Sprog,
Let's be real using your death of a CO as an example. The Navy always has some one waiting in the wings to take a command.
The military is not very different than the corporate world because both do strategic personnel planning.
Common sense would dictate that if only this one officer can do this one position as a Field grade, not Flag, but Field (O6 is field) in a war time scenario, than the Navy is SOL and they have bigger issues than just this video.
Yes, it is a specific position and they need specific squares filled, but I highly doubt that this is their only go to guy.
As you stated XO positions are the learning grounds for the CO. Many of them are below the zone and are very capable.
This conversation is actually moot since they were not pulling out of port tomorrow, but a few weeks from now.
Bullet was nailed with assignments and job offers with only 48 hrs to respond as an O5. They have their back ups. Anyone who has ever associated with O6+ know they interview for these jobs. It isn't granted that you were XO on that ship you will become CO.
Walk around the Pentagon, and you will quickly see that many of the officers are buying time and filling squares. It will be a PITA to grab a guy/gal to take command for someone who just reported there after doing a sea tour, but let's be brutally honest...what O6 just off a sea tour is going to turn down the command even if it means 8-10 months at sea, knowing full well that they will get a star out of it?
As far as delaying, let's remember if they delay, that means another carrier would have to stay longer. Now you have a whole new morale issue because other members/families are impacted.
If the Navy can not find a replacement for Honors with weeks in advance you will see a whole new story come out for the media. That one will be entitled is the "Navy stretched too thin?"
For the avg American if that ship does not get underway on schedule or close to it, they will now be saying it is stretched too thin and that will create larger DOD issues.
I'm not sure The Suite Life of Zach and Cody is what I'd want to watch after working a 16-hour shift on the flight deck.
You have stated that you do not have military experience...these guys/gals are not living pre-1990. They have laptops, internet and portable DVD players. Disney is not their only option.
As a spouse, I would have much rather been in Bullet's shoes. He knew that.
Sorry, but cry me a river, you work 16 hrs in a career you chose. Spouses get left holding the bag. Bullet when he was in the green zone, got 30 minutes a day to himself. I was lucky for 5, and that was while I was in the shower. He lived his career dream, and I was left holding the bag so he could do it. I was the bill payer. I was the driver. I was the housekeeper. I was the one who hid the facts about the dangers their father was facing. I did it 7 days a week, 365 days a yr while I also worked my own career. I never had one regret, and still would turn back the clock to do it again, but this 16 hr workdays is BS when it comes to defending why any officer would go to this level. Moreover anyone who can defend them by saying it is just blowing off steam or stress.
I can make excuses all day long for my actions, but the key word here is
excuses.
To defend his actions with the excuse that it is a stressful environment weakens his case, because all it says to me, is he couldn't handle the pressure.
Anyone who wants to use pressure as an excuse. please try again. It is also becoming very apparent that the defense of this officer's actions flip flop from...morale boosting/relieving job stress, no replacement available, military life, and acceptable tv.
