This is an open nerve for me even after 14 yrs. My USNR CO at the time was actively trying to make flag and had below what I would term zero people skills.
To set the stage, I was drilling as part of the War College Reserve Unit which for decades had been a Volunteer Training Unit (non-pay) of senior officers
who assisted the War Gaming Dept on a number of the annual games. There were also a number of annual War College games that we ran fully by ourselves.
Just about our entire unit had over 20 years in and could have retired but chose to continue to contribute by drilling without pay and often at significant
expense. In my case I lived over 200 miles from NWC so the mileage and meals were significant personal expenses. The reasons for it being non-pay
were long in the past but when I left my last pay unit with 22 yrs service, I was about to retire when I was invited to join this unit. While we did not get
drill pay, we had ample opportunity to do active duty (for pay) at NWC throughout the year. Well a new CO came to our unit and proceeded to shut down
much of what we were doing and went in a different direction. Its the military and we all got that but separately, 8 of us (a third of the unit) proceeded to
retire within 3 months of each other. I don't know the details about the others but in my case, the CO endorsed my retirement letter and never said a word
to me as I left. I can't speak for anyone else but in my entire military career, I never had a subordinate leave that I didn't at least say goodbye and thanks and if
it was a retirement, I always made it public. Anyway, I just faded away and that was that. About 4 or so months later a good friend (flag officer) was visiting the
house and asked my why I didn't have any mementos of that assignment, even a plaque showing and I responded that I hadn't received any, not even the usual
certificate. He shook his head and changed the subject but two days later, the Chief of Staff of the War College called to apologize and low and behold, I
got a box fedexed to me with flag, certificates and plaque, etc. The next month the unit CO (previously mentioned) suddenly sent me a Plan of the Weekend
for the weekend that was going to start the next day with a retirement ceremony scheduled for 1000 on Saturday for the eight of us. I was over 200 miles away
without any reservations or time to plan the family's attendance so I sent regrets. Only one of our group was local and managed to be there for the ceremony
and the other seven of us missed it.
Despite time and other balms over the intervening years, I am still hurt and ashamed that my Navy would treat ANYONE that way after over a quarter century
of service. I've left a lot out here but rest assured, all of us had outstanding careers with no known reason for this other than the CO's personal attributes.
