Thursday, January 28, 2010

A drug free Annapolis? No, but we have D1 football!


UPDATE & BUMP: see bottom of post for latest developments.


This is sad.

Let's set the scene. You have a very good urinalysis program - one of the best in the Navy. You have to, you are in charge one of the most high-profile commands in the Navy; all eyes are on you. You can't afford to have drug problems or run any of your programs short of perfect.

After the last round of tests, you have a junior Sailor who pops positive for marijuana ... very strong pop. All the paperwork and proceedures are perfect, and you have been in the Navy long enough to know MILPERSMAN 1910-146 like you know your own Social Security Number.

Then you see the name; oh, him. Another administrative burden.

This isn't the first time this guy has been in trouble either; not drugs per se, but his counseling jacket is thick and highlighted, in a fashion - no one is really defending this guy either.

As things progress further and excuses are tried - inconsistencies come up even there. The pattern repeats; problem Sailor, air-tight urinalysis, pop positive for the evil weed, and finally no one can keep their story straight.

Cut and dried case, right? Time for a Big Chicken Dinner (OK, talk BCD, but OTH will do), right?

Don't be silly - this is exactly the kind of Sailor this Navy needs ... as a matter of fact - this man is officer material! You're the man in Command, you know quality and leadership potential when you see it; you're keeping him!

No, this isn't a parallel universe, this is the United States Naval Academy.


One report is a rumor. Three reports a trend. When I get above a half-dozen reports and phone calls - well, that is a story. It is especially a story when all of my primary sources are not bitter, angry, anti-Annapolis types. No; to an individual these are people who deeply love the Navy and USNA. They are sad, frustrated, and feel that their institution is once again selling its soul for superficial reasons. For reasons that make no sense to them, honor and integrity is being sold for a silly game. Yes, my friends - this also has to do with football.

In the
Potempkin Color Guard fiasco, we saw a loved institution twist itself into knots to satisfy a corrosive, self-loathing, and debunked racialist theory known as Diversity. I am afraid that we now have an institution that has sacrificed itself for something even more misguided - a game. A sport.

Though I know the name of the individual in question - I am not going to mention it here or some of the details as they aren't the important part of the story,
right now.

This story is much larger than one man - the United States Naval Academy deserves better than this - sure successful football brings in money, but you cannot buy back your honor through football. It is Honor, Courage, and Commitment - not Fudge, Courage, and Bowl Games.

Executive Summary: A USNA football player popped positive for marijuana post season - but the act of smoking pot took place "in season." Though there are inconsistencies in the stories that explained "why" he smoked pot - there was never a question that he did - in the end the story is that he was handed a cigar that was stuffed with marijuana, he smoked it with vigor, and had no idea there was marijuana in it. Ahem. An official statement was given to that effect by another party. The Sup bought the story decided to let him stay.

Let's be blunt here (pun intended). I didn't fall of a turnip truck and neither did any of you. First of all, everyone and their mother knows that a cigar stuffed with marijuana is very popular and is known as a blunt. No one "accidently" smokes a blunt. You smell it, you taste it - and you sure do feel it. Pot now days is not 1970s skunkweed. No. Not even close. If someone tells you he did not know it was pot the minute it was lit - not to mention after taking may long, deep breaths and holding (which you don't with cigars there natch) that is needed to pop positive - then that someone is probably lying to you.

Then again, we know that - don't we?

I remember what it was like in the '80s - I remember the posters, "
Not on my watch; Not on my ship; Not in my Navy". I have seen many a Sailor shown the door with a Big Chicken Dinner. I have seen successful and unsuccessful excuses for popping positive - one rather pornographic. In the end though, "no tolerance" had sticking power and I never saw a case of special consideration for any individual who popped positive - officer or enlisted.

Would this have happened if we didn't have an important member of the football team? I doubt it, but who knows. It would be interesting though to see the results of positive urinalysis cases over the last, say, five years to see what exceptions have been made.

