If Admiral Harvey could ask, "WTF, over!" ...

... I'm sure he would. He can't/shouldn't - so I am going to join with Lex in asking; something is wrong. What is it?

Admiral Harvey outlines where we are,

Here's a summary of the ten Commanding Officer reliefs that occurred in 2010 and 2011 in U.S. Fleet Forces.

• USS THE SULLIVANS- Multiple operational incidents culminating with a buoy collision that damaged the port screw while deployed.
• USS JOHN L HALL - Collision with a pier while deployed
• USS TRUXTUN - Inappropriate relationship with a junior member of the wardroom.
• NCTS Bahrain - Inappropriate relationships with several members of the command.
• USS GUNSTON HALL - Sexual harassment, maltreatment of subordinates, assault, drunk and disorderly conduct. Command Master Chief (CMC) also relieved for failure to take appropriate action for inappropriate/unprofessional behavior.
• USS MEMPHIS - Cheating ring involving exams.
• NMCB 21 - Failure to address inappropriate/unprofessional behavior by subordinates. CMC also relieved for failure to take appropriate action for fraternization and unduly familiar relationships.
• USS ENTERPRISE - Exceptional lack of judgment while XO of ENTERPRISE.
• USS STOUT - Failure to take action to deter unprofessional behavior in overseas ports, hostile command climate. CMC also relieved for failure to correct a pervasive pattern of unprofessional behavior by the ship's crew.
• USS PONCE - Dereliction of duty, unprofessional conduct, favoritism, hostile command climate. Executive Officer (XO also relieved for being complicit by action and inaction in creating a hostile, unprofessional and unsafe environment onboard PONCE.

He also offers some very good advice for those in or want to be in the Command pipeline. Read it all.

Lex's ponderings, I am sure, echo many others' thoughts as they look at what is going on.

Something has changed, and I don’t believe its intolerance for buffoonery from flag officers – the standards are pretty darn clear. Instead, it must be something in the culture. We’re either raising people to positions of leadership that they’re not qualified for, or people have come to believe that wearing that command pin makes them somehow eight feet tall and bulletproof. Or maybe some combination of the two.

I bet there’s some fascinating analysis circulating within the flag ranks, but as for me, I’m mystified.

Like I commented over at Lex's place, there is something very wrong going on here. It's not ignorance - heck this stuff is pounded in your head. We know from the Baghram P-3 off the runway to a couple of ship groundings, there are significant issues with people having enough flight hours/underway time prior to Command - but the personal behavior stuff? You've got me.

Has the Navy changed, people changed - or a little of both? Something is out of balance.

I think we could use a more open discussion of the causes and punishment. We don't need to gibbet people from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - but we do need to do more than we are now. Fear and shame can work wonders for some personality types. Quite and cuddly ain't doing the trick anymore.