Monday, September 26, 2011

Reading the Boards

One CNO bong'd ashore.
UNCLASSIFIED//

RTTUZYUW RHSSXYZ0001 2661259-UUUU--RHSSSUU.
ZNR UUUUU
R 231252Z SEP 11
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
AL NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N00//
TO NAVADMIN
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 280/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N00/SEP//
SUBJ/CNO FAREWELL MESSAGE TO THE FLEET//
RMKS/1. IT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST PRIVILEGE AND HIGHEST HONOR TO SERVE AS YOUR CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS. YOUR TALENT, DEDICATION,AND INITIATIVE AS UNITED STATES SAILORS DURING THIS TIME OF WAR AND CHANGE HAVE MADE OUR NAVY THE MOST CAPABLE AND READY NAVAL FORCE THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN. I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF WHAT YOU DO AND HOW EXCEPTIONALLY WELL YOU DO IT.
2. OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS AT SEA, IN THE AIR, ON THE GROUND, AND IN CYBERSPACE YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF OUR SHIPS AND MORE THAN 50,000 SAILORS ARE DEPLOYED TODAY, INCLUDING 12,000 SAILORS ON THE GROUND IN CENTRAL COMMAND AND MORE THAN 8,000 INDIVIDUAL AUGMENTEES AROUND THE WORLD. YOU KNOW THIS FIRSTHAND BECAUSE YOU EXPERIENCE THE STEADY PACE OF OPERATIONS OUR NAVY HAS SUSTAINED OVER THE LAST DECADE FROM THE FRONT LINES IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN TO THE SEA LINES OF COMMUNICATION IN THE PACIFIC AND INDIAN OCEANS. YOU ARE THE REAL CAPABILITY OF OUR NAVY. YOU ARE IN EVERY OCEAN AND ON EVERY CONTINENT. YOU TAKE THE FIGHT TO THOSE WHO WISH US HARM. YOU PREVAIL AGAINST PIRATES, TRAFFICKERS, AND TERRORISTS. YOU DELIVER VITAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN THE WAKE OF DISASTERS ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE WHEREVER NEEDED. YOU PREVENT CONFLICT AND DEMONSTRATE U.S. COMMITMENT TO ALLIES AND PARTNERS THROUGH YOUR PERSISTENT, CREDIBLE FORWARD PRESENCE AND VARIED MARITIME OPERATIONS. YOU EPITOMIZE FLEXIBILITY AND AGILITY AS OUR NAVY RESPONDS RAPIDLY AND INNOVATIVELY TO EMERGING CRISES AND UNEXPECTED DEMANDS.
3. THESE ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE COME WITH A PRICE. EVERY DAY, I AM INSPIRED BY THE TREMENDOUS SACRIFICES YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES MAKE FOR OUR NAVY AND FOR OUR NATION. THANK YOU FOR SERVING. YOU ARE THE FINEST SAILORS WHO HAVE EVER SAILED.
4. I AM RELIEVED TODAY BY ADMIRAL JONATHAN GREENERT. HE IS AN EXPERIENCED LEADER AND OPERATOR WHOSE SOUND JUDGMENT AND DEVOTION TO OUR NAVY WILL KEEP US READY, CAPABLE, AND DOMINANT WELL INTO THE FUTURE. OUR NAVY IS IN EXCELLENT HANDS.
5. ELLEN AND I WISH EACH OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS. I AM PROUD TO HAVE SERVED WITH YOU.
6. RELEASED BY ADMIRAL G. ROUGHEAD, U.S. NAVY.//
BT
#0001
NNNN

... and we have a new CNO.
R 231526Z SEP 11
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N00//
TO NAVADMIN
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 282/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N00/SEP//

SUBJ/CNO CHANGE OF COMMAND//

RMKS/1. AT 1055L TODAY, ADMIRAL JONATHAN GREENERT RELIEVED ADMIRAL GARY ROUGHEAD AS THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.

2. ALL CURRENT ORDERS AND DIRECTIVES REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

3. RELEASED BY ADMIRAL GREENERT, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.//

Ten minutes later: D&G.
R 231536Z SEP 11
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N00//
TO NAVADMIN
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 283/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N00/SEP//

SUBJ/CNO MESSAGE TO THE FLEET//

RMKS/1. TODAY, I AM HONORED TO BECOME YOUR 30TH CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS. ADMIRAL ROUGHEAD TURNED OVER TO ME THE GREATEST NAVY IN THE WORLD.