I think the smart money is that we have another case of throwing away hard earned integrity to play football at a level a Service Academy has no reason playing.

Losing the bubble. Lost lock. Adrift - you call it what you want; but this just plain smells wrong (pun intended again).

A Commanding Officer, rightly, has a wide latitude in making decisions. Only he knows the reasons that he makes them. That doesn't mean we have to agree with him or his justification.

This whole thing is sad. The United States Naval Academy deserves better than this. Again, what example does this set for the future leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps?

That question deserves an answer.
UPDATE: Hey, look at the kids now days with all their facebooktwitterybloggy thingies going on!

Just reinforces what I tell people any time I get a chance - it isn't the young who are the problem.
UPDATE II - Electric Boogaloo: Philip Ewing @ NavyTimes has picked up the story. (Update to original here)
UPDATE III - Perfect Storm: Daniel de Vise at the Washington Post has picked up the story as well.
UPDATE IV - Set Condition Zebra: Things have become very interesting over the last 24-hrs and I encourage everyone to follow comment as there is some very good primary sources out there. First of all, I want everyone to get a peek at how business is sometimes done inside the lifelines at Annapolis.
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: [REDACTED]@usna.edu
Subject: Please Read
To: co[REDACTED]@usna.edu
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 [REDACTED]

[REDACTED],

-----BODY OF EMAIL REDACTED ON A TEMP BASIS BY REQ----

Very Respectfully,

[REDACTED]
MIDN USN

--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: [REDACTED]@usna.edu
Subject: IMPORTANT
To: co[REDACTED]@usna.edu
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 [REDACTED]

[REDACTED],

Do not join the facebook group "Zero Tolerance=Zero Exceptions" or any other similar group.

This is coming down from the highest echelon. There will be severe consequences for disobedience.

Thanks,
[REDACTED]
Very interesting habits we are teaching the future officers in the military of a Representitive Republic.

You can find a link to the facebook page in question in a previous update. Just a little detail here; the page was started by a civilian and, in a fashion, supports a Navy policy - i.e. zero tolerance for drug abuse. The owner of the page has now made it private - so the conversation - some support zero tolerance, some do not; some support the USNA Admin, some do not - goes on, except now it has gone underground. Way to make it worse fellas.

I ran the above by a JAG friend - and from that exchange of emails comes some sound advice and some caution.
... the Academy may be right on this. While no particular officers are named, there's some pretty harsh criticism of the university administration which could be construed as an open condemnation of a senior officer, which is a violation of the UCMJ.

I'd advise the MIDs to tread carefully here.
This isn't black and white, and is a very gray area. Like I have advised in a few emails - stick to informal and if needed formal grevience proceedures. Keep your nose clean and your eye on the goal - graduate. If you have some venom that gets you near a gray area, feed it to civilian friends & family, or vent to some dorky blogger.
For the MIDN, all anyone will care about in the end is that you have a degree and a commission - all else is vanity. Make sure you can look yourself in the mirror every AM with your honor intact, and keep clear of UCMJ and/or regulations problems. If you find yourself in a gray area - there are JAGs there that will help you find out where the lines are before you cross them. If you need a POC there for a good one, email me. The overwhelming majority, as close to total as you can get to an imperfect human institution, of the uniformed and civilian staff at Annapolis is on your side and wants you to succeed so the Navy and the nation it serves can succeed. Remember that.

