Monday, January 9, 2012

Navy Values


"If the Navy holds a different value system than the society as a whole, then what is that value system, and how do we inculcate it into our Sailors, young and old, in order that we may be an effective institution?
We cannot be effective as a military force if we simply accept, and so adopt, the liberal trends in society as a whole. 
Our problem is we can’t even articulate the necessary Navy value system for ourselves, let alone lay it out in a convincing coherent way for the Sailors, Chiefs, and officers of our Navy. This we must do."
Smart Flag officer ~ circa 1979. 

12 comments:

Michael W. Towns, Sr. said...

"We cannot be effective as a military force if we simply accept, and so adopt, the liberal trends in society as a whole. "

I couldn't agree more. The Navy has more politically-correct gobbledygook than ever before. We pay lip service to the Sailor's Creed and other noble values but at the end of the day, sexual 'equality' and 'diversity' is really what is deemed most important.

Justin Rogers ENS, USN (1170) said...

I don't see causation here. Our Navy looks and acts very differently compared to when Commodore Barry commanded its first frigates -- and not any net degradation of values. Like ADM Rickover says, it is good to put oral arguements in writing because weaknesses overlooked in the oral arguements become painfully obvious in the written version.

Miss Spelling said...

@ Ensign

Learn how to spell "argument" and you may have a better argument.

The XXXX number of sexually harassed women in 2011 may disagree with your assessment that we have not had any degradation of values.

Anonymous said...

@ Miss Sexist...

What about the sexually harassed males?

Anonymous said...

Or those with gender confusion issues?

Justin Rogers ENS, USN (1170) said...

You laugh, but it's truth. It's not uncommon for males to sexually assault other males. Usually if a female is harassing a male, it is either physically or emotionally.

Anonymous said...

I think the Navy has come along way in sexual equality. Do we have issues sure we can always improve. I also think the Navy has gone too far in becoming a politically correct organization. There are few leaders I would stand and say I will go to war with you. Bottom line our military is not a business, it is a powerful instrument that must be used carefully for the benefit of the Nation never for personal vendettas.
A 22 year LDO who has crazy idea's.

chief torpedoman said...

Can I throw in my 2 cents? How do these core values fit with the white wash of letting Holy Graf out with an honerable instead of the less than honorable recommended by the BOI?

s said...

@ Chief Torpedoman: Hear, hear!

Anonymous said...

To TMC,
They don't. But as the old saying goes RHIP. She was famous as far back as the CDW when she was the XO for being less then stellar in the leadership department then. I standby my statement very few leader exist in the Navy now, that I would go to war with and expect to survive. We have turned in to USN inc.
A 22 year LDO

James Hammersla said...

The vast majority of Sailors will meet the expectation you place on them. If you set the bar low, you can expect that bar to be met but if you set that bar high the desire to be challenged will get them to meet that higher mark. Poor leaders are grown on a regimen of low expectations early in their careers. In addition to manning, training & equipping a challenge for those who lead is that we must find a way to challenge Sailors technically, tactically and personally. We should never forget that we are training our replacements.


Improving the Navy for most of us is at the unit level, developing stronger crews, Chief's Messes, and Wardrooms within our respective commands. It is one thing to opine that the Navy isn't what it once was, and most of us cannot 'fix' the Navy as a whole, but we can positively influence within our immediate vicinity and as we progress up the chain of command our scope of influence will proportionally grow.

Justin Rogers ENS, USN (1170) said...

Excellent post Mr. Hammersla!!! Couldn't have said it better.