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If there is one common core belief in the United States, it is the spirit of freedom - the feeling that we are free to live, work, and go where and when we want. Wherever we go in the world, Americans stand out because of this innate feeling of freedom. But our military is, by statute, a totalitarian organization with a Uniform Code of Military Justice that has punishment for not following orders. When the Sergeant says, “Take that hill!” we can’t have the response, “Not now, I’m on Facebook.” How does a free society reconcile living and working in the military?
I had the honor and privilege to be commanding officer of the nuclear aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt, leading 5,000 of our sons and daughters around the world and into combat. Aircraft carrier flight ops demand a unified crew with everyone doing their part the right way at the right time. It takes hundreds of people working together to launch a flight of 15 aircraft, with the first aircraft launching to the second scheduled. 15 aircraft catapult from 4 catapults in 7 minutes with the last airplane shooting off the bow just as an airplane slams to a stop in the arresting gear in the same spot that seconds before an airplane launched. And this repeats an hour later and without ever a scratch on the delicate skin of these hard working sailors. This Cyclic Ops on the flight deck was a thrill to me every time even after long months at sea.
How do we get there with everyone following orders to the letter without a single person deviating in the slightest so the whole flight deck “ballet” comes off like a finely tuned machine? I could talk about the lectures, training, drills and repetition, but the key is in the power of our free society to bring together individuals observing what they and their teammates do and how they are doing it. Then at the right place and time, question the orders - to air their ideas for improvements at every level. The bright new seaman who greases the catapult inventing a better, safer way to do it. A sailor seeing an injury risk and tells his Chief about his ideas of a safer approach. And, just as important, the Chief that wants to draw out and build upon the ideas from these bright young individuals.
The result is the “finely tuned machine” of individuals who have bought into the orders. They’re following their own orders - with the team’s efforts orchestrated by their Chiefs and Petty Officers. If the Chief is out, the Petty Officer takes over; if the Petty Officer is gone, the next person takes over. We in our free society do these incredibly complex tasks better than any totalitarian society could ever do. And the reason - we don’t have one leader – we have thousands of leaders working together. Perhaps not the direct or the easy way to the objective – but the best way.
*CAPT Dave Bryant is is a retired Navy Top Gun pilot and nuclear aircraft commanding officer and now with Boeing in the Seattle area. He's running as a Republican for the US Senate from the state of Washington.
I had the honor and privilege to be commanding officer of the nuclear aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt, leading 5,000 of our sons and daughters around the world and into combat. Aircraft carrier flight ops demand a unified crew with everyone doing their part the right way at the right time. It takes hundreds of people working together to launch a flight of 15 aircraft, with the first aircraft launching to the second scheduled. 15 aircraft catapult from 4 catapults in 7 minutes with the last airplane shooting off the bow just as an airplane slams to a stop in the arresting gear in the same spot that seconds before an airplane launched. And this repeats an hour later and without ever a scratch on the delicate skin of these hard working sailors. This Cyclic Ops on the flight deck was a thrill to me every time even after long months at sea.
How do we get there with everyone following orders to the letter without a single person deviating in the slightest so the whole flight deck “ballet” comes off like a finely tuned machine? I could talk about the lectures, training, drills and repetition, but the key is in the power of our free society to bring together individuals observing what they and their teammates do and how they are doing it. Then at the right place and time, question the orders - to air their ideas for improvements at every level. The bright new seaman who greases the catapult inventing a better, safer way to do it. A sailor seeing an injury risk and tells his Chief about his ideas of a safer approach. And, just as important, the Chief that wants to draw out and build upon the ideas from these bright young individuals.
The result is the “finely tuned machine” of individuals who have bought into the orders. They’re following their own orders - with the team’s efforts orchestrated by their Chiefs and Petty Officers. If the Chief is out, the Petty Officer takes over; if the Petty Officer is gone, the next person takes over. We in our free society do these incredibly complex tasks better than any totalitarian society could ever do. And the reason - we don’t have one leader – we have thousands of leaders working together. Perhaps not the direct or the easy way to the objective – but the best way.
*CAPT Dave Bryant is is a retired Navy Top Gun pilot and nuclear aircraft commanding officer and now with Boeing in the Seattle area. He's running as a Republican for the US Senate from the state of Washington.
Leadership
Aviation
Freedom
131x: Naval Aviator
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 23
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Sounds like a Skipper who knows his salt. Much like My Skipper on the USS Enterprise, one of the Finest men I ever served under, Admiral C. C. Smith. It was under his command we learned what every E3 really wants to tell his E6.
1. Tell me what you want me to do
2. Teach me how to do it.
3. Give me the tools I will need to do the job.
4. GET OUT OF MY WAY so I can work
5. Tell me how I did.
1. Tell me what you want me to do
2. Teach me how to do it.
3. Give me the tools I will need to do the job.
4. GET OUT OF MY WAY so I can work
5. Tell me how I did.
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SFC Larry Jones
SPC Tobor Dabot They DON'T get it. Other than being rated 100% disabled and able to maintain, that is the chief reason I am no longer in the civilian work force. I have never been very fond of slamming myself repeatedly into unyielding walls.
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This was mentioned by German generals showing respect for the American soldier in WWII. Leadership at every level, combined with a freedom of mind, enabled innovations and out-of-the box improvisations (sticky bomb comes to mind).
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SPC Mike Davis
There is a wonderful book (long out of print) entitled "Willie and Joe, Upfront." That describes these wonderful Americans of the greatest generation. These brave men understood the terrible challenges facing the nation at that time. They left their families, girlfriends, employment to give their all, if required, to save this nation from the evils of socialism. Many had eight grade educations few had high school diplomas and could not speak english in a refined manner. But, they had other skills that were critical to victory. Some who perhaps grew up on farms had mechanical skills that could take a disabled tank and make a deadly half track. Which was the difference between winning a battle. and or losing one. Other were deadly shots from having to hunt for food giving individual units the advantage on the line. Most were volunteers with little respect for military discipline. They were individuals which were "upfront,' taking the arrows and using their own initiative on how best to defeat the enemy. Thus, the Germans respect for the individual American soldier. I was a young boy growing up at that time in California. I remember the patriotic atmosphere, the feeling of pride by all for our nation and for our boys in uniform. Now, I am an old man. I have been privileged to witness the greatness of this nation with the curse of living to see its twilight years. It is not the government alone that is failing our great nation. It is all agents that have worked together in the past to make this the great nation it was. First is the failure of the Christian church in fulfilling its GOD given responsibilities to be the moral guardian of the nation. Private industry for its failure to promote honest business practices. A so called education system which cannot produce a student with knowledge of the alphabet. The failure of the parents who are more interested in careers then their children. Last but not least, the military which has lost any and all understanding of the term "Leaders of men of honor." Now we have leaders of whatever. A uniformed service that cannot defend itself from domestic threats and cannot define a foreign threat. The president we have in office is perhaps one of the greatest this nation will ever have. That being said, it will take fifty years of presidents like our present president to restore this nation to the great nation it once was. I am afraid history will run its course of ever downward and America will never be the America I grew up in....... But, far worse then that! I am a member of the generation that gave it all away. I wonder if history will ever forgive us?
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I really hope that the aircraft carriers are preparing for new threats and technology. They are major power projection platforms.
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