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.
Show me a leader without fatal flaws and I show you a liar. We all have them. The flaw might be with dealing with alcohol. It might be with being faithful in a relationship. It could be with being fair and impartial. Bottom line - we all have issues. Some of the issues can be managed once it comes to light. Some can not. For this General - I think he was on his way to fix his problem himself. I wish he would have stayed on.
All that being said - I would have a different feeling if she was in his CoC and he had the affair. In that case - good order and discipline in the command would have been at risk and then he should be removed.
I believe there are MANY leaders out there without "fatal" flaws. They have flaws yes, but not "fatal" ones. I wish the General had stayed on as well. Likely, that would have made the situation worse for all.
Very sad day when that story dropped. I thought he could be like "Ike". A great General w/ a lot of potential for even greater things. Very sad these guys are engaging in things that are clearly wrong -- note to FOGO's -- you will always be caught esp. today w/ the 24/7 news cycle and people w/ < then your WW II counterparts morals.
When I see a high ranking officer like General Petraeus fall on his sword under such circumstances, I wonder how many men and women he presided over as a commanding officer, or a general with courts martial authority, with similar charges and what his decisions were.
I do believe your post that consisted of these words; "No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself." Is the key and the answer to all comments made regarding this post. How many times has the General done similar things that were never discovered or it was covered up due to RHIP? This is a leadership blog amongst other things, yourself and others have attempted to wish him well, but he is not the leader he should have been even though he served 40 years for our country.
In all this tragedy there is no mention of the general's wife. A long time military spouse. My heart goes out to her. I hurt for her and cannot even begin to imagine how terrible it must be to have been this publically humiliated.
"See thou how God with his lightning smites always the bigger animals, and will not suffer them to wax insolent, while those of a lesser bulk chafe him not? How likewise his bolts fall ever on the highest houses and the tallest trees? So plainly does He love to bring down everything that exalts itself. Thus ofttimes a mighty host is discomfited by a few men, when God in his jealousy sends fear or storm from heaven, and they perish in a way unworthy of them. For God allows no one to have high thoughts but Himself."
"See thou how God with his lightning smites always the bigger animals, and will not suffer them to wax insolent, while those of a lesser bulk chafe him not? How likewise his bolts fall ever on the highest houses and the tallest trees? So plainly does He love to bring down everything that exalts itself. Thus ofttimes a mighty host is discomfited by a few men, when God in his jealousy sends fear or storm from heaven, and they perish in a way unworthy of them. For God allows no one to have high thoughts but Himself."
Artabanus counselling Xerxes not to attack Greece as a means to rival those who preceded him on the throne and increase the power of Persia, as recorded by Herodotus, the historian, in The Persian Wars.
Show me a leader without fatal flaws and I show you a liar. We all have them. The flaw might be with dealing with alcohol. It might be with being faithful in a relationship. It could be with being fair and impartial. Bottom line - we all have issues. Some of the issues can be managed once it comes to light. Some can not. For this General - I think he was on his way to fix his problem himself. I wish he would have stayed on.
ReplyDeleteAll that being said - I would have a different feeling if she was in his CoC and he had the affair. In that case - good order and discipline in the command would have been at risk and then he should be removed.
I believe there are MANY leaders out there without "fatal" flaws. They have flaws yes, but not "fatal" ones. I wish the General had stayed on as well. Likely, that would have made the situation worse for all.
ReplyDeleteTwo-fer
ReplyDeletehttp://hamptonroads.com/2012/11/captain-va-beachbased-warship-relieved
Very sad day when that story dropped. I thought he could be like "Ike". A great General w/ a lot of potential for even greater things. Very sad these guys are engaging in things that are clearly wrong -- note to FOGO's -- you will always be caught esp. today w/ the 24/7 news cycle and people w/ < then your WW II counterparts morals.
ReplyDeleteActive Duty SCPO USN
When I see a high ranking officer like General Petraeus fall on his sword under such circumstances, I wonder how many men and women he presided over as a commanding officer, or a general with courts martial authority, with similar charges and what his decisions were.
ReplyDeleteCaptain Lambert,
ReplyDeleteI do believe your post that consisted of these words; "No man is fit to command
another that cannot command himself." Is the key and the answer to all comments made regarding this post. How many times has the General done similar things that were never discovered or it was covered up due to RHIP? This is a leadership blog amongst other things, yourself and others have attempted to wish him well, but he is not the leader he should have been even though he served 40 years for our country.
Very Respectfully,
Navyman834
You have me there Master Chief. He did not deserve to stay on in his leadership position.
ReplyDeleteIn all this tragedy there is no mention of the general's wife. A long time military spouse. My heart goes out to her. I hurt for her and cannot even begin to imagine how terrible it must be to have been this publically humiliated.
ReplyDelete"See thou how God with his lightning smites always the bigger animals, and will not suffer them to wax insolent, while those of a lesser bulk chafe him not? How likewise his bolts fall ever on the highest houses and the tallest trees? So plainly does He love to bring down everything that exalts itself. Thus ofttimes a mighty host is discomfited by a few men, when God in his jealousy sends fear or storm from heaven, and they perish in a way unworthy of them. For God allows no one to have high thoughts but Himself."
ReplyDelete-Herodotus
"See thou how God with his lightning smites always the bigger animals, and will not suffer them to wax insolent, while those of a lesser bulk chafe him not? How likewise his bolts fall ever on the highest houses and the tallest trees? So plainly does He love to bring down everything that exalts itself. Thus ofttimes a mighty host is discomfited by a few men, when God in his jealousy sends fear or storm from heaven, and they perish in a way unworthy of them. For God allows no one to have high thoughts but Himself."
ReplyDeleteArtabanus counselling Xerxes not to attack Greece as a means to rival those who preceded him on the throne and increase the power of Persia, as recorded by Herodotus, the historian, in The Persian Wars.