tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37587473593829995842024-02-20T20:15:08.283-05:00I Like The Cut Of His Jib !!Musings, leadership tidbits and quotes posted by a retired Navy Captain (really just a high performing 2nd Class Petty Officer) who hung up his uniform a bit too early. He still wears his Navy service on his sleeve. He needs to get over that. "ADVANCE WARNING - NO ORIGINAL THOUGHT!" A "self-appointed" lead EVANGELIST for the "cryptologic community". Keeping CRYPTOLOGY alive-one day and Sailor at a time. 2015 is 80th Anniversary of the Naval Security Group.Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.comBlogger3283125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-36607910459748984712023-11-03T06:30:00.001-04:002023-11-03T21:01:17.238-04:00"Brilliant" on the basics? Some commands don't even have the light on.<p><br /></p><div class="post-header" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 12.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><div data-canvas-width="368.49856864166264" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 643.187px; top: 576.32px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.982663, 1);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you were to assess your command in these six categories, how would you score?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4926982291675660840" itemprop="description articleBody" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; orphans: auto; position: relative; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 490px; word-spacing: 0px;"><div data-canvas-width="296.7567109592437" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 19.52px; left: 578.98px; text-align: justify; top: 1261.01px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.989189, 1);"><div data-canvas-width="931.5334618453982" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.6421px; top: 598.826px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.98994, 1);"></div><div data-canvas-width="526.9814523582459" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.6421px; top: 621.216px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.998071, 1);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The foundation for success in any command can<span style="font-size: small;">, in part,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>be attributed to these six areas that form the enduring foundation upon which<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">a</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>successful career<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">can be</span>launched: </span></span></div><div data-canvas-width="526.9814523582459" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.6421px; top: 621.216px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.998071, 1);"></div><div data-canvas-width="5.426560127258301" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.6421px; top: 643.723px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.904427, 1);"></div><div data-canvas-width="214.55271845054625" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 101.236px; top: 666.24px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.0891, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="214.55271845054625" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 101.236px; top: 666.24px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.0891, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. Sponsorship/first 72 hours:</span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="386.7791706127167" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 444.061px; top: 707.104px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.996854, 1);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Proactive interaction by a sponsor and ombudsman can solve many issues before the Sailor and family arrives aboard. Paving the way for a smooth transition and making each Navy family feel like a genuine part of their new command can ensure a family commitment of<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>s</span>upport to enable success for all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div><div data-canvas-width="4.952107246398926" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.6601px; top: 727.589px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.990421, 1);"></div><div data-canvas-width="59.31128161010743" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 168.419px; top: 748.053px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.05913, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="59.31128161010743" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 168.419px; top: 748.053px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.05913, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. Assign a Mentor:</span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="10.965889283752444" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 227.627px; top: 748.053px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.09659, 1);"></div><div data-canvas-width="459.58583513603224" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 540.055px; top: 788.917px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.990487, 1);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Leader’s should be proactive in mentoring; give<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>junior Sailors and peers the benefit of your<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>experience. There are formal and informal means in which to<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>execute an effective mentorship<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>program. Each of us can<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>attribute our own success to a great mentor. Ensure our Sailors<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>understand the value of senior and peer mentorship.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div><div data-canvas-width="4.952107246398926" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.658px; top: 809.402px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.990421, 1);"></div><div data-canvas-width="113.70964531173709" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 94.3117px; top: 829.781px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.10398, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="113.70964531173709" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 94.3117px; top: 829.781px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.10398, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. Indoctrination:</span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="10.965889283752444" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 207.893px; top: 829.76px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.09659, 1);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></div><div data-canvas-width="592.5071626968383" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.6619px; top: 891.109px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.99581, 1);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A great sponsorship program must be followed up by an effective indoctrination program. This will<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>send a strong, positive signal that we value the talent and skills of the Sailor and we have a plan to integrate them into the<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>team. Additionally it immediately sets the tone on what you expect of the Sailor and also what should be expected from<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>you. Requirements and best practices can be found in OPNAVINST 1740.3C.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div><div data-canvas-width="4.952107246398926" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.6619px; top: 911.594px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.990421, 1);"></div><div data-canvas-width="95.00742445564269" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 100.283px; top: 931.973px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.0675, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="95.00742445564269" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 100.283px; top: 931.973px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.0675, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">4. Leadership:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="283.8091852249146" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.6668px; top: 993.296px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.01, 1);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Career Development Boards (CDBs) -<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Leadership involvement, primarily by the CMC, the Chief’s<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>mess and the Command Career Counselor, is critical to the<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>success of every Sailor. CDBs are required within 30 days of<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>a Sailor reporting aboard, and again at 6 and 12 months.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>(M</i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>any command<span style="font-size: small;">s can't get EVALs<span style="font-size: small;">/FITREPS done<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on time and you can imagine their success in accomplishing the CDB requirement).</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div data-canvas-width="4.952107246398926" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.6668px; top: 1013.78px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.990421, 1);"></div><div data-canvas-width="172.0483188079834" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 103.263px; top: 1034.27px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.08891, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="172.0483188079834" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 103.263px; top: 1034.27px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.08891, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">5.