We must not forget the self-confidence that is instilled by the military training and career: those who are successful in military careers very often gain thereby a confidence that they readily carry over into economic and political realms. . . . Whatever the case may be with individuals, as a coherent group of men the military is probably the most competent group now concerned with national policy; no other group has the training in co-ordinated economic, political, and military affairs; no other group has the continuous experience in the making of decisions; no other group so readily “internalizes” the skills of other groups nor so readily engages their skills on its behalf; no other group has such ready access to world-wide information.
—C. WRIGHT MILLS, THE POWER ELITE1