Part of the problem is that there are some logic disconnects coming at the MIDN. There of course is the obvious one of what is being said vs. is being done, and different "classes" of MIDN being treated differently - but there are messaging problems. For example, this came out in DEC09 - I like it;
Subj: Naval Academy News Media Policy

The following information is provided to clarify the Naval Academy’s policy regarding interaction with news media.
Like the Navy and Marine Corps, the Naval Academy does not forbid anyone from speaking with news media. The Naval Academy’s public affairs office requests to be notified when midshipmen, faculty or staff are contacted by news media in order to provide assistance and advice. This assistance and advice is particularly important for individuals who do not routinely interact with media, do not wish to respond to media, or may lack perspective on issues of potential media interest.
In most situations, individuals are free to address news media - either initiating or returning contact with reporters - and can do so without approval from their chain of command. However, there are specific situations, such as an ongoing official investigation or judicial proceeding and issues involving classified information, where Navy and Marine Corps policy specifically addresses limits of public comment. It is imperative during such situations to obtain the assistance of the public affairs office when contacted by reporters.

Naval Academy personnel who interact with media should also realize that their public comments can sometimes be construed - either intentionally or unintentionally - to represent the Navy or Naval Academy. It is important when interacting with media in an unofficial capacity to ensure that all opinions expressed are understood to be personal and do not necessarily represent the views of the Navy or the Academy.

Midshipmen, faculty or staff are free to interact with news media, but are strongly encouraged to contact the public affairs office prior to doing
so. Additionally, Naval Academy personnel who do not wish to engage with media can refer all media requests to the public affairs office. As always, any questions concerning this policy or any news media related issues should be referred to the public affairs office at X2292 or pao@usna.edu.
What is Facebook? Social media? New Media? Personal journal? Personal correspondence? Yes to all the above. That is why this is a gray area. If you canx facebook, can you do the same for subscriptions and online registration for NYT, WaPo, and multiple forums and, ahem, blogs out there? Do you restrict who they can and cannot email to? What about being a member of the NRA, NOW, or the Sierra Club? What about USNI? Do we punish them for being members of organizations that have authors who question policy? Sure we draw lines, at hate groups for instance, but be careful that your line is thick, bright, and straight. Crooked and selectively sketchy only breeds cynicism.

I think the folks at USNA are making this much worse trying to control the story ... again.
UPDATE V - Electric Glide: The local paper is on the hunt too.
UPDATE VI - Fiasco Edition: Thomas E. Ricks smells it as well.
UPDATE VII - Flash Gear: Front page of the Washington Post News Section.
UPDATE VIII - Defilade fire: URR has a higher brain function piece over at USNIBlog.
UPDATE IX - Load canister: The AP picked up Daniel de Vise's WaPo bit.

479 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   401 – 479 of 479
DeltaBravo said...

Sadly, now I look upon USNA's wins over Army as tainted.  I remember when they used to lose, but that was before the institution sold its birthright for a mess of pottage.

Philo said...

"Don't Give Up the Ship"
It sounds like the Supe doesn't believe in the values espoused by the ship.  The Supe is supposed to be holding people to the same standard.  Intramural players and Football players should both be held to the same standards.  Unless the Supe would like to explain why this case is different in his judgement, he's sent the message that if you're on the football team, you can smoke whatever you want.

Philo said...

<span>"the Mids are out of control and we need to crack down on them."  </span>
*
I think retaining midshipmen that fail drug tests, already indicates this.  The problem becomes that in general USNA doesn't crack down the guilty, it implements rules that punish everyone and leads to a culture of distrust.

Therapist1 said...

Wow!!  I can see you stick out your lip and stomp your feet as you leave the room.  Maybe next time you won't sound like such a petulant child.

Philo said...

DB: you think Army is any different?  They barely have academics up there.

C-dore 14 said...

You're right there.  They were still talking about the "Bellino curve" for academic averages when I was a Plebe.

Byron Audler said...

Did you really think you were going to play with the adults and not get bitch slapped? Go away, boy, let the adults talk.

Anonymous said...

<span>Laissez ici votre commentaire en respectant les lois. Tout commentaire jugé inapproprié (agressif, raciste, diffamatoire, publicitaire, grossier, hors sujet…) sera supprimé</span>

SCOTTtheBADGER said...

Eats Shoots and Leaves is, of all things, a grammar book that is a great read! BRAVO ZULU, CDR! 

