Writing

Other things being equal, a superior rating will invariably be given to the officer who has persevered in his studies of the art of self-expression, while his colleague, who attaches little importance to what may be achieved through working with the language, will be marked for mediocrity.

A moment's reflection will show why this has to be the case and why mastery of the written and spoken word is indispensable to successful officership.

As the British statesman, Disraeli, put it, "Men govern with words." Within the military establishment, command is exercised through what is said which commands attention and understanding and through what is written which directs, explains, interprets or informs.

Battles are won through the ability of men to express concrete ideas in clear and unmistakable language. All administration is carried forward along the chain of command by the power of men to make their thoughts articulate and available to others.

There is no way under the sun that this basic condition can be altered. Once the point is granted, any officer should be ready to accept its corollary - that superior qualification in the use of the language, both as to the written and the spoken word, is more essential to military leadership than knowledge of the whole technique of weapons handling.

It then becomes strictly a matter of personal decision whether he will seek to advance himself along the line of main chance or will take refuge in the excuse offered by the great majority: "I'm just a simple fighting file with no gift for writing or speaking."

From: The Armed Forces Officer, 1950

Commander Chelsey Zwicker Assumes Command of NIOC Yokosuka

 From the blog www.StationHYPO.com

Today, Commander Brian Schulz was relieved by Commander Chelsey Zwicker as Commanding Officer, Navy Information Operations Command Yokosuka.  Commander Zwicker’s biography follows:

Commander Chelsey L. Zwicker, USN
Commanding Officer, NIOC Yokosuka // Commander, CTG 1070.2

CDR Chelsey Zwicker is a native of Wyoming, Pennsylvania and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May 2005 with an undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering.  Upon commissioning she was selected for naval aviation.  In October 2006, she transferred to the Cryptologic Warfare Community. 

After completing the Naval Information Operations Basic Course, she reported to Naval Information Operations Command (NIOC) Maryland. CDR Zwicker was assigned to the National Threat Operations Center as an exercise and plans officer.  She earned her Information Operations qualification and her Masters in Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Defense Intelligence College.

In September 2010 Commander Zwicker reported to NIOC Bahrain.  She was the N6 and Legal Officer prior to her deployment from November 2010 – July 2011 in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, and MARITIME SUPPORT OPERATIONS in the Arabian Gulf.  During her deployment CDR Zwicker, was the Officer in Charge of the detachment.  Returning back to NIOC Bahrain, she served as the N3 Operations Officer and Acting Executive Officer. 

In November 2011, Commander Zwicker transferred to OPNAV N13F, the Navy Foreign Language Office.  During this tour, CDR Zwicker served as the Action Officer liaison to N2N6 and was the plank owner and program manager of the Asia Pacific Hands Program.

In November 2014, she reported to Naval Information Dominance Forces Command as the Flag Aide and deputy Executive Agent to the Commander. 

In June 2016, Commander Zwicker reported to Fleet Cyber Command/Tenth Fleet and served as the STO chief, deputy SAPCO, IO and EW leads, Space Operations Officer and Fleet OPSEC Program Manager. 

In May 2019 she reported to Navy Information Operations Detachment, Kaneohe Bay as the Officer in Charge.  She led space training for NIOC Hawaii and disestablished NIOD Kaneohe Bay in July 2020.

In April 2020, she reported to Carrier Strike Group Eleven as the Deputy Information Warfare Commander for Integrated Fires.  She served during NIMITZ Strike Group’s unprecedented 11 month 2020-2021 deployment.

A Naval officer, above all . . .

recognizes his responsibilities and therefore does not accept them lightly. A Naval officer understands that his word is his bond, exercised by everyday actions and daily decisions. A Naval officer will not waft through life selfish or disconnected, like someone who carries a fickle mind. A Naval officer, the genuine article, will not make promises he cannot keep, and chooses his words as carefully as he does his commitments. And because a Naval officer honors his words, he is in turn honored in his actions.