Do you Need "Character and Integrity?"

There is one thing I can tell you - you can't get men and women of character and integrity by training.
You can not build, develop, or create such things as character and integrity. It is part of your nature. It can only be demonstrated either organically or through trial. This is, in a word; sad. As one of my spies told me, this is just a kneejerk reaction to the recent spat of firings of Commanding Officers. Funny that this is only (for now) aimed at Naval Aviation, but it is what it is and you might as well enjoy it - the taxpayer is shelling out $250,000 for it. Instead of fixing the process that gives us Commanding Officers (i.e., how about interviewing them, rather than just a block-checking exercise in the "tank"), we seem to want to just fix the symptoms. If anyone thinks that C&I training will turn adults into something they aren't - they are delusional. But that isn't the point here, is it? The point is to put on a show and look like we are doing something. We are doing something, just nothing meaningful - a text book example of intellectual paralysis and bureaucratic entrenchment. Even the people who have created this reda55 know it isn't going to do much. Why else would you publish a tap dance outline? I wonder if Flag Officers will receive it? Oh, wait ....

BEHOLD!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Character and Integrity (C&I) training?
A: CNAF’s C&I training is a case study based training program that will promote character and integrity development across all officer and enlisted ranks.

Q: What is the purpose of C&I training?
A: C&I training will provide Command Leadership with the tools needed to effectively lead and train their personnel in character and integrity development. It will improve behavioral decision making, incorporate lessons learned from past mistakes, and provide a means for self-assessment. Ultimately, this training will help reduce C&I related incidents and their negative impacts to readiness.

Q: How was the training developed?
A: Because C&I related incidents have an adverse impact on readiness, CNAF leadership committed to developing an effective training tool for use at the command level. By applying an operational approach similar to Naval Aviation’s long-standing methods for crew resource management (CRM) and mishap investigations, CNAF staff members developed this training in consultation with a private firm that develops leadership training.

The training was beta tested on representative staffs and squadrons with favorable results, and based on feedback from the beta tests, some modifications were made to the case studies and analysis process.

Q. How will the training be given?
A: The intent is to deploy the training using a ‘train the trainer’ model similar to how the DADT Repeal training was provided. Initially, all Naval Air Force (active and reserve) Squadron and Wing leadership triads will be trained together as teams. After the leadership triad is trained they will provide the training to their commands. Aircraft carriers will also receive the training after the training teams have conducted the initial squadron and wing training.

[Leadership triad at the squadron level is the CO, XO and CMC; Type Wing Commodore, Deputy Commodore and CMC; and Carrier Air Wing CAG, DCAG and CMC. For aircraft carriers, the CO, XO and CMC as well as the HODs (Department Heads) and DLCPOs (Department Leading Chief Petty Officers) will receive the training as teams and the HODs/LCPOs will provide the training to their departments.]

Q: Will Type Commanders and subordinate Squadrons train together?
A: No, O-5 Leadership triads will train separately from O-6 Leadership triads. The training scenarios are tailored to specific audiences.

Q: When will initial fleet C&I training of leadership triads be conducted?
A: Training for squadrons and wings will begin in late March and continue through the end of June. Carrier training will begin in July. CNAF will notify each Wing Commodore when the C&I training team will be in their area and they will schedule their squadrons to receive the training. Deployed squadrons will be trained after their return from deployment. Carrier training schedule will be coordinated with each carrier based on operational schedules.
Q: After the leadership triad has completed C&I training, how soon will they be expected to train their personnel?
A: The expectation is to conduct the training as soon as possible in each command. COs will have flexibility in delivering the training to their commands based on their operational and training schedules. No specific deadline has been set, and we will solicit input during the initial leadership triad training.

Q: Who will train the leadership triads?
A: The training teams for the leadership triads are individually selected Post-Command Reserve Force Squadron (RESFORON) Officers and RESFORON CMC/SEL training teams. The leadership triad training is best facilitated by currently serving uniformed members of the Naval Aviation community who are not in the direct chain of command for the training audience. The training program and case study materials are all tailored to the aviation community, so having the training team come from that same background of aviation command and senior enlisted aviation leadership will enhance the training.

Q: How will these Training Teams be trained?
A: All members of the training teams have been individually selected by Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (CNAFR). They will complete a three-day training course conducted by the leadership training company CNAF has partnered with to develop the program. Their course will include the opportunity for each team to lead/facilitate a brief and case studies and receive feedback on their training performance.

Q: How will the Training Teams be funded?
A: All members of the training teams have been individually selected by Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (CNAFR), who will fund their ADT orders. These ADT funds were already programmed for FY12 and will be approximately $250K. There will be no cost to the commands who receive the training.

Q: How will the relevance and effectiveness of the scenarios be measured?
A: As the training is implemented we will assess the training critiques and, over time, through continued tracking of C&I incidents, we will be able to determine the training’s long-term effectiveness and modify the materials as needed.

Q: Why is Naval Aviation the only community receiving C&I Training?
A: CNAF leadership committed to developing an effective training tool for use at the command level because C&I related incidents have an adverse impact on readiness. This program has been specifically developed for the Naval Aviation community. While the concepts could be applied to any community in the Navy, the case-study approach is most effective when it is closely tailored for the training audience.

Q: Will C&I training become an annual requirement?
A: CNAF plans to sustain C&I training for Naval Aviation. Once the initial training has been complete we will seek fleet input before determining the appropriate periodicity and reporting mechanism.

Q: Can other leadership triads, like Naval Air Stations, attend C&I training?
A: We welcome their participation. Of course, if they fall under a different Echelon III command, we will not require them to receive or give this training to their people.

End note: Another demonstration why having too many STEM graduates is a bad idea. Why are we using the term, "leadership triads." Oh, that and there were two typos that I fixed above. I know; my posts are full of typos, but I have a chop chain of one and I do this while eating or on the phone. Triads? Really? Google it.