole lot more for getting officers out of their comfort zone than a stint on the boat to earn your OOD letter (aka getting a check in the block). Funny -- now that the shoes have rethought their manning -- many of those disassociated boat billets are going away.