2. I AM THE SON OF A STEEL WORKER FROM BUTLER, PA. GROWING UP WITH FOUR SISTERS AND MY BROTHER, MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME AT AN EARLY AGE THE VALUE OF HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE, AND INTEGRITY. THE OPPORTUNITIES THE NAVY GAVE ME OVER THESE PAST 36 YEARS PUT ME ON A JOURNEY FROM WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TO SERVING AS CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS TODAY. I CONSIDER MYSELF AN EXAMPLE OF THE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES OUR NAVY AFFORDS EACH OF US EVERY DAY.

3. MY THREE TENETS TO ADDRESS OUR CHALLENGES AND ORGANIZE, TRAIN, AND EQUIP THE NAVY, ARE PROVIDED HERE:

A. WARFIGHTING FIRST: WARFIGHTING IS AT THE CORE OF OUR EXISTENCE. WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR ABILITY TO FIGHT AND WIN.

B. OPERATE FORWARD: WE ARE MOST EFFECTIVE OPERATING FORWARD AROUND THE WORLD, ENSURING ACCESS TO THE MARITIME CROSSROADS TO ENSURE FREEDOM OF MANEUVER AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.

C. BE READY: WE WILL BE READY. OUR SAILORS WILL BE TRAINED, OUR SUBMARINES, SHIPS, AND AIRCRAFT WILL BE MAINTAINED, AND OUR SHORE COMMANDS WILL BE ENABLED TO SUPPORT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO YOUR JOB. WE WILL BE JUDICIOUS WITH OUR RESOURCES, AND OUR SAILORS' AND CIVILIANS' TIME, WHILE PREPARING TO EXECUTE ASSIGNED MISSIONS.

4. I AM HONORED TO BE YOUR CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS. DRAWING UPON OVER TWO CENTURIES OF HERITAGE AND TRADITION, I TRUST THAT, WHEN CALLED UPON, YOU WILL PERFORM SUPERBLY. YOU EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SERVICE TO OUR NATION.

5. RELEASED BY ADMIRAL GREENERT, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.//


And another nine minutes later:
Subject: ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND
Originator: CNO WASHINGTON DC(UC)
DTG: 231545Z Sep 11
Precedence: ROUTINE
DAC: PERSONAL FOR
--------------------------------------------------
UNCLASSIFIED/
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N00//
TO NAVADMIN

