WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Jonathan Greenert, approved an instruction governing the Navy's Command Qualification Program June 4, setting the standards for qualifying and screening Navy commanding officers. OPNAV Instruction 1412.14 guides officer communities on how to formally establish a written command qualification program and how to formally screen prospective officers for command.
Prior to the release of this instruction, command qualifications were left to the individual officer communities. Following an internal review of the different programs, leadership determined common threads needed for effective command which could be highlighted during a standardized screening and qualification process. "This program will strengthen the caliber of our leaders and provide for a more ready, capable fleet by ensuring we select the right people for command by adhering to clear, consistent professional qualification standards. This process recognizes each community's unique professional standards, while reinforcing the necessarily high expectations we hold for those in command Navy-wide," explained Adm. John Harvey, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces.
While the instruction primarily provides guidance to community leaders and mandates standards, it also contains some requirements and expectations for prospective commanders. During Command Leadership School (CLS), which is now mandatory, candidates will complete a written examination that covers specific professional knowledge requirements and participate in a 360° assessment of their strengths and weaknesses with the help of certified counselors. Capt. Michael Slotsky, commanding officer of CLS, explained how the students will be impacted by this training. "Prospective commanding officers will now demonstrate and reflect in writing how they will apply tenets of good leadership, bedrock principles of authority-responsibility-accountability and Navy Regulations as they prepare for command. Individual student's self-awareness and leader development will also be enhanced through the 360 assessment and coaching they will receive," said Slotsky.
The new instruction also tasks affected officer communities to develop and prescribe a set of professional qualification and oral board standards that reflect the needs of their communities. Once an officer from their community has achieved the knowledge standards required, demonstrates mastery of the required skills, and sits an oral board with officers in command, community leaders will ensure their candidates receive a formal review by an administrative board.
The full instruction is HERE.
Ahhhh .... nothing really changes. Most of the COs fired did not come from being incompetent. Nevertheless - yet another screening that really does not address the problem.
ReplyDeleteEasy fix...Issue a chastity belt and a prescription for Disulfiram upon assuming command and for the duration.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that this is "thrilling" is troubling. Written and oral exams huh?
ReplyDelete360 reviews = popularity contests where we flip the chain of command upside down.
If the Navy is careful, its going to get exactly what it wants - and those most qualified for command are going to be working somewhere else.
Anon @ June 9, 2012 11:03 PM
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled that:
1. IW command is grouped with all other warfare communities for the first time WRT command screening.
2. The standards for selection are more demanding and 'standard'.
3. Perspective COs are going to have to articulate their understanding of command in writing.
360 degree reviews are not popularity contests and can provide useful feedback, if the recipient takes it for what it is.
Meaningful 360 degree is a long time coming. I appreciated the feedback I got as part of Command Leadership School, but it wasn't terribly helpful. Will be great to see 360 feedback actually inform the decision of who screens for command. At OUR command, we have been experimenting with it for all E-6 and above and our more senior civilians. I can assure you that with when executed properly, it is neither a "popularity contest" nor is it a lynch mob. I had the crew do one on me...enlightening. Here's a link to a post from just over a year that talks of our experiment at that point...
ReplyDeletehttp://seanheritage.blogspot.com/2011/04/experimenting-with-360-degree-feedback.html
Your post are interesting but I think you put too much into articulating your thoughts in writing. People will game the system and say what is needed if CLC makes it a huge hurdle.
ReplyDeleteAs for the standards, you don't want robots ... so no two COs styles should be alike. Along as they are rolling the law and are just/fair...things will work out
Anon @ June 10, 2012
ReplyDeleteI think this initiative will take some of the "gaming" out of the system.
I do focus a lot on one's ability to articulate their thoughts in writing.
As for standards - I think I may expect too much and you don't expect enough.
Remember Sun Tzu .... sometimes you have to let it flow as in nature. The more you try to control with things like 'articulating your standards' in writing to 'weed out' players. The less control you will have. I don't think we would have won WWII with all the barriers we are putting up to prevent people from growing and learning. And yes ... you grow and learn in command as well. After having two successful commands, I think I expect just right :)!
ReplyDeleteAnon @ June 10, 2012 5:59 PM
ReplyDeleteHow are you defining the "success" of your two command tours?
:-)
It is IMPOSSIBLE to reasonably compare a command tour of WWII with what our COs experience today.