<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Ombudsman program:</span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="10.965889283752444" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 275.093px; top: 1034.24px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.09659, 1);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></div><div data-canvas-width="876.7367426376342" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.6522px; top: 1095.59px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.998561, 1);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ombudsman are trained to disseminate information from the chain of command to the<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="sans-serif"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span>families, including official command information, Quality Of Life opportunities, and community information. They can also provide<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>referrals and are instrumental in resolving family issues<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>before the issues require extensive command attention. Every<span style="font-size: small;"></span>Sailor and Family member should know the Command Ombudsman. How do you advertise your Ombudsman?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div><div data-canvas-width="4.952107246398926" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 69.6522px; top: 1115.97px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.990421, 1);"></div><div data-canvas-width="89.92171719360351" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 102.304px; top: 1136.45px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.09661, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="89.92171719360351" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 102.304px; top: 1136.45px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.09661, 1);"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">6.<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Recognition:</span></span></b></div><div data-canvas-width="10.965889283752444" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 192.213px; top: 1136.43px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.09659, 1);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></div><div data-canvas-width="113.98118667297365" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 652.8px; top: 1197.76px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.974198, 1);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The end of tour should not be the only time a Sailor is recognized. Recognition can also include<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>mid-tour awards, Fl<span style="font-size: small;">ag<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Letters Of Commendatio<span style="font-size: small;">n</span>, letters of appreciation, and highlighting accomplishments in the POD and other public venues.<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Be creative, praise in public, and make your Sailors know<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>they are appreciated. Something as simple as public<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>recognition, a hand shake or a pat on the back often means more than an<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>official award</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div></div></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-5146979714929749092023-08-27T05:30:00.001-04:002023-08-27T08:40:50.766-04:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbzXnAroKVq-0J6jM8-02vG_SYewhOgZEnrK-PIBqu--RJWa-FMQMzDZdG6zxo4uu23lbe2d309-6n1gw8D4flb05M9AHxXP7C1np1Kaf4RByOcpyasjQFahAuDjWHbzdaUKZpAnA_2OoCxN4HkhuZX9aWN2YYaok6vxoA9E6xLm04IYODOdYwjScIvw/s771/honorary%20navigator%20of%20the%20navy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="578" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbzXnAroKVq-0J6jM8-02vG_SYewhOgZEnrK-PIBqu--RJWa-FMQMzDZdG6zxo4uu23lbe2d309-6n1gw8D4flb05M9AHxXP7C1np1Kaf4RByOcpyasjQFahAuDjWHbzdaUKZpAnA_2OoCxN4HkhuZX9aWN2YYaok6vxoA9E6xLm04IYODOdYwjScIvw/w300-h400/honorary%20navigator%20of%20the%20navy.png" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The power of letters. Our Navy's leadership's willingness to recognize our greatest generation's contribution to the good of our country. I asked Admiral Dave Gove to recognize my OCS instructor as "Honorary Navigator of the Navy". This act of generosity cost less than a dollar and paid off in years of good feelings and warmed an old Sailor's heart. CWO4 Exum was wounded at Iwo Jima at 18 years old while landing Marines aboard an LCS. He served from WWII, through the Korean War and Vietnam War, retiring in 1985. His only personal award for achievement was a Navy Achievement Medal in his last tour for saving a ship from sinking in San Francisco Bay (1985).</span></p>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-12217362748778469342023-06-18T17:11:00.000-04:002023-06-18T17:11:06.024-04:00The number 1 handwritten letter influencer in the United Kingdom<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBQfq2T8-ph2iFs7hBbLxm-SqkRWEW-1p22Q5JVJLunNeUGYdHKCdZtXr4QPHTc33QeRcpd6z_U1tn99JLkXYROk4_tkQNz-m6RPZLs9Zq81mA5Xwdq8jLIX81L2CUGHSsy1-I7ZvuMxT3J1OV2dbwDpwUtxPN3jVQik31zhokggkbHElfUjl2AtQ/s1782/Screenshot%202022-12-01%20at%2011.58.51%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1782" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBQfq2T8-ph2iFs7hBbLxm-SqkRWEW-1p22Q5JVJLunNeUGYdHKCdZtXr4QPHTc33QeRcpd6z_U1tn99JLkXYROk4_tkQNz-m6RPZLs9Zq81mA5Xwdq8jLIX81L2CUGHSsy1-I7ZvuMxT3J1OV2dbwDpwUtxPN3jVQik31zhokggkbHElfUjl2AtQ/s320/Screenshot%202022-12-01%20at%2011.58.51%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> I did a random survey of 100 people on my Socials about who the number 1 handwritten letter influencer in the United Kingdom was.<p></p><p>The results are not surprising to me.</p><p>Dinah Johnson, founder of The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society in Swanage, Dorset, United Kingdom was easily #1.</p><p>You can find her here <a href="https://thehandwrittenletterappreciationsociety.org/">https://thehandwrittenletterappreciationsociety.org/</a></p><p>I was member #0005 and she now has over 1100 members.</p><p>Her manifesto is simple:</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: Cabin, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1.7778em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MANIFESTO:</p><ul style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: Cabin, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; list-style: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.7778em 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We believe that a handwritten letter is one of the loveliest, most personal things, anyone can receive.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We feel people may be missing a handwritten letter or two in their lives.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We pledge to keep handwritten letters alive by encouraging people to carry on writing them.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We see a person’s handwriting as a thing of beauty.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Along with handwriting we feel all stationery and the Postal Service are wondrous things and something to be used regularly.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We want others to be the collectors of their loved-ones’, friends’, and sometimes (if they are lucky) famous people’s handwriting.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We would say “Just go for it!” You don’t need to be Jane Austen or Thomas Hardy to write someone a letter.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In a pledge to encourage intimacy through letter writing we would only urge caution regarding sharing whole letters on-line. Those with permission are a wonderful insight and inspiration but those without kind of puts a spanner in the works and defeats the object of writing personal letters.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We would definitely love to see the places where people write letters, e.g. dining room table, study, library, on a bus, in the summerhouse/treehouse/shed, tearoom, train, up a mountain, on a boat, in a classroom, in fact, anywhere you like. It doesn’t always have to be the same place – just send us a photo to inspire us . (See <a href="https://thehandwrittenletterappreciationsociety.org/gallery" style="border-color: currentcolor currentcolor transparent; border-image: none; border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gallery</a>.)</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Finally, may your love of handwritten letters be forever ignited and rekindled.</li></ul>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-29513760187619332282022-07-03T05:30:00.001-04:002022-07-03T17:45:52.241-04:00Inordinately Fortunate<p> </p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4318472471394186334" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9KI5pzNXh1bKeEr0cltZ13PA7-G1O_ojCvPK2iGfPV7zU_uNTA2sgg4ZZf3_oxtzEwHgR5kA-P4sYaye99vBytednRlsQbnX2Fvg505VKyS-8egHxHgNPQ6zJQFFpN03TzW8Q_3w-vXU/s1600/lead-on-practical-guide-leadership-dave-rear-admiral-oliver-paperback-cover-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9KI5pzNXh1bKeEr0cltZ13PA7-G1O_ojCvPK2iGfPV7zU_uNTA2sgg4ZZf3_oxtzEwHgR5kA-P4sYaye99vBytednRlsQbnX2Fvg505VKyS-8egHxHgNPQ6zJQFFpN03TzW8Q_3w-vXU/s200/lead-on-practical-guide-leadership-dave-rear-admiral-oliver-paperback-cover-art.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="129" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was inordinately fortunate during my early professional career. <b>I worked for some truly awful leaders</b>.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thus, during the subsequent free time that life sometimes provides, I always had a full wagonload of professional grist waiting to grind. The important questions were always the same. Why had my bosses acted without apparent thought? Why didn't my supervisors understand the effects their actions had on people?<br /><br />Why had our team always done everything the hard way?</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had spent hours on these questions.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For the answers to these and other penetrating leadership questions, read Rear Admiral Dave Oliver, Jr.'s book, <i><b>LEAD ON! A Practical Approach to Leadership</b></i></span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You can get a preview <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lead-Practical-Leadership-Dave-Oliver/dp/0891414274/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">HERE</a>.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My signed copy is available for loan. Shoot me an e-mail.