UNCLAS PERSONAL FOR ALL FLAG OFFICERS, SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE, COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE FROM ADMIRAL GREENERT//N05400//
NAVADMIN 284/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N00/SEP//
SUBJ/ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND//
RMKS/1. TODAY, I RELIEVED ADMIRAL GARY ROUGHEAD AS CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS. ADMIRAL ROUGHEAD HAS STOOD AT THE HELM OF OUR GREAT NAVY FOR FOUR CHALLENGING YEARS. UNDER HIS STEADFAST LEADERSHIP, THE U.S. NAVY HAS EXCELLED IN MAJOR COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, SOUTHWEST ASIA, AND NORTH AFRICA. HE HAS LED AND ENABLED OUR NAVY TO TAKE THE FIGHT AGAINST EXTREMISTS FORWARD, AWAY FROM OUR SHORES, AND DETER OUR ENEMIES FROM ATTACKING OUR HOMELAND. AT THE SAME TIME, HE BALANCED OUR EFFORTS IN SUPPORTING TWO WARS WITH NUMEROUS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RELIEF OPERATIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE IN ORDER TO ASSIST OUR PARTNERS AND ALLIES IN THEIR TIME OF NEED. THROUGH HIS SAGE WISDOM, VISION, AND GUIDANCE, OUR NAVY HAS GROWN IN CAPABILITY AND EXPANDED GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIP. WE ARE ON A GOOD COURSE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES LOOMING ON THE HORIZON. I SALUTE ADMIRAL ROUGHEAD AND HIS WIFE ELLEN FOR THEIR STEADFAST DEVOTION AND SELFLESS SERVICE TO OUR NAVY AND OUR NAVY FAMILIES FOR THE LAST 38 YEARS.
2. I AM HONORED TO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE WORLD'S MOST CAPABLE NAVY AT A CROSSROADS IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY. AS OUR COUNTRY ADJUSTS TO A NEW STRATEGIC PARADIGM IN THE COMING YEARS, WE WILL ADAPT TO CHANGE AND DEFEND NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS WITH THE SAME SPIRIT AND WARRIOR ETHOS THAT HAVE BEEN EMBEDDED WITHIN THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR CULTURE AND HERITAGE SINCE OUR FOUNDING.
3. OUR NAVY'S ABILITY TO DEFEND NATIONAL INTERESTS HAS ALWAYS DEPENDED ON THE INITIATIVE AND RESOURCEFULNESS OF OUR COMMANDING OFFICERS. COMMAND IS ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF THE VERY FOUNDATION UPON WHICH OUR NAVY RESTS. YOU HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE "CHARGE OF COMMAND." YOU WERE SELECTED FOR COMMAND BY SENIOR OFFICERS WHO JUDGED YOU WORTHY, READY AND THE BEST QUALIFIED TO LEAD SAILORS, AND THEY DID SO BASED UPON SUSTAINED SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR RESPECTIVE CAREERS. TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED. I EXPECT COMMANDING OFFICERS AT ALL LEVELS TO BE FULLY FLUENT IN THE THREE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF COMMAND - AUTHORITY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH THE AUTHORITY COMMENSURATE WITH YOUR RESPONSIBILITY - EXERCISE YOUR AUTHORITY WISELY. WITH RESPONSIBILITY COMES ACCOUNTABILITY. I EXPECT THAT YOU WILL MAINTAIN THE HIGH STANDARDS REQUIRED OF COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND HOLD THE MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMAND TO THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS THAT I HOLD YOU. ACCOUNTABILITY IS BASED ON TRUST. I TRUST IN YOU; YOU MUST BUILD THIS SAME TRUST WITH THE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMAND. BUILD THIS TRUST THROUGH YOUR PERSONAL INTERACTIONS AND DEMONSTRATE YOUR CHARACTER THROUGH PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE, GOOD JUDGMENT, FAIRNESS, COMMON SENSE, AND RESPECT, BOTH UP AND DOWN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. WHEN THIS TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE INSTITUTIONALIZED IN THE ROUTINE OF COMMAND, THE RESULT IS OUR COLLECTIVE LONG TERM SUCCESS. FOSTERING A CLIMATE OF TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS YOUR DUTY AS COMMANDING OFFICERS IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. DO NOT LET ME DOWN.
4. WE WILL USE THREE MAIN TENETS TO ACHIEVE OUR VISION. THE FIRST TENET, "WARFIGHTING FIRST," MUST BE AT THE VERY CORE OF OUR EXISTENCE. ALL OF OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CAPABILITIES, DEVELOP PEOPLE, AND STRUCTURE OUR ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE GROUNDED IN THIS FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE. WHEN CALLED UPON, NAVY AND OUR CLOSEST JOINT PARTNER, THE U.S. MARINE CORPS, WILL DELIVER CREDIBLE COMBAT CAPABILITY TO ASSURE ACCESS, SEA CONTROL, AND POWER PROJECTION IN ORDER TO FIGHT AND WIN OUR NATION'S WARS.
5. OUR SECOND TENET IS "OPERATE FORWARD." OPERATING FORWARD IN THE GLOBAL MARITIME CROSSROADS, THE NAVY PROVIDES THE NATION AND OUR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP WITH OFFSHORE OPTIONS IN ORDER TO DETER, INFLUENCE AND PREVAIL IN ANY CONFLICT WE ENCOUNTER IN TODAY'S UNCERTAIN ENVIRONMENT. OUR FORWARD DEPLOYED POSTURE WILL BE READY AND PERSISTENT, USING A COMBINATION OF ROTATIONAL DEPLOYMENTS, FORWARD BASES, AND COOPERATIVE SECURITY LOCATIONS. OUR FORWARD PRESENCE WILL BUILD ON AND STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND ALLIANCES WHERE SEA LANES, RESOURCES, AND VITAL U.S. INTERESTS INTERSECT.
6. OUR THIRD TENET IS "BE READY" TO FACE ANY CHALLENGE. THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIT READINESS (MATERIEL INTEGRITY AND OPERATIONAL PROFICIENCY) IS EMBEDDED AND INCULCATED IN EVERY SAILOR EARLY IN THEIR TRAINING. HOWEVER, WE CANNOT BE A WHOLE NAVY WITHOUT A MOTIVATED, RELEVANT, AND DIVERSE TEAM OF SAILORS, CIVILIANS, AND FAMILIES. THIS LEVEL OF READINESS REQUIRES THAT EACH AND EVERY SAILOR BE PHYSICALLY, MEDICALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY, SPIRITUALLY, AND ADMINISTRATIVELY READY TO DEPLOY WORLDWIDE. IN ADDITION TO OUR SAILORS AND CIVILIANS, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR NAVY FAMILIES, WHO WE MUST GUIDE AND ASSIST IN HANDLING INCREASINGLY DYNAMIC SCHEDULES, MOUNTING OPERATIONAL STRESS, LONGER SEPARATIONS AND THE POTENTIAL INJURY OR LOSS OF THEIR SAILOR. ACCORDINGLY, FAMILY READINESS IS ALSO A PART OF "BEING READY." WHILE WE HONE OUR INDIVIDUAL, UNIT, AND FAMILY READINESS, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH DIMINISHING RESOURCES. WE MUST ADOPT AND EMBRACE A CULTURE OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND JUDICIOUSNESS. WE MUST BE READY AND WILLING TO MAKE ANALYTICALLY SOUND, HARD CHOICES IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD. FURTHER, WE MUST ALSO LOOK FOR INNOVATIVE WAYS OF MAINTAINING OUR FORWARD DEPLOYED AND READY POSTURE, WHILE SEEKING EFFICIENCIES AND REDUCING COSTS WHEN WE CAN.
7. I ENTER THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS FULLY AWARE THAT WE HAVE DAUNTING CHALLENGES TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. I ALSO HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF PRIDE IN YOU AND AM CONFIDENT ABOUT THE FUTURE. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROVIDE A NAVY THAT IS READY TO EXECUTE TODAY'S MISSION TODAY, AND TO MEET TOMORROW'S CHALLENGES. I AM CONFIDENT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO RISE TO THE OCCASION - AS YOUR PREDECESSORS HAVE DONE SINCE OUR NATION'S FOUNDING - AND LEAD OUR SAILORS TO SUCCESS!
8. GREENERT SENDS.//

