Thursday, January 26, 2012

Word to the wise



It is dangerous to be right in matters where well-established senior Naval officers are wrong.

Ensign Voltaire

8 comments:

Initiated CPO said...

And even more dangerous to be wrong when the Chief is right.

Al Kinney said...

So live dangerously!!

Mike Lambert said...

Great advice Al !! I like it.

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of the time we were all told (discretely) to switch our uniform ribbons to the right pocket because the admiral had put his on incorrectly

HMS Defiant said...

French Navy of an era?

They mostly lost outside of the Revolutionary War didn't they? Perhaps this philosophy contributed to that streak of disasters that went unabated for 200 years in both the French navy and the French Army.

seanheritage said...

I believe that our IW Flag Deck expects us to let them know when we believe they might not have it right. As a CO, I know that there are few things I respect more than when I subordinate cares enough to let me know when I might be a little off. We need to ensure Collective Ownership and Cooperative Leadership are more than just words. ENS Voltaire may be right for his time, but if we are living by those words today, WE are failing...

Anonymous said...

Captain Lambert,

What is really dangerous is for one to be wrong when that well-established senior Naval Officer is right and the junior insists on having his say. There have been a few times that this Sailor has heard a Commanding Officer say “If I am wrong, please correct me”. When one takes it upon himself to add a correction to what the Commanding Officer had to say, he had better be right. That type thing never happened very much in my career. Senior Officers it seems become senior because of their wisdom, experience and doing the right thing.

Very Respectfully,
Navyman834

Anonymous said...

Anonymous, Jan 26, 2012 1:42 PM

I spent 24 + years in the Navy and never heard or witnessed any event as you described in your post. Could you please refer to the individuals, the Command and the approximate date of this occurrence.

Navyman834
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