Meanings vary when people repeat that things can be done “the right way, the wrong way, or the Army way.” The Army way may represent teamwork so instinctive that orders are not necessary. For most GIs, the Army way is the elevation of form over substance.

Today, I was gobsmacked by a particular elevation of form over substance being practiced before our eyes by the Army. The substance began on Nov. 5, 2009. My son was due back from his second tour in Iraq any day and the question in the family was whether he would be home for the holidays.

Where I live, Ft. Hood is covered by local media, so when Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan walked into the Soldier Readiness Processing Center and opened fire, I was probably paying attention before the firing stopped. Where was Paul? Iraq? Kuwait? Or was he in SRP, through which every soldier passes being deployed or coming home?