</span></div></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-88922282491322978092022-06-26T05:30:00.001-04:002022-06-26T07:13:35.007-04:00Writing is writing<p> </p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7623243431039913958" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn;"><span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; padding: 5px;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_-6VeEiao-wRTPsdDLVKwA2YuCRP7o7AD2i4iYdla4741bK2N5bEGUPyvxPoQUjB9Vonrbs8FavmNy6BS-PVKVuyPndol5B8jG6QPVCzawfHNb64YdRhE73MkAXNqVCaq7XZL-r0A-E/s1600/doctorow-wallpaper.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></span><br /><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5501476118267975171" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i></i></span></span><br /><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5501476118267975171" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>Planning to write is not writing. Outlining a book is not writing. Researching is not writing. Talking to people about what you are doing, none of that is writing. <u><b>Writing is writing.</b></u></i></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>E. L. Doctorow</i></span></span><br /><br /><br />Today, I received letters from two NIOC COs, a NIOC XO, a NIOD OIC, a retired Navy Captain colleague, my sister, a priest and a NWC graduate attending the Warfighting school. As you can imagine, it was a very good day for me. These men and my sister understand what it means to write. </div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5501476118267975171" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5501476118267975171" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;">As per H.L. Mencken's example, I will send out my responses by day's end. I will be writing.</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5501476118267975171" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5501476118267975171" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn;"><span style="font-size: 15.399999618530273px;">"Write on, write on, write on." Matthew McConaughey (Uvalde native)</span></span></div></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-82114448747279447272022-06-20T05:30:00.004-04:002022-06-20T07:01:17.527-04:0010 Reasons I've Enjoyed Posting To This Blog Over The Years<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq7tueNuzxIlrtVj5LxNPIQZq04WrQno7g4qXmR6On5MUYb1935W-vK0b0hmNUG2q9aSxd_r6p-_Cwr4Azl3NUx-6MbsLAJRzq_u498Uvk4MeOUjtLEIBbGM6qkyvZFCZ9eOaTzyXb7ZVbV3iCIbI6smCCQhDf7ag7DmMw4dWsQJKFpdSKm8b20HW/s1602/blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1602" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq7tueNuzxIlrtVj5LxNPIQZq04WrQno7g4qXmR6On5MUYb1935W-vK0b0hmNUG2q9aSxd_r6p-_Cwr4Azl3NUx-6MbsLAJRzq_u498Uvk4MeOUjtLEIBbGM6qkyvZFCZ9eOaTzyXb7ZVbV3iCIbI6smCCQhDf7ag7DmMw4dWsQJKFpdSKm8b20HW/s320/blog.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px;">In no particular order.</span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5917426448837860641" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">1. It allowed me to engage with a wonderful author and to write the Chapter 1 opening vignette for a Wall Street Journal/Amazon best-selling business book. Dr. Stephen Covey and Bono 'open' for me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. It gave me the opportunity to help a Pulitzer prize winning author with research for his story on The SeaWitch in TIME magazine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. It has allowed me to remain connected to the Navy's cryptologic community, which I love.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. It earned me an invite to speak at a Women In Defense forum and to contribute ideas to numerous professional publications.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5. It has allowed others to freely express their frustrations on a variety of topics important to them. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">6. It allowed me to expand the network of Sailors of all paygrades that I mentor and with whom I share lessons learned.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">7. It allowed me to collaborate with the former CNO on avenues to gain recognition of the Navy as a TOP 50 Employer in the United States.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">8. It allowed me to keep alive the memory of some stellar Sailors.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">9. It has allowed me to write everyday, which I love.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">10. It has connected me to some great Navy veterans and many others who proudly serve today.</div></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-40794380309031626572022-06-19T05:30:00.001-04:002022-06-19T17:42:48.522-04:00Seth Godin's NEVERs - My ALWAYS<p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px;">Seth Godin - Delivering on never</span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1069583931309043569" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><div class="entry-content"><div class="entry-body">I will never miss a deadline<br />I will never leave a typo<br />I will never fail to warn you about a possible pitfall<br />I will never charge you more than the competition<br />I will never violate a confidence<br />I will never let you down<br />I will never be late for a meeting<br />There are lots of sorts of never you can deliver to a customer. You can't deliver all of them, of course. Picking your never and sticking with it is a fabulous way to position yourself.<br /><br /><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Mike Lambert - Delivering on always</h3><div>I will always answer the mail.</div><div>I will always give my best advice.</div><div>I will always deliver on a promise.</div><div>I will always give you a second chance.</div><div>I will always have your back. (You know who you are).</div><div>I will always remember every Sailor.</div><div>I will always try to make it better.</div><div>I will always have something to add to this list.</div><div><br /></div><div>What's your always?</div></div></div></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-91290940400283773232022-05-30T05:30:00.002-04:002022-05-30T11:44:16.036-04:00For Memorial Day - Two notable Marines: Top Rogers and PVT Roznowski - generations apart (This was written in 2002)<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNDURBGAkR57-eiHYjr9_QmSvE2eE2ZZdCfPd8F203etweC4NW2kQ9gsJz81Auw6ZSWyOaIglmH2CL3CGMsb-SQuP1fliN8fSbeuzTS6uuySml2VgJNUI5TP2on0NnJKmpkhTR0fpQzI/s651/bar+gunner.webp" imageanchor="1" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); clear: left; color: #888888; display: inline !important; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="490" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNDURBGAkR57-eiHYjr9_QmSvE2eE2ZZdCfPd8F203etweC4NW2kQ9gsJz81Auw6ZSWyOaIglmH2CL3CGMsb-SQuP1fliN8fSbeuzTS6uuySml2VgJNUI5TP2on0NnJKmpkhTR0fpQzI/s320/bar+gunner.webp" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6007790584952930028" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">First, let me tell you that it is a true honor and privilege to be a part of this ceremony today. I love the United States Marine Corps. I love the Marines. In fact, I am a proud member of the Marine Corps family. For you to fully understand how I feel about TOP ROGERS, I have to tell you about another Marine. 50 years ago this month, my wife's Uncle Richard Roznowski shipped out from San Diego to Korea. He was a private fresh from Recruit Training at Parris Island in South Carolina. He was trained as a machine gunner. In high school, he was a boxer and football player at St. Joseph's Catholic school in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 50 years ago during the Korean War, I think that it was every Catholic mother's secret wish that one of her sons would become a priest to ensure his ascent into heaven. I'll tell you that at that time in our country’s history it was every father's wish that his son would become a Marine and raise some hell. And that was no secret.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard spent less than one month in Korea. In September of 1951, a Navy Chaplain and a Marine Corps Reserve Officer visited 1304 Guns Road in Bellevue, Wisconsin and delivered an American flag, a prayer book for Catholic servicemen, 3 medals including this Purple Heart and a letter from his Commanding Officer. Richard was dead. I cannot recount the grief of his mother Elouise, his father Bernard or his brother Jerry. But, I don't doubt that Richard fulfilled both his parents' wishes - He certainly made it into heaven and he even raised some hell.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, I ask each of you today to consider that words have meaning and actions have consequences. Why do I tell you this? Because you need to know that I am going to use some words to describe Top Rogers that have lost their meaning through overuse in our every day language.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I met Top Rogers nearly 10 years ago and I've followed his career with keen interest ever since. He is the finest Marine I have ever been associated with in my 26 years of Naval service. I have not said before this of any other Marine. I will never say it again. I do not mean to even remotely suggest to you that Top Rogers is a politically correct Marine. He is not, was not, and never will be. He speaks his mind freely to all who will listen, kind of like our Master Chief John Vincent. <b>So, don't ask him what he thinks unless you really want to know. Because, he will tell you. And you, in all probability, will not like it. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">He will tell you that his Marine Corps is not the place for social experiments. You don't need to talk to Top about equal opportunity because he doesn't believe in hyphenated Marines. There are no Black Marines, White Marines, Hispanic Marines, Asian Marines or even Catholic or Jewish Marines. These men and women are United States Marines, straight up, tried and true. They truly are THE FEW - THE PROUD. They are his Marines and this has been his Marine Corps - America's most valued institution -- fundamentally unchanged in over 225 years. I don' think we would want it any other way. I don't think America could afford to have it any other way.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">2 years ago, Marine Corps Commandant General Jones was satisfied that the Marine Corps was on the right track when he assumed command. His first order to the Marines was "continue to march." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Top Rogers, as you conclude your career I say, "continue to march." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And I hope you make it into heaven because God knows you have raised enough hell.