Posted on Apr 22, 2015
What was the biggest rule you broke? Would you do it again?
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My biggest violation of rules was during the midwatch when I was the Engineering Officer of the Watch on a SSBN. I had my Electrical Operator in a goofy mood, and loitering in the door to the maneuvering area. I told him to get back in front of his panel before I closed the door on him and he was outside of maneuvering while on watch. He got this funny look, and ran out of maneuvering, ran back to the Engineroom Escape Trunk, and came back. I chewed him up one side and down the other, and he realized how stupid he had been. However, I was REQUIRED to immediately relieve him, contact the Engineer, and basically end his career. I didn't do it. He was a nice guy, who made one (BIG) mistake. He was always telling us how he was going to go to college on his GI Bill, become a minister, and come back into the Navy as a Chaplain. I let him off, and he never did something that dumb again. So I'm glad he got to go on with his life. HOWEVER, in hind-sight, I had to be careful with that watch section for a year until I transferred. The Reactor Operator and Throttleman would never have told anyone what the EM2 had done (they wouldn't have been safe on the sub if they had caused another Petty Officer to get disqualified); however, if they had done something serious that I had to discipline them for, to try to save their own skin they might have said, "How come EM2 XXXXX could leave Maneuvering while on watch and get away with it, but I get busted for ......?" So it did impact my ability to properly lead and supervise that group. There are definitely times when you use your judgment and break a rule because it is the "right" thing to do. But a word of caution to you junior folks. Don't do it if it will affect your ability to do your job properly in the future.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1
I'm sure there must have been others, but in early 2003, just as the Iraq War was starting off, I was leading a multiserviice AT/FP Team from CENTCOM HQ to Afghanistan. I couldn't believe the silly Army Doctrine there in the Combat Zone. Soldiers wore ranks on their covers, saluted officers, and the JTF HQ at Bagram had even eliminated their No Salute Zone. Additionally, all of us were expected to have ammo in our sidearms, but the safeties on, regardless of the fact that we carried double-action pistols.
To me, this was all nonsense, and could easily get people killed. I'd have none of it. I instructed my people to tuck their rank insignia into their body armor, remove rank devices from their covers and helmets, and not to salute. For all anyone knew, we were contractors. Outside, I didn't even want to hear "sir", and I sure as hell wasn't going to keep my sidearm on safe. If I needed in a hurry, all I wanted to have to do was to aim and pull the trigger.
There was also the matter of being prohibited from drinking in country. I didn't drink much, but I did share wine with the Italians or French when visiting their compounds. To do otherwise would NOT have been civilized!
To me, this was all nonsense, and could easily get people killed. I'd have none of it. I instructed my people to tuck their rank insignia into their body armor, remove rank devices from their covers and helmets, and not to salute. For all anyone knew, we were contractors. Outside, I didn't even want to hear "sir", and I sure as hell wasn't going to keep my sidearm on safe. If I needed in a hurry, all I wanted to have to do was to aim and pull the trigger.
There was also the matter of being prohibited from drinking in country. I didn't drink much, but I did share wine with the Italians or French when visiting their compounds. To do otherwise would NOT have been civilized!
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CDR Michael Goldschmidt
Oh...and I have been known to be insubordinate, IF it helped accomplish the mission or take care of the troops. After all, stupid is stupid.
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