Observations:
REF DTG 231252Z SEP 11:
- Admiral Roughead, where have you been? What a great outgoing message though. Spot on, I don't think I would change a single thing.
REF DTG 231526Z SEP 11:
- Admiral Greenert. Para 2 is of very bad form. No one cares that your were associated with steel workers. It isn't about you or your personal narrative - especially in this context. Think your story is significant? Take a number. Let us speak of this no longer.
- Para 3 is outstanding. "ORGANIZE, TRAIN, AND EQUIP" is essential as it reminds everyone what your charter is as CNO. Nice message - short and to the point.
REF DTG 231545Z Sep 11:
- That is a great message. I have three takeaways.
- First: "THREE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF COMMAND - AUTHORITY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY." Yes, and I hope for the last of those three we will see not just to the CDR/CAPT level - but higher.
- Second: if it is important, you need to repeat it: "TRUST." We talked about it last week, and I am exceptionally happy to see you emphasize it. Often times we talk too much about "loyalty" and not enough about "trust." Nice.
- Third: "WARFIGHTING FIRST" - "OPERATE FORWARD" - "BE READY": those are a top three that everyone can remember, support, and infuse in to their plan of the day. I like it; a lot.

I wish you and our Navy the best possible next few years with you as CNO.

35 comments:

Dave said...

With regard to the last message:  I guess " Personal for" doesn't have any meaning to today's offciers who receive them.  Otherwise, it wouldn't be blabbed all over the internet.

Standards!

Dave

Adversus Omnes Dissident said...

