Author: captain1610

Executive Officer Tip # 2013-091 – A little about awards

What does an MSM mean if the #1 CO and the #10 CO share the same level of award?  What does it mean to award an MSM to the #1 CO at the O5 level, if LCDR AOs on the staff get the same award? Our awards process is out of order.  Nearly all can see it and agree to it but who will fix it?  No one !  How many officers are still writing their own awards?  Too many.  It’s just wrong on so many levels.

Executive Officer Tip #2013-050

I’ve gone back in the history books to look for help for you both.  I found “On His Watch: Admiral Zumwalt’s Efforts to institutionalize Strategic Change”.  The scale of what you and the CO must do is not as large but the approaches he took provide some great lessons.  You have already probably taken advantage of the first lesson and that is “get started” before you have to start.  He and a small staff began their work about 30 days before he became CNO.  You’re preparing yourself now for your new responsibilities.  Zumwalt called his effort “Project 60” which included 22 discrete initiatives he planned to undertake within the first 60 days of becoming CNO.  As you discussed at CLC PXO school, the CO has about 100 weeks in command.  Those 100 weeks are valuable and can’t be wasted.
You and the CO will be looking at:
1) What might be done?
2) What can be done?
3) What should be done?
4) What will you actually do?
Once you come up with your 100 week plan, you should share it with the command.  Be bold and share it with your ISIC and higher command.
Zumwalt said the best advice he received from the former CNOs was to “have a follow-up system on what has been done to carry out your plans, otherwise they just won’t get done.
 
Work with an eye toward building repeatable process and procedures that will sustain the command and her Sailors when you are going.  Get everyone there working toward consistent incremental improvement.  A huge goal can be achieved with small steps if you are moving things forward 24/7/365.

Cryptologic Technician Technical Chief (IDW/SW) Christian Michael Pike

Chief Petty Officer Christian Michael Pike, 31, of Peoria, Arizona died March 13, 2013 in Landstuhl, Germany as a result of combat related injuries sustained on March 10 while conducting stability operations in Maiwand District, Afghanistan. He was assigned to West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Support Activity ONE.  He attended Peoria high school, graduating in 2000. Chief Pike joined the Navy in 2001 and following recruit training in Great Lakes, Illinois, he was assigned to the Naval Technical Training Center Corry Station for Cryptologic Technician Technical (CTT) “A” School followed by assignment to USS CLEVELAND.  In 2007, he transferred to Navy Information Operations Command Georgia before reporting to Naval Special Warfare Support Activity ONE on July 25, 2011.

Two notable Marines: Top Rogers and PVT Roznowski – generations apart (This was written in 2002)

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.

    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.

    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.

    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.  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. 

    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.

    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.”  Top, as you conclude your career I say, “continue to march.”  And I hope you make it into heaven because God knows you have raised enough hell.

Commander Mike Lambert’s vignette at Top Roger’s retirement ceremony at the Corry Chapel in 2002.

My favorite TED-like Talk

My conversation with CDR Heritage, the fearless one

Hugh MacLeod’s amazing work is available at www.gapingvoid.com
I am a huge fan of TED talks and try to watch one each day for inspiration. This “TED-like” talk is a real good one from one of our Shipmates – Commander Sean Heritage.  I’ve wanted to do one of these TED Talks myself and read the book about How to Deliver A TED Talk.  Doing so requires one to be fearless and fortunately Sean Heritage is exactly that. Below is his introduction to the talk.  It’s only 19 minutes long and is well worth your time.

“It was late December of 2012 and I had just finished my list of goals for 2013, or so I thought. The week prior to finalizing my list, a mentor had lent me the book How to Deliver A TED Talk.  He had known how much I enjoy watching TED Talks and that I had a desire to deliver one of my own someday.  During the drive to the Maryland Shore to celebrate New Year’s Eve with friends, I decided to take advantage of being a passenger and read the book. It didn’t take me long to decide that my list for 2013 was no longer complete.  I needed to add “Deliver a TED-like Talk” to the list. Given how selective TED is, I knew better than to commit to a true TED Talk, so I went with a “TED-like Talk” (goals ought to be both meaningful AND achievable, right?). Earlier in the year, I had lobbied my leadership to allow me and a couple others to create a TEDx Forum for the Navy’s Cryptologic Community (of which I am a proud member), but due to budget constraints I was understandably unable to get my seniors to “Yes”. Undaunted, I knew I would be able to find an opportunity to get outside of my comfort zone and deliver a TED-like talk to a willing audience. Sure enough, in February one of my proteges (who like so many others double as mentor) identified an opportunity and brought it to my attention. The National Security Agency (NSA) was hosting a TED-like Forum by the name of “Kinetics”. Committed to walk the walk, there was no way I was going to let this opportunity pass me by.  I pitched the Kinetics Team on my concept and they accepted immediately.”

 You can watch the video HERE.

Check out Hugh MacLeod’s amazing work HERE.

XO Prep Recommendation 2013-049

In 2013, I sent out approximately 150 recommendations on preparing to assume and executing duties as Executive Officer. 

This is tip #049:

I was thinking you should prepare some things for the CO’s arrival.  You should produce a mirror document of the CNO’s Sailing Directions for your command.  You could also have your Sailors work on a Navigation plan to chart your way to Command Excellence.  Give your Sailors the pride of authoring their own plan.  And, you should begin work now on a “Position Report” for the CO to send to your Immediate Superior In Command (ISIC) at the 6 month point.  Your Sailors want to operate at a higher level – an EXTRAORDINARY level, if you will.  

Isn’t good "good enough"?

One of the skippers I tried to mentor some years ago had the attitude that good is “good enough”.  No amount of talking, writing, cajoling, or even begging (by me and others) convinced him to change his mind.  I can’t bring myself to think that he was right in his thinking. “Good enough” did get him promoted and it did get him a pretty nice medal from the Navy.  “Good enough” got him those things.  “Good enough” may be fine for the individual but the command deserves excellence for the Sailors.

What “good enough” didn’t get:

  • promotions for the Sailors.
  • a command reputation for excellence or anything beyond mediocrity.
  • respect from Sailors, peers or seniors.
  • a command prepared for IG inspection.
  • recognition for the command’s mission accomplishment.
  • Sailors’ pride in their command.

The list goes on but then it becomes too specific.  I remain convinced that good is not “good enough.”

The Navy Way

Ever wonder how to do something in the Navy?  You don’t usually have to wonder or guess.  If there is a way the Navy wants it done, you’ll find guidance in a notice, instruction, manual or other directive.  The Navy way works nearly every time.  If you think your way is better, help rewrite the notice, instruction, manual or directive.