AW1 Tim said...

Et votre problème serait ce qui ?

C-dore 14 said...

"It is well if the court shall acquit thee.  It is best hadst thou never been tried".

claudio said...

<span><span><span>regarder! </span><span>Allemands, courez!</span></span></span>

AW1 Tim said...

Impossible ! Les Allemands n'oseraient pas envahir la France pendant une quatrième fois !

  ;)

claudio said...

<span><span><span>pourquoi pas? </span><span>femmes, le vin, et les hommes de briller les chaussures ..</span></span></span>

AW1 Tim said...

Bien, naturellement vous allez correct. Les Allemands certainement ne viendraient pas pour la bière.

UltimaRatioRegis said...

Oh Jesus.  They've gone all French on us.....

Grumpy Old Ham said...

I tried to warn y'all that the WaPo links opened up a wormhole...

Grumpy Old Ham said...

Dunno about 500, but 400 looks very probable at this time.

UltimaRatioRegis said...

Remind me to never, EVER piss off Delta Bravo.  RW has been reduced to several small lumps of congealed blood and smoking meat. 

Byron Audler said...

They're even posing as regulars!!! :)

SCOTTtheBADGER said...

I believe we have a DADT policey here towards Frenchocity, don't we?

C-dore 14 said...

Wow!  I can actually understand most of this from my year of French in Plebe "Dago" all those years ago (Do they still let them use that term?).

Anon said...

I've encountered many from the EE scandal.  Ground zero was the football team, but they all protected each other so the damage there was minimal.  It was the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th order effects that were the ones seperated or punished with delayed graduation.  Seems like not much changes in 15 years....football still gettin' the perks.

AW1 Tim said...

 Well, certain folks were a hollerin' for a more diverse Navy.....  :)

Perry said...

I think that you are making fun of his trouble with homophones, but I think that he was merely complimenting the quality and timeliness of the journalism here.  Since the story broke here, reading this site is a "good buy" as opposed to paying for the WaPo, the Crabwrapper, or Navy Times.

Now, can CDR S. raise his game so he's a "Best Buy"???

Perry said...

I think that is true.  However, it was one thing when it was academics, military bearing, team tables, or not marching.  You can make an argument that a grad can be an effective officer without many of those.  Additionally, the jocks did have other responsibilites (i.e., their sport) that provided a fair, some may say better, replacement for what they skated.

The headline, "Jock has 1.0, is allowed to stay when others with 1.8's are dismissed," would have merely generated an amused "Same as it ever was" from grads and others.  On the other hand, maybe I was naive, but I don't remember jocks having a pass in the 1980's on the two major things this guy has screwed up, honor and drugs.  I think that is what is different about this case, and why everyone is up in arms.

Perry said...

They had done away with mandatory language training by the time I arrived, 1984.  When I was there, unless a plebe validates classes, they can't take lanugages until an upper classman, and then only if they were bull majors.

Grandpa Bluewater said...

500 stll looking good.  Place  your bets ladies and gentlemen....

DM05 said...

Phib, congrats on pushing this story out - includin WAPO, and helping pour some lysol on USNA's dirty laundry. Yes, it's been there awhile.

Fowler, do the right thing and resign now and take the blunty slotback with you. Hand your sword over pal. And F' D1 football, you've sold the soul and like many here, I am SO embarassed for the Navy, and particularly you ring knockers.

UltimaRatioRegis said...

Plenty o' room over here, too:

http://blog.usni.org/2010/01/29/a-concept-of-honor/

Grumpy Old Ham said...

Hey, we'd all have less trouble with those pesky homophones if Congress would re-peel DADT.

BTW a Best Buy isn't necessarily better than a good buy, in fact most Best Bye's I've been to should really be called "Worst Bye", no wait, that's what happens after a bad R&R...maybe it should be "Wurst Buy"...nah, that was when I was TDY to Deutschland.

Aw, never mind...too much merriment this evening...not much else to do with this snow...