</span></p></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-69297412322013641292022-03-27T05:30:00.002-04:002023-08-27T08:41:18.214-04:00Better than a medal<p> I served on the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) staff as the Branch Chief for Information Assurance (J6K) and on the Secretary of Defense's staff as Staff Director for the Detainee Task Force from 2003 to 2006. I am fairly certain I am the least decorated O6 during that time but I am proud to have this letter instead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGIXZ1xsPSoqewXJxcDfMlbLfjqBlBrwjrqW5wDuZdWVi1DAdkwoaAw9PmPZCRI_v8drwbxk0ZViKS1zRMwN-PelTy1EYNrCQ-ER2E3Tyk2bqVP4amunCwWTeW12P4RnUZLoMy37zzQvhtvQXRMShO63dMk5AcyOqZjmbHo4Q9tKM52LcIGloVTY5/s773/secdef%20letter%20dtf.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="591" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGIXZ1xsPSoqewXJxcDfMlbLfjqBlBrwjrqW5wDuZdWVi1DAdkwoaAw9PmPZCRI_v8drwbxk0ZViKS1zRMwN-PelTy1EYNrCQ-ER2E3Tyk2bqVP4amunCwWTeW12P4RnUZLoMy37zzQvhtvQXRMShO63dMk5AcyOqZjmbHo4Q9tKM52LcIGloVTY5/s320/secdef%20letter%20dtf.png" width="245" /></a></div><br />.<p></p>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-87443317330803151922022-03-12T05:30:00.001-05:002022-03-12T07:52:16.340-05:00Is 10,000 hours enough?<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzGKOUkbsNurzUO2DrP8sBIkViNCSNIe4hFIu_AkPFiwUzQGpLTmPbRLowk4F4P8-N-Y3bYjCZA8qAbggcq2bsJPDaKm5_ADLHR465T51RiS2BD-_140Hwi8jPu0z7qe6XM4bdXZCQ_0/s1600/Gladwell-Quote.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzGKOUkbsNurzUO2DrP8sBIkViNCSNIe4hFIu_AkPFiwUzQGpLTmPbRLowk4F4P8-N-Y3bYjCZA8qAbggcq2bsJPDaKm5_ADLHR465T51RiS2BD-_140Hwi8jPu0z7qe6XM4bdXZCQ_0/s400/Gladwell-Quote.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><span 10="" hour="" rule.="" span="" style="color: #000099; font-style: italic;"> </span><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000099; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000099; font-style: italic;">I think this can be applied equally to leadership. Becoming truly great at anything -- (leadership included) -- requires ten years of experience and 1,000 hours of practice per year.</span> </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">"Ten thousand hours is the magic number of greatness," he argues.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Becoming a leader requires "deliberate practice." </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">What are the elements of 'deliberate practice'? </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">It's designed explicitly to improve performance -- the little adjustments that make a big difference. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">It's repetitive, which means that when it's time to perform for real, you don't feel the pressure. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">It's informed by continuous feedback; practicing leadership only works if you can see how you're improving. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eef4ff; color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Bits and pieces paraphrased (and others cut and pasted) from HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW.</span></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-2747988314671335842022-02-14T05:30:00.002-05:002022-02-14T05:30:00.230-05:00The Mustang<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ2fnSancJ-Kp7Bo-DuwIFzH9mwvA87LQdvTEMhS-ClFOLqkor8VKjzNXhYy2ls_QXSgY6xesP8gwtMp_itE2EIsVc0c1iVLdOUmzdDX-OFP4yAdQQvU6RixZHmejek1Xn2X8hJkuFQP06zJO5RcmphMdZWpC2vKvo1iSZie0MubJSqTBN_Ry36hKn=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ2fnSancJ-Kp7Bo-DuwIFzH9mwvA87LQdvTEMhS-ClFOLqkor8VKjzNXhYy2ls_QXSgY6xesP8gwtMp_itE2EIsVc0c1iVLdOUmzdDX-OFP4yAdQQvU6RixZHmejek1Xn2X8hJkuFQP06zJO5RcmphMdZWpC2vKvo1iSZie0MubJSqTBN_Ry36hKn=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--sub-header); font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px;">The Mustang, aka Methuselah</h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(33, 37, 41); color: #212529; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", georgia, times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px auto 20px; padding: 0px;">Task & Purpose</p><figure style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(33, 37, 41); color: #212529; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", georgia, times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 17px;">The Mustang has more Good Cookies (Good Conduct Medals) than a box of Chips Ahoy, and he’s an officer. He has campaign medals that no one even recognizes. Where the hell is Kosovo, or for that matter “Southwest Asia,” anyway?</span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(33, 37, 41); color: #212529; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", georgia, times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px auto 20px; padding: 0px;">The junior enlisted troops love the Mustang. They think it’s cool as hell that someone went from enlisted to officer. The senior enlisted troops are not nearly as enamored, because the Mustang doesn’t fall for their bullshit. “It doesn’t take all day to do that, gunny. If you need time off, how about you just freakin’ say it?”</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(33, 37, 41); color: #212529; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", georgia, times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px auto 20px; padding: 0px;">The Mustang is not, objectively speaking, that much older than his contemporaries. But whatever happened during those seven or eight extra years of enlisted service, it sure looks like it got to him. As they say, “It’s not the years, it’s the mileage.” Apparently the Mustang hasn’t just been around the block, he’s been around the planet. Twice.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(33, 37, 41); color: #212529; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", georgia, times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px auto 20px; padding: 0px;">Stolen from: <a href="https://taskandpurpose.com/humor/6-types-majors-meet-military/">https://taskandpurpose.com/humor/6-types-majors-meet-military/</a></p>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-29587281072017530722022-02-13T05:30:00.001-05:002022-02-13T10:17:07.133-05:00Ethical Challenges<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2jr9qo1zWpwXofyiJuE9Wc_nGizacvm1Ups0My_1jZOKaWX7TUQ9ineAFbsisSrdacuQwWpvNPS6kUDxYZogbCni-T61qCxDqnTYmjMZx1ZXXwt7X9FUh2rJI6iZJbP-0w8mZW3whGbe_G7-6AnaCoPKZQ6uR8wePSqeHPeYmZ5abV0e2rmXWEtaZ=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1280" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2jr9qo1zWpwXofyiJuE9Wc_nGizacvm1Ups0My_1jZOKaWX7TUQ9ineAFbsisSrdacuQwWpvNPS6kUDxYZogbCni-T61qCxDqnTYmjMZx1ZXXwt7X9FUh2rJI6iZJbP-0w8mZW3whGbe_G7-6AnaCoPKZQ6uR8wePSqeHPeYmZ5abV0e2rmXWEtaZ=w400-h188" width="400" /></a></div><br /> There is no getting around the fact that every promotion and new position brings with it a new host of challenges, demands, relationships, problems, opportunities, and even new, and maybe previously unseen ethical challenges. ...It is only a smart thing to be ready and prepared to address all of these issues.<p></p><p> - U.S. Army War College student observation</p>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-77919135887967796592022-02-12T05:30:00.002-05:002022-02-12T06:53:37.995-05:00Smartest person in the room? Not by a long shot.<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qN-iEl7rnVG7p5DsJgasQWNVUKTZpbMbErkIV8n3uv6iSg5LlmGhFnMwn7MjYxVFb9wkuqtEN3gAt3aAtQ-ERzVJ9KHD6kJJIkxjkIdSnek3USlDCHdRxAy8OGY37U7A4v997kMeIME/s1600/multipliers-image.jpg" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #888888; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qN-iEl7rnVG7p5DsJgasQWNVUKTZpbMbErkIV8n3uv6iSg5LlmGhFnMwn7MjYxVFb9wkuqtEN3gAt3aAtQ-ERzVJ9KHD6kJJIkxjkIdSnek3USlDCHdRxAy8OGY37U7A4v997kMeIME/s400/multipliers-image.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; text-align: justify;"><br />I met with a small group of IDC officers some years back and one of my fellow Captains wanted to make sure all of us understood he was the smartest guy in the room. It wasn't a declarative verbal statement. But, you readily understood his intent. He professed his sincere apologies for arriving late to our meeting. It wasn't long before he made it known that his schedule was way overbooked and he really didn't even have time for the meeting we were currently involved in and he would have to depart early. Thank goodness one of his Sailors brought him his coffee and he had time to take a few sips before he jaunted off for his next meeting for which he was already late. Good thing he was a Captain and those 40 Sailors didn't mind waiting. Quite the busy man.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; text-align: justify;">He wasn't the smartest person in the room, nor was he even the smartest man in the room. Self importance is not a virtue in most environments requiring servant leadership.</div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-54585558451669379242022-02-10T05:30:00.001-05:002022-02-12T07:00:25.746-05:00One of the 5 characteristics of a leader<p>Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale - One of the five characteristics of a leader</p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6661335609311971414" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><div class="post-header" style="font-size: 12.600000381469727px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-9068333017842698624" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUksxdcs0Yd86YHSXAtPKBBX0xaIwZGMQqf85LhUKPLBZKT490X6wWWK3Nm1UKN_jM9GsUXS5vSVRXXWKVHM-BfWVUzsYUH7CRrwfBVVhWr8-hoyHP7d2H6sRSRj8zdS2onlOPg8ier-m/s1600/Vice_Admiral_James_B._Stockdale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUksxdcs0Yd86YHSXAtPKBBX0xaIwZGMQqf85LhUKPLBZKT490X6wWWK3Nm1UKN_jM9GsUXS5vSVRXXWKVHM-BfWVUzsYUH7CRrwfBVVhWr8-hoyHP7d2H6sRSRj8zdS2onlOPg8ier-m/s200/Vice_Admiral_James_B._Stockdale.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="147" /></a></div>Must Be a Moralist<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">First, in order to lead under duress, one must be a moralist. By that, I don’t mean being a poseur, one who sententiously exhorts his comrades to be good. I mean he must be a thinker. He must have the wisdom, the courage, indeed the audacity to make clear just what, under the circumstances, the good is. This requires a clear perception of right and wrong and the integrity to stand behind one’s assessment. The surest way for a leader to wind up in the ash can of history is to have a reputation for indirectness or deceit. <b><i>A disciplined life will encourage commitment to a personal code of conduct.