Reading the Boards

One CNO bong'd ashore.

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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

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... 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.//

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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.//

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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.//

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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.