LT B said...

I went to the academy sports web and they all seem to think our boy Phib is a racist/sexist guy.  I guess if one doesn't drink the kool aid, believes and is vocal about consistent standards, one must be a sexist/racist.  Meritocracy be damned!

MR T's Haircut said...

SHut up fools!  Speaking all that perfume jibber jabber!!

In all seriousness, WHY are we playing football instead of learning languages?  Language training brings WAY more value to the Navy...

MR T's Haircut said...

I pity the fool! 

I went to the update link and got the WAPO article and then the little blue link to "Well read Navy Blog", clicked it and now I am back in freaking Kansas!!  Good Job Phib!  and to think we knew you when you were just a wee little newt...

It is out there now warts and all, lets see some leadership now forced as it will be...

DM05 said...

Consistent standards, uniformly (pun) applied. What an interesting concept today...

ADM Fowler, turn over the sword now, and take the quick D1 slotback with you. There's a place for the both of you...A defense consortium for the former, and NFL for the latter. You'll both fit in perfectly. I'm not only embarassed for the Navy I once knew, I'm ticked.

Phib, enjoy the day, you've done a heckuva job here.

Another guest said...

Why don't we ask the AD? - http://www.navysports.com/ot/ask-the-ad.html
After all, he's the one REALLY running the place, right?

AW1 Tim said...

MTH,

  And it can very handu on liberty, as well   :)

  The devil, of course, is in the details. I learned Spanish in school. Then I went to Rota for awhile. Imagine my surprise when I went out on toen and discovered I had learned Mexican. Seems there are as many dialects in Spanish as there are in English.  Heh...

DeltaBravo said...

hahaha.  Funny and true!

RALLYPOINT4402 said...

As a former Marine Corp officer, JAG, and D-1 college ballplayer---this guy should be separated, especially with his other honor violations. How does this guy lead in the fleet while popping positive while at a service academy? Interesting thought about him giving a liberty brief (I guess at least know he can make his men/women aware of what a blunt is). 

How different the fleet is. You've got two Marines facing charges for smoking a LEGAL substance that produces hallucenigenic effects.


Congrats Annapolis administration....your zero tolerance subject to interpretation drug policy tarnishes the honor of the instution, hurts morale, and demonstrates that you do not have the fortitude to make tough decisions consistent with leadership.

UNSAT

UltimaRatioRegis said...

Thanks for the link, Phib.  In writing it, I pulled a brain muscle, and am listed as "day to day". 

QSPN said...

I wonder if this will interefere with the Superintendent's plan to add a fourth star when he takes over Naval Reactors?

Perry said...

It's made ESPN, albeit only on a blog page, not the main football page:

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/18701/links-navy-answering-questions-about-positive-drug-test

MR T's Haircut said...

<span>LOL 
 
on your worse day you could still be best over at HuffPO...</span>

Grumpy Old Ham said...

heh heh...no kidding...I spent two years learning Spanish back in the Stone Age, uh, high school in SoCal.  Been exposed to SoCal and Texas Spanish/Spanglish most of my life but I can't make heads or tails of what these Peruvians and Salvadoreans around here are saying.  Gotta spend more time watching the weather chicas on Telemundo...

UltimaRatioRegis said...

To quote a great intellect of our age, "What's wrong with being sexy?"

middy said...

The best advice that I've received about this issue thus far has been from my academic adviser (0-5): Whenever things like this happen, tragic and depraved as they may be, it does one well to look around and remember that 99% really do get it.  They are the ones who are really hurting here.

Most mids would never dream of this, which is perhaps why it causes the stir it does.  As easy as it is to become disheartened about the Academy, there is still a reason to believe that the place produces one hell of a product even if quality control isn't 100%.  I joined to serve and I'll serve despite this moron - alongside him if necessary.  But I cannot abide his attempt (knowingly or otherwise) to detract from the school that I have grown to love and the value of my time here.