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>My short brochure about the VADM Stockdale Inspirational Leadership Award is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/James-Stockdale-Inspirational-Leadership-Winners-ebook/dp/B00G3S0UVW/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=vadm+James+Bond+stockdale+inspirational+leadership&qid=1611073457&sr=8-1" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">here</a>.</i></b></div></div></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-46071272890851256122022-02-08T05:30:00.001-05:002022-02-12T06:55:35.917-05:00Timeless advice from Joe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIY15MnD_NtnmhXHg8S1-XnPoKqmyZTh9OvUQhH0BG0lIk0BXmU-C6XWINNc4Z8VS6TJ9xURT2hFfQiM7utBCGiMrlHg_vdq1VbJ_rQgp9bunHxSryl4d6skuX0RAebcrfA2Xnosrvb4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-01-27+at+5.04.23+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="420" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIY15MnD_NtnmhXHg8S1-XnPoKqmyZTh9OvUQhH0BG0lIk0BXmU-C6XWINNc4Z8VS6TJ9xURT2hFfQiM7utBCGiMrlHg_vdq1VbJ_rQgp9bunHxSryl4d6skuX0RAebcrfA2Xnosrvb4/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-01-27+at+5.04.23+PM.png" width="229" /></a></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "bitstream charter" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "bitstream charter" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Many professionals do not want to write because they feel by doing so they are telling people how to think or that no one will even care what the author, regardless of rank, thinks about a subject. What I have learned over the years is that published ideas, both good and bad, serve as a fuel for workplace conversations. And these conversations, which are a form of professional development, can have positive second and third order effects that the author never intended. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "bitstream charter" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "bitstream charter" , serif; font-size: 14px;">For example, an article about improving performance counseling could lead to leaders reassessing and eventually changing their counseling programs in a unit on the other side of the globe. The changes may not be exactly in line with the article, but it was the article that got that commander or first sergeant thinking and talking about counseling in the first place.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "bitstream charter" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "bitstream charter" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Much more is available <a href="https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2017/02/28/above-and-beyond-the-green-notebook/?utm_content=buffer1d0f8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer">HERE</a>.</span></p>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-26949990315681721072022-01-30T05:30:00.001-05:002022-01-30T08:45:25.513-05:00A Letter To My Junior Officers - Circa 2000 - 21 years ago seems like a lifetime<p> </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403566195998063058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkjKSPostpCB7lpRSggGTwsx4gdka87Lsu-IllReYP2lgCRUyy1au7iGtX25P_F2IKyvbK0qgzUzxmW0UvIEn2KBV2SHnqbf0AWm7e5p-CkpEsj3BR5TvmKsu03xTzt8_ZvCSCFMzOj0/s200/USNSGA+Yokosuka.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 121px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; padding: 5px; position: relative; width: 100px;" /></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8817697924012125162" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">In August of 1982, after OCS and SERE/DWEST school and some leave, I reported to NSGD Atsugi to face my first division in the Navy and the Naval Security Group as a brand new Ensign. Damn, I was excited and nervous, eager and unsure. Looking back on those early days of my Navy life as a commissioned officer, I have asked myself, from my perspective as your outgoing Commanding Officer, what might be of interest to each of you – my first junior officers.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;"><br />The word “purposeful” kept coming back to me, and it occurred to me that you, as naval officers (first, and cryptologists second) for the next generation, are more important now than perhaps at any other time in our brief Naval Security Group history.</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">The United States Navy is the only true over-the-horizon worldwide deployable force in the world, and RADM Whiton has re-invented cryptology for a Navy-Marine Corps Team which has the most visible forward presence on the world stage and certainly here in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Yokosuka</st1:city></st1:place>, Japan - forward deployed with the Navy's SEVENTH Fleet.<br /><br />My former friend and boss, CDR Jack Dempsey used to keep a flight journal back in the 80’s while we were flying with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE (VQ-1) - The World Watchers - in which he started each page with a borrowed</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">quote from Charles Dickens’ A TALE OF TWO CITIES.</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">Each page started with - </span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“These are the best of times, these are the worst of times…”</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">Can we have it both ways?</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">You are fortunate at the command to have some of the very best and brightest Sailors in the Naval Security Group.</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">You have a chance to lead the entire claimancy in all areas of cryptology if you choose to do it.</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">It won’t happen by accident.</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">You have to make it happen.</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">That’s your job.<br /><br />You guys (and gals – with LTjg Kim and ENS Sabedra here) will lead our Sailors at this turning point in our claimancy’s history.</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">And so I want to you to know just how “purposeful” and important I believe you are, and second, what I believe each of you has got to do at a very personal level to seize what could be the best of times in our community’s history and then you can start your own journal with…</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">”these are the best of times….”<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">From day one, you are not only division officers and sometimes Department Heads, but you are ambassadors for the Navy’s Core Values, the CNO’s 4 Stars of Equal Magnitude and the cryptologic community’s Strategic Plan (Maritime Cryptologic Architecture, the Maritime Concept, etc). PASS THE WORD. I genuinely believe your involvement is critical to RADM Whiton’s and RADM Burns’ plans that will carry the community through most of your careers (if you choose to have one in the Navy). The Sailors and Chiefs you will help lead will be more “purposeful” - and far more challenged - than ever before. As a result, your <u>genuine</u> leadership will be more “purposeful” and more valuable than ever before. You are the ones who will have to deliver U.S. Naval Security Group Yokosuka’s promise of <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“Quality Cryptologic Integration For The Fleet”</span> on a daily basis.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">If you do not think you are more “purposeful” and important than at any other time in our community’s history… think again. SECGRU’s vital leadership today is reflected by the leadership positions cryptologists hold throughout the Department of Defense – Captain Rich Wilhelm (a former 1610) served in the Vice President’s office as recently as 5 years ago, many are serving on the Staff of the Secretary of Defense and on the Joint Staff in key positions while others are serving the SECNAV directly. We live in a world of global communications, connected economies, and instantaneous video coverage of world and local events. The result often means that a decision made by you - while running a SSES on BLUE RIDGE, leading a team on JOHN S. MCCAIN or CURTIS WILBUR , or simply running your division here at the command - could have immediate and substantial impact on the Sailors under your charge and …perhaps…even world events. Your leadership must be “purposeful”, and you bear a tremendous responsibility. You have to CHOOSE to make a difference. It is a choice. It is your choice.Do something or do nothing – you decide. Don’t let things happen by accident – MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">A famous Admiral whose name escapes me at the moment said “there is… no career in the world that encompasses the daily physical and mental demands of that of one in a nation’s Navy.” I would argue further that only unrelenting loyalty, as demonstrated by many in the Navy provides the necessary foundation to lead effectively. There are some officers, Chiefs and Sailors that would have us believe the opposite… that loyalty is a dying characteristic in this Navy. I say that the loyalty we value so much is more “purposeful” than ever, as an asset for and example to the American public we are sworn to protect.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">As the value of your loyalty and leadership is being debated around you, I urge you to pay attention to and join in the debate. Retired CDR Mike Loescher wrote in a PROCEEDINGS magazine article that the Naval Security Group was broken. RADM Whiton responded that,<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“ NSG isn’t broken and that this an exciting time to be a cryptologist”.</span> I share the Admiral’s view. I’m excited. Certainly, we all have to guard against mediocrity and against attacks on our time-tested core values and against other charges that diminish our effectiveness. I sought to bring positive changes for this command. You’ve all been helpful in that respect. I thank you for that.Our team effort earned the command recognition through the award of a meritorious unit commendation. That doesn’t happen every day.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">As I emphasize that your leadership is more “purposeful” than ever. Let me turn now to what I believe you must do, individually, to bring effectiveness to your leadership skills, as you chart a new course for the command with CDR Filipowski in the new millennium and one of the few great turning points in our claimancy’s history. Because you will be so “purposeful” to our community’s future, I believe you must go beyond the bedrock fundamentals of leadership.