I disagree WRT Greenert's message.  I took it as a departure from Roughead / Mullen's diversity industry kick.  His message was that "I am not a BlueBlood Artistocrat Naval Officer" but the Navy measured him on his potential, his talents, and his performance throughout the years and look where he ended up.  Notice he did not mention diversity in his message.  His imperatives--codified in Title 10--were not the former CNO's.  Nowhere did he say "Diversity is my number 1 priority" as we have heard for so many years...

Adversus Omnes Dissident said...

Dave, agreed.  That being said, I think it was a good message.  My personal favorite part was "Professional Competence."

Competence should never be assumed solely on rank / position.....at least not in today's Navy.

cdrsalamander said...

You should see how it was emailed.  There are "Personal Fors" and there are P4s .... there is a difference.

cdrsalamander said...

I'm confused - do you disagree with Greenert or my comments?  

If me, you need to re-read my comments.

LT B said...

At a guess, I am thinking he doesn't have a huge problem w/ the background info on the incoming CNO. 

My heart sang when I read "WARFIGHTING FIRST."  I agree his accountability portion should not just look to the unwashed masses, but to the rarefied air in DC, and other FOGO concentrations.  Our Fleet is broken, and the thought that we can just look at the juniors to fix it is a bit unfair.  The FOGOs have made decisions that have gotten us to where we are today.  Don't want to fire any?  Fine, well take some of the pet PPT projects off the table and build real ships taken to sea by real Sailors.  Diversity?  Ignore it.  Embrace all, treat all with respect and dignity, roll everybody up in our Sailorness.  Not our special interest group composite.  WARFIGHTING FIRST   I applaud that.  Let's do it.

UltimaRatioRegis said...

We shall see if Admiral Greenert means it.  I hope so.  War will come on someone's watch.  Perhaps his, or his successor, or the successor to him.  And when it does, combat effectiveness and winning battles on the high seas will be all that matters.  All the diversity/sensitivity/PC nonsense will be a parenthetical footnote, unless such obsessions prove one of the strings to our undoing.  Then, those things will become a cautionary tale.  Too late for us, but a cautionary tale nonetheless.

sid said...

Warfighting first..?

Wow.

What a concept!

e ringer said...

yikes.  the word, diverse, was only used once!

DeltaBravo said...

Noticed that too... and it wasn't till paragraph 6 of the last missive. 

Andy said...

<span>REF DTG 231526Z SEP 11: This one I suspect he wrote himself.  The subsequent message I suspect the Flag Writer and much lesser aparatchniks drafted.  At least I counted the "D-word" only once.  Perhaps a mere nod in the direction of his civilian/SES masters. Here's wishing success in making this significant course change stick.
</span>

DeltaBravo said...

I took it that he has a warm fuzzy feeling about steel and maybe he'd like to build some new ships out of it again?  (Instead of that pesky aluminum.)

I think I'm going to go drink some coffee...

Adversus Omnes Dissident said...

I didn't mind the background.  I took it as "stop whining that you can't get ahead" as well as a backhand @ the diversity industry.  "I'm a western pennsyltucky nobody who gets to be CNO...anyone can do anything in this navy if they are good enough."  Maybe that is not what he intended, but it is what I read between the lines.  It put the issue to sleep...we have bigger fish to fry, ala "warfighting first" as LT B stated.

Adversus Omnes Dissident said...

and in that case, I believe that he was stating "diverse" as in diverse skill sets, not just "rainbow coalition."

cdrsalamander said...

AOD,
I wish that were true, but it is clear that he is refering to "D"iversity and not "d"iversity.  I didn't ping on him as my thoughts are in line with Andy above. In this political environment, he had to throw a bone - and I think he did it just fine.

Always watch actions not words; but considering what we have read out of that office over the last few years, I think Greennert is off to a good start.  We should give him all the support and running room his years of service ask that we give him.

We'll let actions speak.  He will do the best he can as he sees fit.  He wasn't my choice, but he may be in a few months ...... ;) ..... or not.

FDNF'er said...

While I like to think that we have nowhere to go go but up after the junta that has been around for the past 4+ years, the new CNO's remarks reek of "win".  As others have posted below, let's hope his actions follow his fine words.  There are some tough decisons coming around the corner so he won't have too much time to settle into his new office before stepping on the toes of those around him.  Good luck, sir!

