Taking Risks vs. Lowering Standards

The stand-up Admiral that he is, Admiral J.C. Harvey, Jr., CFFC, has a post up where he puts it out there and want to hear back from you. Yes, you.

That said, one area I have significant concern with is the confusion between “taking risk” and lowering standards. As Navy made hard decisions over the past six years to meet growing Combatant Commander force demands, come off the manpower glideslope, and fund recapitalization after the “procurement holiday” of the 1990s; we began to use phrases such as “taking risk.” Taking risk was often used to describe the actions that must be taken to “do more, with less.” What really occurred in some instances was we did more, but we did it less well and we lowered our standards.

As we recapitalize the fleet, meet Combatant Commander demand, and properly invest in the sustainment of our ships, submarines, and aircraft, we cannot lower the tried and true standards which have served our Navy for over 230 years. Recent incidents – HARTFORD, JAMES E WILLIAMS, and flight discipline lapses – are just some examples that illuminate areas where we must re-educate, reinvigorate, and reinforce the bedrock importance of our tried and true standards that run the gamut from how we operate, to how we maintain, to our conduct, and the concept of accountability. As a Fleet Commander, fewer resources means that there are things we will do less, but that must not result in doing things less well.

There you go. Don't say you didn't have a chance.

He has posted this in two places. Just to help him spot targets; my recommendation is that if you are active duty or USNR, comment over at his FFCBlog. If you are retired or civilian, comment over at USNIBlog. I left, sniff, my comments at USNIBlog if you are interested in them.