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">Some of you have heard me drone on and on about Traits of Leadership which date back two thousand years… ((They are in every book on Naval Leadership – this is not new stuff.)) <u>I’ve given each of you the basic library of Naval leadership books</u>. Take the time to read them. There’s good stuff in there.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">A leader is trusted, a leader takes the initiative, a leader uses good judgment, a leader speaks with authority, a leader strengthens others, is optimistic and enthusiastic, never compromises absolutes, and leads by example. Lots of great Covey “Seven Habits” in there. We’ve covered all that before, haven’t we? You HAVE to take that stuff onboard and make it a part of your daily life.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">I believe you should adhere to these timeless traits of leadership. But today, I believe you must also apply something more… you must apply adapted traits of leadership… that is, techniques appropriate to your particular style and situation. You can achieve it only one way… by staying connected to the Sailors and Chiefs you are entrusted to lead.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">It is time for each of you to do a tactical and strategic level re-focus to adapt and apply your own leadership styles appropriate to the times. In short, you will have to build upon the bedrock fundamentals of leadership. You must have a solid foundation if you plan to put anything on top of it. I tried to give you the tools to establish a solid foundation.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">The best leaders in our Navy have always found ways to build upon the basic foundations of their leadership skills. Because each of you is so important to the future of our community, I also urge you to invest some time and effort in looking for answers within yourselves, to a question that is being asked more frequently today. “Are we losing the Navy spirit?” Some believe that because our Sailors so rarely actually go into harm’s way… that because technology is removing them from the actual battlefield, on a physical level we will lose the guts to fight effectively when the time comes. Some have suggested that we don’t have the strength of character we once had. I don’t believe that.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">The Navy spirit is not only physical courage at sea…courage that must be present in the face of physical danger. That is important, and that deserves our full attention. But the Navy spirit is also the ability to cope with the stresses involved with day-to-day leadership of our Sailors and Chiefs.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">Hardship, stress and fear…exist for a Sailor whose ship, while far at sea on seemingly calm waters, can face an incoming missile attack during a long-range engagement.Technology will not change that fact much. We must address how we can develop the Navy spirit within our people in all scenarios.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">When I worked for Admiral Whiton in the Comptroller’s office (he was a Captain then), he kept a placard on his wall with the mission of the Navy as defined in Navy Regulations, Chapter Two. It said simply: <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“The Navy… shall be organized, trained and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained combat incident to operations at sea.”</span> Every one of us needs to understand the mission of the Navy in its most basic form.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">How can you instill the Navy spirit and genuine understanding of the Navy’s mission in the Sailors and Chiefs you are charged to lead? The Navy has invested a great deal of time and money preparing you. They will invest a great deal more. It is time to do your part, for it is how you return the Navy’s investment that will bring it value; that value is limitless, but it depends on you. GET BUSY!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">I challenge each of you to search within yourselves for ways now, to build upon the framework of leadership you are learning … and develop a strong support structure that will serve you and those you lead when you are asked to go do the Navy’s business – however mundane it might seem at any given moment. I am talking about a very personal structure of character that is most appropriately developed through experience. 25 years of experience takes nearly 25 years to get. Make the most of every experience you have. When character is involved – promise me this – you will always go the long way and never take shortcuts. There aren’t any. Trust me, I would have found them in my exhausting search for them over the past 25 years. Where character is concerned, I have always gone the long way. It’s a much better trip. Take my word for it.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">The real challenge for each of you, however, is that the Navy may not give you the luxury of time and experience to build your foundation. When you walk across your own ship’s brow PCS for the first time (Paul Lashmet on ESSEX; Andy Reeves on <st1:place st="on">FIFE</st1:place>so far)</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">, you may be called upon to lead decisively that very day.</span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;"> Your skills as a Naval officer will be put to the test from the very start – your skills as a cryptologist on that ship may never be tested. BE A NAVAL OFFICER FIRST AND FOREMOST – that’s what you are! The cryptologic stuff is secondary and it will remain so. Remember Admiral Whiton’s brief – <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"we do cryptology because we have a Navy – not we have a Navy to do cryptology.”</span><o:p></o:p><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">Truly great leaders in history did not sit idly by and wait for experience to find them. They aggressively sought to build their own personal foundations of character, on a daily basis. Colonel Teddy Roosevelt , General Colin Powell and LT John F. Kennedy knew that their chosen military and political lives would present them with immediate and unrelenting challenges – all certainly more daunting than anything we have yet faced. They knew their “crowded hour,” could arrive at any moment. That is one reason they all worked to build their physical abilities to match their intellectual capabilities.Somehow, I knew that the Navy’s PRT program had some relevance in here somewhere. Physical fitness is important also. But it’s only part of the overall picture of a Naval Officer.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">The leadership, the spirit and the strength of character displayed by Colonel Roosevelt, General Powell and President Kennedy were more products of their own pursuits, above and beyond the framework they had been given. As a result, they were “purposeful” to their time and are revered in history. Who can say today what your legacy will be? I will just tell you that you are working on it now. DON’T MESS IT UP.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">All of them led their Sailors and soldiers from the heart, and had something more, crafted from the environment around them… the character of a man like Admiral Arleigh Albert Burke… the strategic vision of Admiral Chester Nimitz in the heat of a tactical nightmare… the innovation of Admiral Elmo Zumwalt with his phenomenal understanding of race relations and Admiral Hyman Rickover’s creation of the submarine force… the dynamic leadership of great Marines like General Lejeune and more recently General Krulak and a personal hero of mine from USS Blue Ridge – Colonel Bill Wesley. What will you do, not just to be “purposeful”, but to be enthusiastically followed during the personal challenges that will surely come for each of you, in these, the best of times in the history of our claimancy?<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">When I faced my first division at NSGD Atsugi in 1982 and in every assignment since including U.S. NSGA Yokosuka, I found, as you will, the Sailors and Chiefs returned the same level of loyalty and dedication to me that I devoted to them. More important, it is abundantly clear and readily apparent to the most casual observer that Sailors and Chiefs will quickly look past the veneer of your lineage (some of them went to better colleges than we all did and all of you went to a better college than I did) and the gold or silver (and blue) bars (and oak leafs) on your collar. Our Sailors and Chiefs have a unique ability to see past all that, and perceive the foundation you are building. They will know when you are on rocky ground. They will sense the weakness in you. They will perceive your character and all its inherent defects. Some great man once said, <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“The true character of a Naval officer cannot be hidden from his/her Sailors.”</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>There is no place to hide. Lead, follow or GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY.Again – you get to decide.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">If they find your character to be strong and true, they will go the extra mile for you. If they find you to be weak, prepare for the worst – it is bound to come. We’ve all seen it in its ugliest forms. At this period in our claimancy’s history, when our Sailors and Chiefs are so essential to our mission, there is no greater test of your mettle as a Naval officer, than leading Sailors and Chiefs who can count on your loyalty and your character. Be true to them. They will be true to you.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">I am confident you will seize these days, whether or not they personally are for you …”the best of times or the worst of times”, to carry-on what we have started together at U.S. Naval Security Group Activity Yokosuka and develop your own personal foundations of character that will serve you well during the challenges each of you can surely expect in your own future.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">Thanks for helping me get the command to where it is today. You all played a big part in that. You have been part of something very important and special to our community.You built a command from the ground up. That’s something you can really be proud of.I certainly am.