Every year, the military loses thousands of technical experts who are in career tracks that simply do not go to higher ranks. With the "up or out" policy, those who cannot win promotion will eventually be shown to the door. One solution (suggested in a recent issue of Marine Corps Gazette) is to identify these jobs where technical skill and experience, but not rank, is an issue. Instructors, lawyers, test pilots, engineers, foreign area specialists, doctors, recruiters, program managers, etc. could be good examples. Once these jobs are identified, officers in them would be offered the option to pass up all future promotions in exchange for remaining in uniform until they complete a 30-year career and can retire with 75% pay.--Stephen V Cole