NIOD Kaneohe Bay Sailor of the Year

NSGD Barbers Point was the predecessor of NIOD Kaneohe.  Established in 1982, I think. Arguably, some of the best CTs in the Navy passed through our doors over the past 34 years. The worst of those Sailors was above average. The average Sailor was a force to be reckoned with.  The best of those Sailors were simply incredible.  I am imagining that Petty Officer Evers has a really good shot at being CNO Sea Sailor of the Year.  I know an OIC who could not be prouder of her or her Shipmates in Kaneohe.  BZ Shipmates!

CTT1 (NAC/IDW/AW) Courtney Evers is the 2015 Fleet Cyber Command Sea Sailor of the Year

I can't find the news anywhere but I heard that she's pretty awesome.  She's a NIOD Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii Sailor.

Forward ... to the past. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I rest my case. Keeping cryptology alive, one Sailor at a time.

The command triad is a myth

Thanks to Jeff Bacon. http://broadside.navytimes.com

The Navy's notion of a command triad is largely a myth.  The team of CO, XO and CMC (SEL) is important to the success of any Navy command.  There is no question that commands do significantly better when these three individuals operate as a team.  But is there really a 'command' triad? More than a small number of commands are operating without a cohesive team at the top.  Trying to run a command with a weak member of that group is devastating.  It's as difficult as trying to balance something atop a tree legged stool.

More Jeff Bacon cartoons HERE.

You must put your ideas down on paper

From the Commander, TENTH Fleet strategic plan

Accountability: 

For those who depend on us, we will always deliver what we say we deliver.

For those on whom we depend, we will always be clear and exact in communicating our needs.


Words have meaning.  We're missing the mark by a wide margin in both cases above.

New blog about cryptology

A small team of bloggers would like to invite you to a recently established blog called Station HYPO. Please join us as we remember the past, recognize the present and explore the future of Naval Cryptologic community. 

http://www.stationhypo.com/

Stand by to pipe the side - a new blog is about to launch !!

Stand by!  A new blog celebrating the past, present, and future of Naval Cryptology is about to launch.  Check back here for more information.

Eight Years Ago Today - CTMCM Ronald N. Schwartz Passed Away

Master Chief Petty Officer Ronald N. Schwartz passed away on 27 August 2007 following a fatal tractor accident near his home in Indiana. He had a distinguished career as a Cryptologic Maintenance Technician in the Naval Security Group. He served in USS BIDDLE, in The White House Communication Office, at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Education and Training, as an instructor at Naval Technical Training Center - Corry Station - Pensacola, Florida and as Command Master Chief for U.S. Naval Security Group Activity - Yokosuka, Japan.  One of the young men he influenced there (now CTRCM Cedric Rawlinson) took his place as the Command Master Chief twelve years later.

On the eighth  anniversary of his passing, I suspect he continues to smile upon us knowing that, Naval Network Warfare Command reversed their decision to disestablish the Cryptologic Technician Maintenance rating in the Navy. CTMs survive and NNWC does not.  He was foremost a career-long advocate for Sailors and, in particular, the Cryptologic Maintenance Technicians afloat and serving in the Fleet Electronic Support shops around the world. THE MESSAGE: Never doubt the value of our Cryptologic Technicians; for the most part, theirs is a unique contribution to the Navy's warfighting ability. That capability must be preserved for the good of the nation.

Think this may be the last post

40 years ago today I began my Navy adventure.  It has been awesome being a part of that.  I think this will be my last post on the blog.  I do reserve the right to change my mind.

Still learning

What can be more important?

"Mike,

Thanks for your continuing engagement on the vital issue of leadership -- at the end of the day, what can be more important to our Navy and our nation?"

Admiral James Stavridis

Because I said I would

THIS is powerful.  A really meaningful post by my Shipmate Captain Sean Heritage..  Pleased to be in his circle of trust.

And the website for "because I said I would" is HERE.

Boxing the compass

Most of us have come to understand that leadership is about character, not characteristics.  We know what our values are and sometimes struggle to stay true to those values when we see that our seniors continue to progress while not demonstrating that same strict adherence to our Navy core values.  

Some in our community have found strength in maintaining their 'true North' by creating something they have called their personal "Board of Directors" (BoD).  Entrepreneur Bill George has a decent book out called TRUE NORTH GROUPS.  He knows that, with the challenges we face these days, we require additional help to stay on track.  We cannot rely on just ourselves or our commands to help us stay on track.  We need Shipmates in 'our circle of trust'  with whom we can have in-depth discussions and share intimately about the most cherished things in our lives and careers while we serve our country around the world.  

Whatever you choose to call it, you need to have Shipmates you can count on in the toughest of times - the people who will follow-through on things 'because they said they would.'

It's personal

It may seem nostalgic, but I still believe there’s room for the handwritten note in personal and professional communication. They cost something, mean something, and have permanence in a way emails and text messages don’t. They let the people in our lives know we appreciate them enough to do something as archaic as pausing for 15 minutes to put pen to paper in an attempt to connect and sustain a relationship with them. I still remember that note — and many others I’ve received over the years — and perhaps in writing personal notes to our friends and colleagues, we can reach out to others in a way that creates a lasting, positive connection.

 

Try it, you may like it.