A Navy at War? - Part III

ADSW is "Active Duty for Special Work." That is a very limited pot of money that is used to bring a Reservist to Active Duty for a extended period of time.

The bit below is very personal to me. In the early days of IA, I spent countless hours trying, begging to get Reservists to fill IA. I actually had Reservists who were ready to pack their seabag and head to the desert, GTMO, HOA and a few other garden spots. The order was out; "I need an O5 or O5 select for 179 days in MNF-I, and I need the name in 10 days...." and others like it. We would have to rip out of a guy just off of Sea Duty and send him in. I would find Reservists who wanted the job, but their people would chant, "We don't have the ADSW....we don't have the ADSW...." No money.

The dirty little secret about the IAs (which I support as the work has to be done), BTW, is that it is a way to get work done without going over end-strength limits. You can cover two BSC with one body - and burn him while you were at it. If in 2003 you told me that at the dawn of 2008 we would still be doing this, I would have told you that you were just nuts; no organization would be so hide-bound that in the time it took to fight and win WWII we still wouldn't get this right. Well, I was wrong.

Back to the subject, a reader sent along a little example of what the Navy is spending its ADSW on. Bask in the rot. Just bask in it.

From: "xxxxx, William P LTJG COMNAVRESFORCOM, N33"
Date: December x, 2007 xx:xx PM CST
To: xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxxx.NAVY.MIL
Subject: Diversity Outreach: ADSW Opportunities for O4-O5 in Washington DC
Reply-To: "xxxxx, William P LTJG COMNAVRESFORCOM, N33"

Point of Contact: CDR Joe xxxxx, 703-614-xxxx, joseph.j.xxxxx@navy.mil

Billet Title #1: Diversity Outreach Director

Supported Command: N134, UIC 45997, Washington, DC

Grade / Designator, Rating: O-5 / 1000

Number Required: 1

Start Date: February 2008

Duration: 365 Days

Clearance Required: NONE

Type of Orders: ADSW-PCS (MPN-08-22-5432/MPN-09-22-5433)

Billet Description: The Diversity Outreach Director will provide oversight, management and coordination of all Diversity Branch Outreach personnel, efforts, programs and events. The Outreach Director will represent the N1 Diversity Directorate at outreach meetings, briefs and events as applicable. He or she will liaison with military, government and civilian organizations to increase Navy outreach to diversity groups and organizations, discover diversity best practices and improve public relations. The Outreach Director will also track diversity statistics, trends and issues, liaison with CNRC, and brief N1 on outreach efforts. The Outreach Director must be highly motivated, have excellent communication and writing skills, be confident briefing senior leadership, and easily establish and foster relationships with others. The position has a direct impact on Navy's ability to access, recruit and retain diversity Sailors and officers, and will contribute directly to one of the CNO's top priorities: Navy Diversity.

Special Qualifications Desired: NONE

Point of Contact: CDR Joe xxxxx, 703-614-xxxx, joseph.j.xxxxx@navy.mil

Billet Title #1: African American Outreach Lead

Supported Command: N134, UIC 45997, Washington, DC

Grade / Designator, Rating: O-4 / 1000

Number Required: 1

Start Date: February 2008

Duration: 365 Days

Clearance Required: NONE

Type of Orders: ADSW-PCS (MPN-08-22-5432/MPN-09-22-5433)

Billet Description: The African American Diversity Outreach Lead will be the primary N1 representative, liaison, coordinator and communicator of N1 Diversity Directorate outreach efforts to the African American community. The African American Outreach Lead will represent the N1 Diversity Directorate at outreach meetings, briefs and events and will liaison with military, government and civilian organizations to increase Navy outreach to the African American community, affinity groups and organizations, discover diversity best practices and improve public relations. He or she will also track African American statistics, trends and issues, liaison with CNRC, and brief N1 on outreach efforts. The African American Outreach Lead must be highly motivated, have excellent communication and writing skills, be confident briefing senior leadership, and easily establish and foster relationships with others. This position has a direct impact on Navy's ability to access, recruit and retain African American Sailors and officers, and will contribute directly to one of the CNO's top priorities: Navy Diversity.

Special Qualifications Desired: NONE
Point of Contact: CDR Joe xxxxx, 703-614-xxxx, joseph.j.xxxxx@navy.mil

Billet Title #1: Hispanic Outreach Lead

Supported Command: N134, UIC 45997, Washington, DC

Grade / Designator, Rating: O-4 / 1000

Number Required: 1

Start Date: April 2008

Duration: 365 Days

Clearance Required: NONE

Type of Orders: ADSW-PCS (MPN-08-22-5436/MPN-09-22-5437)

Billet Description: The Hispanic Diversity Outreach Lead will be the primary N1 representative, liaison, coordinator and communicator of N1 Diversity Directorate outreach efforts to the Hispanic community. The Hispanic Outreach Lead will represent the N1 Diversity Directorate at outreach meetings, briefs and events and will liaison with military, government and civilian organizations to increase Navy outreach to the Hispanic community, affinity groups and organizations, discover diversity best practices and improve public relations. He or she will also track Hispanic statistics, trends and issues, liaison with CNRC, and brief N1 on outreach efforts. The Hispanic Outreach Lead must be highly motivated, have excellent communication and writing skills, be confident briefing senior leadership, and easily establish and foster relationships with others. This position has a direct impact on Navy's ability to access, recruit and retain Hispanic Sailors and officers, and will contribute directly to one of the CNO's top priorities: Navy Diversity.

Special Qualifications Desired: NONE

Priorities? There are your priorities. There is no shortage of ADSW, just a shortage of leadership and bureaucratic courage.

Next Admiral's Call you have, review with the good man the last two personnel you had from your UIC go on an IA - and then ask him why we are spending ADSW enabling racism and building the sectarian mindset that we are trying to fight in AFG and IRQ. Ask him.