Posted on 04/06/2020 12:46:41 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
Zero Navy time, but 24 or so in the Army. I did sail the Panama canal once, USArmy vessel Runnymede, LSU2000.
Enlisted through field grade if that matters.
11 overseas tours, 7 has duty. Command from platoon to battalion and combined task force, and even in the army, unit manning is fouo in conus, class or higher when deployed.
Not sure why component matters to you, but hey, go army sink navy, brother.
From today’s headlines, the acting secnav foundered too.
When Brig Gen Chuck Yeager retired, he actually cried at the end of it because no one arranged a flyover for him. He said there wasn't even a sparrow in the air.
God bless you.
https://youtu.be/oloJfVWPlfI
They obviously built a new tower since I was there. We did not have the SOF in the tower. But, here are the T-6s flying around. My son just finished T-6 training about 2 weeks ago. 👍
Mine is similar: Marine enlisted until commissioned, retiring as LtCol. Served in combat in RVN, commanded battery to battalion, including time as CCO and CO Troops aboard USS Mobile, USS Dubuque, USS Frederick (generally a month or two at sea). Was also on navy staff as Naval Gunfire Officer, serving for short periods on LantFleet cruisers and destroyers during qualifications. Also spent lots of time overseas as you did.
So - we're at an impasse: you think Capt Crozier is bad guy and did the wrong thing and I think he's a great guy and a rare navy leader who did the right thing against a stubborn and slow-moving chain of command.
Shall we agree to disagree? Thank you for being that one-in-a-million who served his country with great distinction.
Chainmail,
Never said he was a bad guy. He chose poorly and for reasons I cannot understand.
I see a carrier and carrier group as about the size of a division, maybe a corps, 12 to 30k personnel, floating city, mobile and fully equipped. And he was in port.
I’m thinking about a grunt platoon in the jungle or desert or mountains, with a combat medic, maybe few. No organic mobility or med, soldiers and Marines get sick, need surgery, etc. They await the next resupply or get a ride on a medevac, if mission/situation allows.
Even then, that doesn’t get sent to the platoon cdrs buddies or support staff in the clear if at all. Ops makes the call.
It seems that the captain cried foul, and that’s why he got fired. The big navy wasn’t moving fast enough?
He was on a floating city. No options? Okay.
Thanks for your service as well.
As a former trooper and NCO, I too had issue with the mentality of some officers regarding the troops. But having been both, in peace and combat, mission is first, troops always. Iow, an impossibility to achieve perfection without risking one, the other or both....
The burden of command. Lived for it, died a bit over it too.
As we both know, one aww shit costs at least 100 attaboys.
As I understand it, Crozier's main obstacle was the Battle Group Commander on his own ship - meanwhile he's watching the rapid spread aboard a large box with a single air handling system.
Navy ships are unique in another way: everybody is a specialist. Most sailors undergo rigorous training in their specialties before they're assigned to a carrier and both the nuclear-powered ship and the complex air group needs each one of them to perform or the consequences will be grave.
I used to evaluate ship's COs as "liking Marines or hating Marines" (about a 1:3 ratio in practice) but the real difference was Imperial Commander vs leader of men and from what I have seen and read, Crozier was of the latter group.
Congrats to your son. You should be very, very proud. And a special thanks to a Vietnam vet.
Yes it was in port but that does not mean they could not have told him to stay off it.
Still, I don’t have specific knowledge of the usn, but joint or army likely is similar.
All suffer from intent/execution lag and inexact coms/understanding.
That doesn’t give a subordinate CDR cause to go nearly public, but rather use the chain of command and IG channels.
The chief of naval ops, cheif of staff, secnav and secdef apparently think so too.
Regards.
I have gone around the Chain a couple of times and survived: that only works if you're absolutely sure that you're right and willing to suffer for it.
I hear you.
The chain as a whole works, but it’s cumbersome and subject to”the doesn’t stop with me, as I take no risk” mentality.
One of the reasons I retired.
Just about the same reason that I retired - a lot of stupidity and backdoor crap. I discovered that the foundation document for the acquisition of all types of ammunition was drastically (70%) reduced thanks to a cooked “study” by an outside contractor. When I voiced my concern, I was told that “I was a loose cannon that needs to be lashed down” and told to butt out. We paid for it in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Been retired since 07, worked contact for a bit, I f you ever watched Benghazi, that seemed to be spot on as to treatment by the official types.
Not sure how it works in the corps, but my engineer manager seemed to like to send me oconus every other year, while REMFs sat in the same desk chair indefinitely, then told me I’d not be selected for outright bn command, as I was too old....
But otherwise I lived in he troops and my wife finally reminded about who I slept with and who’s children the kids upstairs were.
My first 1SG told me in 1984 that I’d know when it was time.... James E Hudson, great NCO. He was right.
I’m only 58.5 yo, so living life for my family and my savior. Still healthy, other than a few boo-boos and osteoarthritis courtesy of life.
I hope you are well.
Semper Fidelis, Semper Paratus.
We served our country with energy, imagination, selflessness, and love.
Congratulations on a fine career!
Hope you and your family weather the virus well and thrive.
Semper Fi!
BINGO!
The Captain, one of the good old boys, sent a five page letter to 20 plus people.
How can that be a good thing?
Well, Sr said I was a pain in the arse, and they were correct.
Same to you and yours.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.