Know your Sailors

Learning Names is Important

Names of your Sailors are important. The sweetest sound to anyone is his or her own name. Learn it and use it!

After a formal and impressive change-of-command parade and ceremony at one of our larger NIOCs, the departing CO was honored at a reception at the officers club. As he greeted the line of Sailors, officers, Chiefs and their wives, he called each by name, asked something about their families or status and then greeted the next. 

Someone in attendance remarked,  “He is one of few COs in recent memory that I have served with who can do that. And I can guarantee you that not one member of his command will ever forget him, and many will seek to serve under him again.”

Chiefly Expectations: A JO’s Perspective

LT Ryan Haag is an Information Warfare Officer. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he served in USS HAMPTON (SSN-767) as the Electrical Officer and Assistant Weapons Officer, at U.S. Second Fleet as a TLAM Senior Mission Planner and Flag Aide.  After obtaining a lateral transfer, he is now serving at NIOC Georgia as the Air Operations Officer. 

Check out his guest post on CDR Sean Heritage's blog HERE.

Review of General and Flag Officer Ethics

Statement by the Press Secretary on Review of General and Flag Officer Ethics

The Secretary believes that the vast majority of our senior military officers exemplify the strength of character and the highest ethical standards the American people expect of those whose job it is to provide for the security of our nation.  They represent not only the best of the American military but the American people.  The majority of these officers lead by example, which is one of the reasons the United States military stands without peer 

Over the past several months, the Secretary has spoken with the service secretaries, service chiefs, and combatant commanders about those instances when senior officers have not lived up to the standards expected of them. This has been an ongoing discussion reflecting shared concerns. 

This week, the Secretary directed General Dempsey to work with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to review how to better foster a culture of stewardship among our most senior military officers. Their initial findings are due to the Secretary within the next few weeks. This process is intended to reinforce and strengthen the standards that keep us a well led and disciplined military. 

Input to the Secretary will form the basis of a report to the President on the Department's progress in this area by December 1, 2012.

More on the importance of writing

How does one become a good writer?

a.  Anyone who has the brains to gain a commission has the brains to become a good writer. It requires work. It doesn’t come easily or quickly. It demands time and effort to master the language. It demands practice, practice and more practice. Lastly, the writer must have something to say. The task is to deliver the message of substance in the clearest possible way. Almost always this means the shortest way.

b.  A person who reads a lot soon finds that writing is almost as easy as reading. Most effective officers read a lot, and not just instruction manuals.

c.  The only way to become a writer is to write. There are reasons why the services are so free with dictionaries and run so many courses on fundamental writing skills. There are reasons why the services have either published or adopted a manual style and format. The services want to provide opportunities for mastery of the language. Just as a condition of the profession demands that an officer master a particular weapon, learning the language of the profession is similarly essential. Poor spelling, poor grammar and lack of specific vocabulary are excuses, not the result of effort. Even great athletes, whose stock in trade is essentially muscular coordination, understand the need for practice.

d.  In the same way, good writing comes from practice and practice and more practice. Only after the process of making words into sentences and sentences into paragraphs and paragraphs into chapters becomes a natural rhythmic process does the stamp of individuality and personality shine through the writing to the reader.

From The Armed Forces Officer available HERE.

Sailor misconduct characterized as a 'disease'

If it is in fact a disease, the Navy's cure all of punishing the whole for the acts of the few is not close to a remedy for curing misconduct. 

Recalling the restrictions on personal liberty imposed during my time on the staff of the Commander, U.S. SEVENTH Fleet aboard USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC-19) , the entire crew and staff  (E-1 to O6) were governed by the identical restrictions after a number of liberty incidents.  In foreign ports we were not allowed to leave the ship alone.  Everyone on board had to depart with a 'buddy' and had to return to the ship with the same 'buddy'.  If your 'buddy' didn't want to return to the ship, you were stuck in town overnight.  

None of this made sense to anyone and our favorite Marine on the staff confronted our well meaning Chief of Staff and said, "When you issued this directive, I was under the impression it applied to E-4 and below.  There is no way this could apply to an E5 or an O5, it just doesn't make sense."  The Chief of Staff assured the Colonel that the policy applied "across the board."  It was many months before the policy was eased.  I always left the ship with a buddy.  The Colonel always left the ship alone as a matter of principle.  I think the Chief of Staff was okay with that.

Don't punish the whole when you know who the 'at risk' individuals are.  Be sensible.  Imposing archaic and unreasonable rules on high performing Sailors just doesn't make sense.  Our leadership can do better than that.