The Usual Suspect said...

It is only Day 1...watch and observe. Repeat.

e ringer said...

i was at the coc or whatever it was called on friday.  greenert sounded a lot more energetic - i actually wanted to follow this guy somewhere. 

he used the 'i escaped from the west pa coal mines' meme in his speech but it worked better in that setting (vice the msg). 

Steel City said...

I truly understand and love the western PA comments.  Same mentality that is bred into the professional football organization from our region.  To summarize...hard work, never quit, integrity, all that matters is results.  Trying hard without results gets you nowhere.  That said with regard to running the Navy it is irrelevant from here on out.  So far so good...long, long way to go.

Byron said...

Phib, check your email box from my home email..new info

Greenert: Sounds good...so did that last used car I bought. Need to see some miles on his o-d before I'm comfortable...not a word about how screwed up shipbuilding is though.

Grandpa Bluewater said...

Hard times coming, get ready.  Acta non verba  (Deeds, not words).

MCPO said...

The new CNO has nowhere to go but up!!  Look who has goone before him...Roughead and Mullins...Anything is an improvement! 

Anonymous said...

"Warfighting First" cannot coexist with the Diversity Industry.

Adversus Omnes Dissident said...

No talk about AEGIS Basline 7.0 interoperability issues, either Byron.  Can't cram everything into your opening monologue...

Anonymous said...

His successor, more likely.  But the measure of a peacetime CNO is the Fleet he leaves to the wartime CNO.  It's why men like Admirals Moffett and Pratt are revered by serious students of Navy history.

Byron said...

AOD, with all due respect, would you say that the two main topics on CNO's briefing list is budget and the shipbuilding budget/mess?

Anonymous said...

Thank God we have a WARRIOR back at the helm

adm Rough "dick" head would said the following, the three most important things in my Navy are DIVERSITY, PERVERSITY, and POLICTICAL CORRECTNESS

Adversus Omnes Dissident said...

For Beltway bandits and armchair admirals, yes.  But for Joe Sailor out in the fleet, no.  The CNO's opening salvo to the fleet would be lost if all he talked about was his POM-14 submission and fine-tuning the N1, N8, N2/6 SPPs before locking them in PBIS.  I think that showing the fleet that we are focused on fighting and winning wars at a waterfront level is the right first message.  His message to the troops within the 5 sided puzzle palace will be made in person, in a series of introductory All Hands Calls.  His message about the challenges in maintenance / modernization, the decreasing number of ships and the end strength, shipbuilding and air frame purchases will be and should be made to a smaller, more relevant audience.  I think that the CMC would have done the same thing, and when it comes to leadership, I usually think of the Marines as the Gold Standard (at least in modern times).

Adversus Omnes Dissident said...

I appreciate your viewpoint though and respect your tremendous experience in shipbuilding.  I am concerned about this too; however I think that he played it right.

UltimaRatioRegis said...

Byron,

What would the incoming CNO say to his audience about shipbuilding? 

"I promise to have this un-a**ed right around the time you are all Rear Admirals and Master Chiefs"?

If he were addressing his flags, which he may, I would hope he would address such in spades, to include some guidance and a promise about accountability with NAVSEA, as well.

John said...

I think we have an adult leader in charge.  For a change.

Adversus Omnes Dissident said...

Step 1 would be rebuilding Navy Materiel Command, and abandonning the SYSCOM approach.  Step 2 would be reclaiming the engineering that we farm out to contractors to derive their own requirements and own proprietary systems as solutions to the requirements.  Step 3 would be hiring the engineers to execute step 2.  Step 4 would be pushing back on DoD 5000 (series) and JCIDS as relevant shipbuilding acquisition guidance.

Adversus Omnes Dissident said...

Oh yeah, and step 5 would be firing the acquisition professionals whose sole job, depth and bredth of experience is to push the paper associated with Step 4.

Adversus Omnes Dissident said...

After reading the follow-on stream of CNO message traffic and guidance, I'm going to disagree with you again, CDR.  I think he did mean "little d" diversity.  It is becoming a theme!

cdrsalamander said...

We will have to agree or disagree.... but in the main, it doesn't matter in the totality of the messages.