Firstie MIDN said...

Not that this has to do with the Pot smokers case. But today a 3/C MIDN with a DWI was retained. Only days after his 21st birthday he was driving home drunk and smashed his car into the back of a car that was stopped in the right turn lane. Cops came and he blew a .134 BAC...this is pathetic!

UltimaRatioRegis said...

At this point, USNA had little choice, as their actions in retaining a dope-smoking football player limits the punishments for all who follow.  You have just highlighted why the 0.1% is now driving the discipline bus for the other 99.9%

MR T's Haircut said...

YEP!  No reason now to impose any standard of conduct.. after all who cares?!

middy said...

MR T,
While I certainly admire some of your other comments, especially your tongue-in-cheek style of rhetoric, I would like to ask you to censor the cynicism for the conduct system.  There are plenty of mids who care, and care deeply, just as there are plenty of administrators who do the same.  "..who cares?!" gives the impression that it is a fruitless effort to adjudicate and attempt to remediate those who violated rules of conduct.  Is it bullshit?  Perhaps.  But the system does work so long as constraints at higher levels are removed and business is allowed to be carried out. 

I share your discontent, rest assured.  But I am not so eager to throw in the towel.  I acknowledge that your comment was not in bad taste, but negative cynicism rarely brings about  positive change.

DeltaBravo said...

Negative cynicism brought about the overthrow of King George III.

The system doesn't work when it gives a pass on behaviors that used to be expulsionable offenses.  Try DWI as a commissioned officer.  See where that gets you. 

The mids who care will encounter undeserved cynicism in the fleet because the administration doesn't seem to be culling the herd of problem children.  It bypassed first rate officer candidates in favor of recruiting athletes.  It coddled those and changed rules for them.  It will be up to the newly commissioned officers to prove they are not in that cadre.

MTH without cynicism and his pointy-edged humor would be like a day without sunshine.  His cynicism, as I have seen it, is not directed at the mids and administrators who care, but the ones who are in the position to effect change who refuse to fix a system that is rusting where the bow meets the water. 

UltimaRatioRegis said...

Middy,

Most of us are too old to worry about the nuances of just how dismal a dismal failure is.  What Mr T states is the absolutely inescapable logical conclusion of this whole sordid affair.  We who have run some laps on the track of life tend to recognize these things a bit faster than maybe someone who hasn't.

The tragedy which we also recognize is that when the system of conduct and discipline (or admissions) is deliberately manipulated to show favoritism or make exception for a group or individual, then the result is akin to someone with a broken back.  Every other bone and muscle in the body may be just fine, but the smashed vertebrae determines whether the body works or not, and how well.

middy said...

Point(s) taken.  Thanks for the input.  MR T, still a big fan.

DeltaBravo said...

Now, if the future of Naval warfare will consist in lobbing footballs at the enemy or outsprinting incoming on the flight deck, maybe the administrators are onto something....

plebians said...

<span>Probably because the 1/Cs showed bad examples to those 3/C last year. They're the ones who are in charge of the company.  Therefore, they must take responsibility of their company. Instead, they are just cruising until graduation and don't care about the underclass. What happen to the 3 years of leadership training that they received?</span>

Philo said...

It's unfortunate that the Navy refuses to punish individuals, and decides to punish everyone with increased rules and regulations.  They won't toss the one guy out, but they'll add babysitting regulations.  Treat people like adults, and hold them accountable.  Otherwise, they'll be children forever.  There are consequences for actions, how many CO's need to be relieved before the Navy starts to understand this?

Philo said...

I'm glad you understand the need to punish the 1% that don't get it, and can't act responsibly.  People yearn to be held accountable, and they need to be held accountable for their actions.  Choose the crime, choose the crime.  Midshipmen are smart enough to understand the consequences of their actions, if they aren't, something is really broken in Annapolis.  I wish I could find a copy of Coach Barry's "Adrift in Annapolis" article in the Post.