<br /></span></div></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-85256340915346970342022-01-29T05:30:00.001-05:002022-01-29T09:43:51.400-05:00https://www.fidelisleadership.com<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJ8vHkt5SAMqUIxYzaxuSbUi-wc18UHYOF5644-WxfLSw0HAELFo7djiCt9DUiBH98geypcutKAW6mUBuJTjeMstnkJnUEI8ZXcZnVaavIEZSXXE-x6CJJ_LP-5FdaWPnVSjMaQdj5S05UQ8HgElaxtkyRKrWx23AWnIwN4qflyX8sfisXzWg-dK5O=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1260" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJ8vHkt5SAMqUIxYzaxuSbUi-wc18UHYOF5644-WxfLSw0HAELFo7djiCt9DUiBH98geypcutKAW6mUBuJTjeMstnkJnUEI8ZXcZnVaavIEZSXXE-x6CJJ_LP-5FdaWPnVSjMaQdj5S05UQ8HgElaxtkyRKrWx23AWnIwN4qflyX8sfisXzWg-dK5O=w246-h400" width="246" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-90017251674756092302022-01-27T05:30:00.001-05:002022-01-28T05:41:26.534-05:00Born this day in 1900 - Father of the nuclear Navy<p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbU4GnecJzhhQflApiCy9ZiJCeX5BzDnrpFhJ1WMcJ3GHFVWv8ga3Dp0crHYZ4QxlBTp-8XA6E35DYwAFfVDWXw-ltXYj6zAH3fhGBjZ6BSmczMXcOLdEyeGPtmmoIUwp2vlbhJOWN_5CCGp0vuwfb6YLFHjqNTDIXTjCby9A3qll7kOkEfhrggiMH=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="623" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbU4GnecJzhhQflApiCy9ZiJCeX5BzDnrpFhJ1WMcJ3GHFVWv8ga3Dp0crHYZ4QxlBTp-8XA6E35DYwAFfVDWXw-ltXYj6zAH3fhGBjZ6BSmczMXcOLdEyeGPtmmoIUwp2vlbhJOWN_5CCGp0vuwfb6YLFHjqNTDIXTjCby9A3qll7kOkEfhrggiMH=s320" width="249" /></a></div><br />27 January 1900 – Hyman Rickover, American admiral the “Father of the Nuclear Navy” was born in Makow, Russia (now Poland). He emigrated to the United States with his family in 1906. He served on active duty with the United States Navy for more than 63 years, receiving exemptions from the mandatory retirement age due to his critical service in the building of the United States Navy’s nuclear surface and submarine force.<p></p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">He died at home in Arlington, Virginia, on July 8, 1986 and was buried in Section 5 at Arlington National Cemetery. His first wife, Ruth Masters Rickover (1903-1972) is buried with him and the name of his second wife, Eleanore A. Bednowicz Rickover, whom he met while she was serving as a Commander in the Navy Nurse Corps, is inscribed on his gravestone.</span>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-21367357605751280192022-01-23T05:30:00.001-05:002022-01-23T14:15:16.342-05:00Correspondence is history kept alive<p><br /></p><div class="post-header" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 12.600000381469727px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1654769059722775919" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418086393753746226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha407LUhppthgkcKtZ84olpHOFesbcsePCikUkQy4M1bk2eKA1XcJiinSouby_KsSOvDcsPA8hRdRN3wwfpYIQKZktrncrXucsf-wLIRsyvagOTrCl4801KtnxwYKFdhmiUE7SOqguH24/s400/ward.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 306px;" /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">While in command of U.S. Naval Security Group Activity Yokosuka Japan, my Executive Officer (LT Bob Duncan) and I would meet at the command at 0630 or so each morning to spend 30-45 minutes hand writing letters to a different set of parents or relatives of our Sailors to let them know what 'their' Sailor was up to. One in 20 or so letters generated a response from a grateful parent or relative. The letter above is one such letter. The XO and I cared deeply about each of the 200 or so Sailors under our charge. Some of them understood and some didn't. Some came to that understanding later as they transferred to 'less caring' commands. Some still don't understand.<br /><br />One of the most heart warming examples of the meaning of all this correspondence came on two separate occasions for my Command Master Chief - CTMCM(SW) Ronald N. Schwartz. In 2003 when he retired, his Mother and Father (Ron and Sandra) brought a notebook to his retirement ceremony (over which I presided) at Corry Station, Pensacola Florida (where he started his cryptologic career as a student). The notebook was filled with the letters I sent them regarding the Master Chief's many accomplishments helping me lead our Sailors. There were many letters and news articles sent as he accomplished a great deal. I was gratified to see his parents had kept every letter. In 2007, I saw those same letters in the same notebook in plastic liners at a far less joyous occasion when the Master Chief passed away tragically in an accident. Those letters meant so much to his parents because they reflected a detailed accounting of his very successful career history. His parents and I still exchange letters as I keep them informed of our efforts to keep his name and memory alive in the Navy.</div></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-33928944052615377762022-01-21T05:30:00.002-05:002022-01-22T16:06:14.958-05:00Someone worth following<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSgumzy2ItCk2Wpus6lUvRAaGUGnrW4T-9xRYUG5TY-ICyMgCPKJCSwo7JqrTMyU_t9IHcOx7SQ6AsXIMeTFkwoY66K56oy19ASvm6hEgUnWLsKxlyiw8M2p1YS9PrWMSp-Z1cxS6QPw5Fsi_l1IExrRbhCq1jlkHd3eSD9CbYBNTBpmFIun-J1xSz=s3000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSgumzy2ItCk2Wpus6lUvRAaGUGnrW4T-9xRYUG5TY-ICyMgCPKJCSwo7JqrTMyU_t9IHcOx7SQ6AsXIMeTFkwoY66K56oy19ASvm6hEgUnWLsKxlyiw8M2p1YS9PrWMSp-Z1cxS6QPw5Fsi_l1IExrRbhCq1jlkHd3eSD9CbYBNTBpmFIun-J1xSz=s320" width="256" /></a></div><br />Rear Admiral Shoshana Chatfield is a native of Garden Grove, California, and a 1987 graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and French Language and Literature. She received her commission through Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) in 1988 and earned her wings of gold in 1989. Chatfield was awarded the Navy's Political/Military (Pol-Mil) Scholarship and attended the Kennedy School of Government, receiving a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University in 1997. <div><br /></div><div>In 2009, the University of San Diego conferred upon her a doctorate of education.
She was assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons (HC), serving in HC-1, HC-3, HC-5 and twice in HC-11 before making the move to the Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) community.
Operationally, she flew the SH-3, CH-46D and MH-60S and deployed in helicopter detachments to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf supporting carrier strike group and amphibious ready group operations. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ashore, she participated in the Joint Staff/OSD Internship Program, augmenting the Joint Staff, Plans and Policy (J-5) Directorate, Central; Eastern European Branch; was assigned as deputy executive assistant to the chief of naval operations; was senior military assistant to the supreme allied commander Europe; and was the United States deputy military representative to the NATO Military Committee. </div><div><br /></div><div>She served as assistant professor of political science at the United States Air Force Academy from 2001-2004. </div><div><br /></div><div>Chatfield was the 20th commanding officer of HC-5 and, upon its disestablishment, the first commanding officer of HSC-25, the Island Knights. </div><div><br /></div><div>She subsequently commanded a joint provincial reconstruction team in Farah Province, Afghanistan, in 2008 and was type wing commander of HSC Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet from 2011-2013. </div><div><br /></div><div>Most recently, Chatfield commanded Joint Region Marianas from January 2017 to August 2019. </div><div><br /></div><div> Her personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and various unit awards.
</div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-37967317092451734302022-01-20T05:30:00.001-05:002022-01-22T21:59:12.507-05:00USS JOHN P. MURTHA<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkyQaMWogORRWA6DP2kjwm_3I3qf8CCRhE_B1zZS17OgjHQMfw3nc3b1bIGRnoOMn63gJ6yOzd_eCw1ec6PYLhBwFZN1IKnWMXAqUs1Cx8jiJDHwE6AlcObGVaV4YhVS1EjV4J8khWpNlZA2yeUS9w0uAD3dpJEI_8XARVdhwdXPG1HCfgvrbBLwMB=s1128" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="952" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkyQaMWogORRWA6DP2kjwm_3I3qf8CCRhE_B1zZS17OgjHQMfw3nc3b1bIGRnoOMn63gJ6yOzd_eCw1ec6PYLhBwFZN1IKnWMXAqUs1Cx8jiJDHwE6AlcObGVaV4YhVS1EjV4J8khWpNlZA2yeUS9w0uAD3dpJEI_8XARVdhwdXPG1HCfgvrbBLwMB=s320" width="270" /></a></div><br /> If you know, you know.<p></p><p><a class=" xil3i" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/wineveryday/" style="border: 0px; color: rgba(var(--fe0,0,55,107),1); font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.000000953674316px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" tabindex="0">#wineveryday</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.000000953674316px;"> </span><a class=" xil3i" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/bgreat/" style="border: 0px; color: rgba(var(--fe0,0,55,107),1); font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.000000953674316px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" tabindex="0">#bgreat</a></p>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-37601880093518171592022-01-19T05:30:00.001-05:002022-01-19T06:13:54.940-05:00My dear Admiral...<p> </p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6103153358235007111" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264214420237706802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i3OIUbLUa45oi9Vwrnk2yE5NpzmYOHJGdqCy8htptVhyHLlvbzffBjOzjJtotgM6a9IyAEsvhn6yT594qd9ihlkwG4yG0KHYzMKba8NbbRNxQCjiRrtH9_Gtcj_g3h0mUg4pVwg6-vec/s200/us%255Env4s.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 167px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; padding: 5px; position: relative; width: 200px;" /><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">In the 1940's, the Navy used a form letter to reduce the Flag Officer Ranks. It let "My dear Admiral" down with a gentler bump. Sent in November 1945 to all of the 369 flag officers still on active duty, the Navy's letter simply asked that if (for guidance in future planning) , the admiral wanted to retire— please reply.</span><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">Of those who had replied by December 10, 1945, only 16 said they wanted to get out. Among them were Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey; 62-year-old Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll, commander of the Atlantic Fleet throughout most of the war; hardboiled Admiral Emory S. Land, for seven years head of the Maritime Commission. The Navy sent nearly 150 Admirals home who did not request retirement.