Another Unscheduled Change of Command

Come on,

a trend is emerging here, related to the
new command and control @ SOCOM and elsewhere.
Something is in the wind me thinks.....
and since I'm used to goin long on the limb
I'm gonna guess it has to do with #######
and you can take that to the bank...

Richard

I posted this at the other post-I thought I'd put it here also. Its a good point for discussion:

Seriously, I think before everyone gets on a high horse here people need to remember a few things.

The fact that CO's are getting fired is actually a good thing. It shows that the system of checks and balances is working and that there are boundaries that cannot be exceeded. One should be more worried if a year or two went by and there were no firings.

Second, I think its important to remember that the people that are being talked about are human beings. Who make mistakes. Some are more hurtful than others-but anyone who assumes that CO's will always be perfect is missing something. Especially in today's environment.

There are no shortage of folks who are willing to drop a dime on a CO at the drop of a hat. People tend to forget that-and some CO's tend to forget that the rules are in place partially to protect them from that kind of environment. Some people do the wrong thing for the right reasons and some just think they cannot get caught. And some times they do get caught. So the system is working if you ask me.

Selection boards are not omnipotent. They look at records, take into account community reputation and make the best decisions they can. Sometimes they get it right. Sometimes they get it wrong. However I would submit 90% of the time they do alright. Sometimes good guys get passed over. Sometimes bad people are advanced to their level of incompetence. Its a human system-its never going to be perfect.

One needs to remember these things when casting judgment on the person who has been relieved. And whether you like it or not-sex is going on in the ranks. One has only to look at the CNO's daily ops page to see that. Look how many unit sitreps for some sort of male/female-blue on blue happen every day across the Navy. It is a fact of life for better or for worse.

The same personality traits that make someone a good miltary person also put that at risk of making bad decisions at times. Also most O-5 CO's are between 36-44 at the time they have command. That's the same age that a majority of marriages break up and people make mid life decisions that cause mid-life crises. The Navy is not immune to the same things that go on in society as a whole.

Who your boss is plays a role too. Some bosses are spring loaded to pull the trigger some are not. That's a fact of life.

95% of CO's get a band at both their changes of command. That's the real sucess story.