I am really not upset by the contents of the videos. Mostly harmless. Even Corinne Reilly, the Ledger-Star reporter who broke the story, stated in an interview that she really saw nothing wrong with the videos, it was the seniority and position of the person who delivered them with which she had issues. Remember, these happened every Saturday night for sixteen or so months. The clips you are seeing is only someone’s idea of the very raunchiest.
Build a thousand bridges….
From my previous posts, I forgot to mention that the back-to-back extended deployments during which this is reported to have happened was in support of our efforts in the Indian Ocean, weeks and months of continuous operations in very hot conditions. Hardly the time or place for teamwork building morale exercises.
Certainly, but you would think a senior officer would show better judgment on what is an appropriate morale booster and what can give the Navy a black eye if released to the public.
After, between facebook and a few other sources, reading literally thousands of reader comments, a few things begin to emerge. He was a fair and competent leader. The troops, especially the enlisted, looked forward to these Saturday night episodes. Those who have been deployed under extreme conditions for extended periods understand the morale issues and how these videos can be productive and are in support of the skippper. Those most critical, for most part have never been on a ship or even served.
Those most critical are probably sitting at their desks in really nice offices on the E-ring of the building I’m in right now, overlooking the Potomac and asking themselves, “Is this guy for real? Even we make raunchy jokes, but we do it behind closed doors and don’t send it out via videotape to an entire Carrier’s worth of troops. Where is this guy’s judgment? I’m sure he’ll make a fine civilian.”
Captain Honors is a well-liked and respected skipper. He has been instrumental in getting the oldest ship in the Navy operationally ready for an extended deployment in the Mid-East. Both the Airwing and the ship have set several records during workups in preparation for this deployment. If Capt Honors is relieved, it will do irreversible damage to the well being of the crew and the ability to accomplish it’s mission. His superiors realize this. One or two with a little backbone and he may retain his command.
Lots of guys just like him (competent, good leader, well respected) also got themselves in hot doo-doo over the Tailhook scandal, mostly just for being there and not for participating in the more “questionable” activities. I’m sure he is well aware of what happened to their careers.
Look, like JAM stated I HAVE seen and participated in “boys being boys” behavior a time or two. Even during deployments and wartime. I just had (and still have) the common sense to participate in these activities NOT IN PUBLIC, to a limited audience I knew very well. The fact that this commander’s attitude was “I’m leading this “boys being boys behavior”--in fact, I’m going to shove it in my entire ship’s face. And Tough-Nookies to anyone who gets upset by it” just demonstrates his lack of common sense and judgment to those in his Chain of Command above him, who are probably right now planning his retirement ceremony for him.
Personally, I also grew up in a less-PC, pre-Tailhook military; I also wasn’t stupid and learned from that series of unfortunate events to keep this Animal House behavior only amongst those I knew wouldn’t 1) be offended, and 2) take it public. If this Commander’s idea of building morale for the enlisted young troops was to act like he was Otter from the Delta House, how can he not expect Dean Wormer (the CNO) not to put him on double-secret probation? Besides, I thought the Big E had “65” in big bold numbers on it’s bridge, and not the Greek letters Delta Tau Omega.
The motives for making this public now have been questioned. Rightfully so. Possibly a rival who felt he deserved the career this guy was on instead. Possibly a subordinate who held a grudge for a past offense or reprimand. The scenarios are endless. But the point remains, he loaded the gun that was used on to bring him down by himself—no one to else to blame for this friendly fire incident.
And as to “those who aren’t there don’t know what it is like”. Well, the only answer to that is the obvious – it doesn’t matter place, time, or scenario. It’s been beaten in our craniums since Tailhook that this behavior IS NOT acceptable ANYWHERE in the military. The leadership likes the public perception that our officer corps is populated only by warrior monks—smart intellectuals, chaste and pure in morals and character, fierce only on the battlefield. To act like you haven’t got this message (and in this case, like you don’t even care and give a damn if anyone gets offended by it) only brings into question your judgment and ability to lead.
A valuable lesson for all the future young officers who peruse these forums.