<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">Nevertheless, the Navy's stars were rapidly thinned out. Scheduled to go by the end of 1945 were 51 admirals who were recalled to duty after they had already been retired. The Navy hopes by June 1946 to reduce its flag roster from the peak of 400 to 228.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 13.09000015258789px;">From TIME MAGAZINE, 17 December 1945</span></p></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-53612234926269568842022-01-18T05:30:00.001-05:002022-01-19T06:17:07.608-05:00I am a United States Sailor<p> </p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-853726381066222158" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256263883943026642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIO0iwYdHyPOiiK485uBEfAyQVChKZLFdZJ2D_57Ic5nwxhJ73-8mJBsag_FoNJsgFUb0VJRu_q8m8dhyh7PPf8pN7Pq8i96MXwUSqZRYZjqv8w14QYkowszh7yYcX5ddJ1uj9CLOqKrIR/s200/navy-vi.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 231px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; padding: 5px; position: relative; width: 162px;" />I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world.<br /><br />I proudly serve my country’s Navy Combat Team with HONOR, COURAGE and COMMITMENT.<br /><br />I am committed to excellence and fair treatment of all.</div></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-61704324330053703082022-01-17T05:30:00.001-05:002022-01-17T06:17:30.892-05:00It's not rocket science - You're in the people development business<p> </p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7884372104021264125" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0pxucnLDe9XtYEpo8FQj0HwY0OBV3MAkMVejDB3QajKF-J7GsQnMpxyv4xxsRag45ENk5hwAT2iJwzieYupud9kEhXYKLA8wUHD4XN7TEyxeXhxP0WtIFR_26pTh7Prqr6UyUiWMud8/s1600/not_rocket_science_by_bj_o23-d5ddhgv.png.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="140" /></div><div style="color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9289608001709px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9289608001709px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">"If you’re a leader, your whole reason for living is to help human beings develop—to really develop people and make work a place that’s energetic and exciting and a growth opportunity, whether you’re running a Housekeeping Department or Google. I mean, this is not rocket science."</div><div style="color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9289608001709px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">"It’s not even a shadow of rocket science. <b><i><u>You’re in the people-development business</u></i></b>. If you take a leadership job, you do people. Period. It’s what you do. It’s what you’re paid to do. <b><i><u>People, period</u></i></b>."</div><div style="color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9289608001709px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">Tom Peters</div></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758747359382999584.post-30614433866445917272022-01-16T05:30:00.002-05:002022-01-16T13:56:03.040-05:00We lost an amazing Shipmate - CTICS Shannon Mary Kent. We have a duty to remember her.<p> </p><br /><div class="post-header" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 12.600000381469727px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5695383205774496381" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.399999618530273px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcBB5BB7efSEtRnZVeB2AzLnDqWfLbaeCnuW6DaGnMK3t3CRXrD7B6K-ok3XtvSEuqNg7aA5Xq3fHRuEetrN1P8gvX7PqwlwSf2DIe_4xwoYWyL1Inr-FMJhZV6lWhqqFzucmp_r9nPg/s1600/be+brave.png" style="clear: right; color: #888888; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="227" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcBB5BB7efSEtRnZVeB2AzLnDqWfLbaeCnuW6DaGnMK3t3CRXrD7B6K-ok3XtvSEuqNg7aA5Xq3fHRuEetrN1P8gvX7PqwlwSf2DIe_4xwoYWyL1Inr-FMJhZV6lWhqqFzucmp_r9nPg/s200/be+brave.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="153" /></a></p>Who was Shannon Mary (Smith) Kent and why should you care? There are billions of incredible people in this world. They are waiting patiently to have their stories told.You may even be one of them.In this big big world, we can’t know them all but it would be good to know a few. In that incredibly crowded space, I’d like for you to know <u>about</u> Shannon Mary Kent.<br /><br />If you don’t know her already, it’s too late. She’s gone. But, it’s not too late to know <u>about</u> her. So, I’d like to help tell part of the story of this amazingly brave, sweet girl. She NEVER cowered – ever. I’d like for you to know enough about this brave, sweet girl to care about her, to care about her family (a husband (Joe) and two sons (Josh and Colt); sister (Mariah); Mom (Mary) and Dad (Steven) she left behind and perhaps to care enough about her legacy and memory to write a personal letter to the Secretary of the Navy asking him to name a Navy destroyer after her – USS SHANNON MARY KENT. (How was that for a run-on sentence?)<br /><br />She never once worried about recognition, but she is certainly worthy of it. 16 January 2019 marked the end of her young, vibrant, meaningful, and significant 35 years of life. She spent nearly half of her life in the Navy. She spent her professional career in the top secret world of the Navy Information Warfare Corps. She was practically unknown to the rest of the world. That is, until she was murdered by a terrorist who detonated an improvised explosive device in Manbij, Syria. 16 January 2019 marks the day that her existence and murder were made known to the entire world.<br /><br />As a 19 year old, she joined the Navy in 2003 and attended foreign language school at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. In seven short years she was able to distinguish herself as the top linguist in the Department of Defense while serving with the Naval Special Warfare Support Activity TWO in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She spoke Afghan-Dari, Arabic-Algerian, Arabic-Egyptian, Arabic-Gulf (Iraqi), Arabic-Levantine, Arabic-Standard, French, Portuguese-European, and Spanish.<br /><br /> Prior to her assignment in Syria, Shannon had previously deployed four times for combat operations on Navy Special Forces actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. She deployed twice with SEAL Team 10 and twice with SEAL Team 4. Syria was her fifth combat deployment in 15 years – and her ninth deployment overall. Where do we find such brave women? They come from all over America. SMK answered her Navy’s call to action nine separate times.<br /><br />She spent much of her career in harm’s way. According to the Center for Military Readiness - “Since the attack on America on September 11, 2001, a total of 149 women deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Syria have lost their lives in service to America. Most Americans, and even members of the media, are not aware that 149 brave servicewomen have died in the War on Terrorism. With few exceptions, news stories about their tragic deaths usually appeared only in the military press, or in small hometown newspaper stories and television accounts that rarely capture national attention.” Six of those 149 women were serving in the Navy. Only one of those women took the fight to ISIS in Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve – Shannon Mary Kent.<br /><br />She is the only enlisted woman ever to be honored with a memorial service in the USNA chapel. During that service she was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and a Combat Action Ribbon. About a month later, on 28 February 2019, General Nakasone, Director of the National Security Agency presided over a ceremony to add Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent’s name to the NSA/CSS Cryptologic Memorial Wall in a solemn ceremony.<br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3758747359382999584" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3758747359382999584" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3758747359382999584" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"></a><br />Her Cryptologic Warfare Activity SIXTY SIX Shipmates say that CTICS (IW/EXW) Shannon Mary Kent exemplified the Navy’s core values of HONOR, COURAGE and COMMITMENT every moment of every day of her life. Her murder stunned her teammates. Many still have not recovered from the agony of her passing. She meant so much too so many.<br /><br />Don’t allow the memory of Shannon Mary Kent’s extraordinarily significant life to disappear as we live our lives. She deserves to be remembered. Shannon’s death is a reminder that, as Katherine Center says, “We are writing the story of <u>our only life</u> every single minute of every day.”<br /><br />Shannon Mary Kent’s story ended much too early. She wasn’t ready to stop writing her story. We owe it to her to keep writing it for her. So I ask you to please sit down and write a letter. She fought for you, won’t you join the fight for her?<br /><br />Won’t you help keep the story of Shannon Mary Kent alive? <span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Please send your letter to:<o:p></o:p></span> <br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><h2 style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: OswaldRegular, Arial, "MS Trebuchet", sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></h2></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Secretary of the Navy <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1000 Navy Pentagon, Room 4D652 <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Washington, DC 20350<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Short bio:</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "bookman old style", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Captain Reiner W. “Mike” Lambert is a retired naval officer. He started his career as a Cryptologic Technician Interpretive Seaman (CTISN - Russian linguist) and attended the Defense Language School in 1975-1976. He was commissioned in 1982, commanded U.S. Naval Security Group Activity Yokosuka, Japan, and served as Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld’s Staff Director for the Detainee Task Force examining detainee abuse in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay Cuba. He retired in 2006 following that assignment. Today he runs The FARM at DEER HOLLOW with his wife Lynn. He is also a Principal with Top Corner Consulting.</span></span></div></div>Mike Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04268185984165305315noreply@blogger.com0