Obstacle Illusion

One of the young people I mentor opened my eyes to the fact that something which I was having a very difficult time overcoming was not nearly as challenging as I was making it out to be.  In the process of solving this complex (in my mind) problem, we came up with a new (in my mind) term for my inability to see past my own perceived limitations.  I was suffering from what we call an "OBSTACLE ILLUSION".  The obstacle was not real but I had created it in my mind and the illusion of a non-existent challenge prevented me from solving the problem.

My advice to you - don't let "OBSTACLE ILLUSIONS" prevent you from reaching your goals.

How much more focus can they have?

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC) Mike Stevens has a strong message to Chief Petty Officers:

You’ve got to focus harder on maintaining 

good order and discipline. 

By now, the CPO community has to be tired of this steady refrain.  2012 was supposed to the the YEAR OF THE CHIEF.  Honestly, they can't carry the whole Navy on their backs.  Eventually folks are going to get tired of every broken trail leading back to the Chiefs mess.  Time for Sailors to take individual responsibility.  It's also time for the Navy to stop punishing the entire crew for the criminal acts of a few bad actors. 

11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

 “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

8 signs you have found your life's work in the Navy. 5 of 8 is not bad either.

1. It doesn't feel like work.
Your life's work is not a "job"-- it's a way of living.

2. You are aligned with your core values.
Your life's work is an extension of your beliefs and worldview.

3. You are willing to suffer.
Passion comes from the latin word 'pati,' which means 'to suffer.'

4. You experience frequent flow.
You naturally and often fall "in flow," deeply immersed by your work and the present moment.

5. You make room for living.
Your work provides you the ability to live fully and enjoy life.

6. Commitment is an honor.
When you discover your life's work, the question of commitment is easy.

7. The people who matter notice.
"You look vibrant!" and "I've never seen you so healthy and happy!" and "This is without question what you're meant to be doing!" are among the comments you may hear from the people closest to you when you're on the right path.

8. You fall asleep exhausted, fulfilled, and ready for tomorrow.
You go to sleep each night grateful for the day.

From  Amber Rae, Founder & CEO of The Bold Academy,  You can read the whole post HERE.

Number 22 in the books

Captain Michael Wiegand was fired by Commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Centers.  The Navy announced on 8 November that the commanding officer of Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, was relieved of command due to "loss of confidence in his ability to command."

The Navy said that the the decision stems from an investigation into contracting improprieties at Southwest Regional Maintenance Center. Navy spokesman Christopher Johnson said the investigation “substantiated allegations of waste as a result of poor project management and lack of proper oversight.” He said that government funds were “misspent in a number of areas” but declined to offer any more details, saying that the investigation is ongoing.

Captain Wiegand, who took command in July 2010, will be reassigned to administrative duty.

Captain Wiegand is the 22nd naval officer in command to be fired in 2012.

Change of Command CIDU Monterey

In case you missed it, Commander Sean Cooney assumed command of the Center for Information Dominance Unit Monterey on 26 October.  Best of luck to you in command, Sean.  

If you make it to Vladivostok during this tour, be sure to read the USS VANDEGRIFT lessons learned. :-)

Your mind

If you never change it, what use is it?

Missed the point

"One of the things the decider-in-chief has to do is decide whether he’s going to bring this country together across all its diversity or let it drift apart. Look at how much stronger the American military is because it is less racist, less sexist and less homophobic and we’re just looking for people who can do the job."

W.J. Clinton

I think the former President missed a huge point here.  I don't believe the American military was more racist, sexist or homophobic under previous presidents.  I think the military policy makers suffered from those afflictions.  The men and women who serve in our military are far superior in their sophistication and dedication than our policy makers have ever given them credit for.

Vote Today

“Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion 

without the discomfort of thought.” 

― John F. Kennedy

Ethics Training 2012 - Really?

We must do better than this!  I completed the 2012 Annual Ethics Training and purposely answered each of the questions incorrectly to see what might happen.  I completed the 55 part slide deck with zero correct answers and was greeted by this final slide of congratulations.  

By printing the certificate, I certified that I personally reviewed each of the 55 slides in the module.  I have to wonder how this constitutes compliance with U.S. Government Ethics requirements.

This probably explains why we continue to have problems.  Who could take this training seriously?  How could this possibly meet the training requirement?  How can this go on?  Who in a leadership position can be satisfied with a simple "check in the box"?

You can get your very own certificate (suitable for framing) HERE.