LT B said...

I don't know.  How about the 20 some years of leadership training the academy administration has thrown away?  You can't expect the mids to do anything outside what they see in their leadership.  Nobody has resigned or been fired for LCS, or Major Allah Akhbar or any of the real FUBAR things we see today.  Can we expect the stripers or company leadership to do more than the leadership in the Navy?  I am not defending them, but the cynicism of the Brigade comes from viewing that their actions make no difference when the top cover is not their.  This speaks to senior leadership first and foremost.

MR T's Haircut said...

Middy,

My comment was intended in the sarcastic vein as normal.  I apologize if the intnet was not clear.  

URR and DeltaBravo are on PIM. My comment was directed as a warning of the consequence as a result of the actions of the front office.  I was not so "oh well" and throwing my hands up in surrender.. on the contrary.

As for the Middie Conduct folks... self policing is great, it is a needed entity in a military unit, but the course of your actions when not supported by the Chain of Command leads to acceptance of lower standards.. I have seen it at sea, in squadrons, and now on the Naval Academy Football team.

Corrosion of standards leads to failure.  This is an absolute LEADERSHIP FAILURE.

MR T's Haircut said...

DB, you are correct ass to the direction of my comment.  Wise Lady..

middy said...

Plebians,
There's no need to try to excuse this as a failure of midshipman leadership.  It may be a factor but it is certainly a minor one.  Ask your batt/reg honor advisor how many people get reccomended for separation and get all the way to the SUPE only to be retained.  Ask him/her (PC Navy) how many failed remediation cases are overturned.  As far as being in charge of a company is concerned, leadership there is at it's most transparent level.  You are supposed to be learning from good and bad examples.  There is no excuse for these actions.  To write them off as a product of bad influence is to tacitly approve.  I ask you, what happened to the 18-25 years of life training that midshipmen receive before ever arriving?

And we both know that football players spend about as much time in-company as a satanist does in church.

Philo said...

Sadly, I would offer the majority of the leadership learning at USNA is what not to do.  Leadership failures are spectacular.  Good leadership is rarely noticed.

Grumpy Old Ham said...

<span>"Leadership failures are spectacular.  Good leadership is rarely noticed."</span>

In my experience, leadership failures are spectacular because they are widely discussed and/or publicized -- even in cases where those with vested interests would prefer the failure to remain under wraps (this case, as one rather obvious example).   Good leadership is always noticed, but rarely publicized.

Put another way, "If it bleeds, it leads."

LT B said...

Like JT, I'm bringing sexy back. :)

Redeye80 said...

The Chairman said today "Allowing homosexuals to serve openly is the right thing to do. Comes down to integrity."

Is this the same integrity we are seeing from USNA?

Dazed and confused

Redeye80 said...

This is what happens when we bend the rules.  Faceplant!


<p><span>
<span> </span><span>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/12874836/eckels-murky-navy-exit-leaves-shadow-over-super-bowl-appearance</span></span>
</p>

AW1 Tim said...

You should read CDR Salamander's columns of Eckle. You will find them, I believe, over to the right side of the page. At least his name. Click on it for more..  :)

Anonymous said...

The qustion that has been missed is not just one of the Naval Academy and justice but one of money, position and power.  I sperated from the miltary after 12 years after both being an Annoplis grade and being prior enlisted.  As of 2002. the Navy required an administrateve speration board for any one testing positve for a drug.  I have sat on such a board and voted to kick out the best ET2 on my ship because of an incompermising insturctuions post factum.  I have seen punishment set down to individuals not just because of mistakes but because of position.  I can not recall the last time an office above the rank of 03 has been accountable for thier actions.  My Lie  <span>William Calley</span> being the exception, which is taught at the Acadmey.  I hurt because this lesson has been lost to football. 
  To this day I still talk about firing Tomhawks into places I do not know where they landed. Who is accountable? Do we want it someone who is high?

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