There is much hullabaloo over the dismissal of that navy Captain. I'd suggest the majority of those complaining have never served a day in their lives. These are people that have no understanding of good order and discipline. They are the whiners and criers about social injustice and it ain't fair. People who feel they are somehow gifted with special knowledge, that they know better than the Pentagon what action to be taken because they may have watched three episodes of NCIS or Top Gun! But the truth is they don't know a thing about anything regarding leadership, accountability and responsibility.
Now this Captain composed a four page document complaining about command decisions. I haven't read the actual letter, e-mail or whatever it was but that is the gist of it, he wasn't happy with command decisions above his level. Well Captain that's the way the chain of command works. Orders, directives, and instructions are sent down the chain of command to be executed as directed. If you disagree with those orders you do have the right to protest them, you don't have the right to ignore them or present them to the general public for critique! No Captain, you just aren't that big a deal! We can not run an Aircraft carrier or a harbor tug boat without a chain of command. Each link in that chain must be trustworthy. This particular Captain is not. Really it is that plain and simple. Assuming command is assuming responsibility. That responsibility includes following orders! By enabling the release of this letter of complaint he broke that trust. No big deal you say, he was only concerned for the safety of his crew. What if his orders were to sail to a certain area but he felt that wasn't safe? No, I'm not going there. No, I'm not launching any aircraft today, I don't think it's safe. Are you beginning to see the issue yet! You are to follow orders! You can question those orders and wait for an answer through the proper channels and CNN, NBC, CBS or ABC ain't one of them. Yes he should have been dismissed.
The big deal here is a basic one, trust. You have to be able to trust your leaders to follow the orders of their superiors. Every single person in the service takes an oath of enlistment. That oath includes defending the Constitution ( not defending a person, a political party, a president or general, the constitution ) and the acceptance of order(s) and discipline. You are bound by that oath for the duration of your enlistment period. If I can not trust your word and that is proven by your violating that oath, you will be dismissed! That communication should have only been forwarded to the next person in the chain of command. That Captain is responsible to report to whatever Squadron Commander his ship is assigned to, some Admiral most likely. That is his duty, his responsibility, his orders. That communication is classified material! Yes, if a commanding officer is transmitting information regarding his ship, his crew, the material condition of either, anything that may impact the mission of that vessel or any command for that matter, it is classified information! A matter of National security.
The military uses what is called the Uniform Code of Military Justice as the basis of law. That is what you get court-martialed with. I'm no scholar on that document although I have been subject to its' provisions. Yes, I was charged under several articles during my naval career. I can tell you this much, those articles cover just about any situation you can imagine. In case there isn't one specific enough to cover a situation they added article 134, calling it the general article. It's a sort of catch all, I can charge you with just about anything citing article 134. I haven't heard whether this Captain will face charges or not. He can just be removed from command without that process, as a matter of command judgement. He can also file an appeal to that decision.
The bottom line for me is, he violated his oath, breached national security, and his removal from command is justified. His career is for all intents and purposes over. He must have been a good commander in order to receive the prestigious position of Captain of a nuclear powered aircraft carrier. You are not given that responsibility lightly. Why he chose to throw that away is left to speculation. Was it a genuine concern for the crew? Or was it a political play, a cry for more attention, a grab at the brass ring in military circles? Or was it fear, fear in the face of an infectious disease? Certainly a human reaction and one that I'm certain we would all feel. Thing is, your the Captain. You don't get to breach national security, appeal to the civilian press in some attempt to get your way. No, you are there to follow orders same as the lowest seaman on the ship. You took an oath to do so. Dismissed.
Now this Captain composed a four page document complaining about command decisions. I haven't read the actual letter, e-mail or whatever it was but that is the gist of it, he wasn't happy with command decisions above his level. Well Captain that's the way the chain of command works. Orders, directives, and instructions are sent down the chain of command to be executed as directed. If you disagree with those orders you do have the right to protest them, you don't have the right to ignore them or present them to the general public for critique! No Captain, you just aren't that big a deal! We can not run an Aircraft carrier or a harbor tug boat without a chain of command. Each link in that chain must be trustworthy. This particular Captain is not. Really it is that plain and simple. Assuming command is assuming responsibility. That responsibility includes following orders! By enabling the release of this letter of complaint he broke that trust. No big deal you say, he was only concerned for the safety of his crew. What if his orders were to sail to a certain area but he felt that wasn't safe? No, I'm not going there. No, I'm not launching any aircraft today, I don't think it's safe. Are you beginning to see the issue yet! You are to follow orders! You can question those orders and wait for an answer through the proper channels and CNN, NBC, CBS or ABC ain't one of them. Yes he should have been dismissed.
The big deal here is a basic one, trust. You have to be able to trust your leaders to follow the orders of their superiors. Every single person in the service takes an oath of enlistment. That oath includes defending the Constitution ( not defending a person, a political party, a president or general, the constitution ) and the acceptance of order(s) and discipline. You are bound by that oath for the duration of your enlistment period. If I can not trust your word and that is proven by your violating that oath, you will be dismissed! That communication should have only been forwarded to the next person in the chain of command. That Captain is responsible to report to whatever Squadron Commander his ship is assigned to, some Admiral most likely. That is his duty, his responsibility, his orders. That communication is classified material! Yes, if a commanding officer is transmitting information regarding his ship, his crew, the material condition of either, anything that may impact the mission of that vessel or any command for that matter, it is classified information! A matter of National security.
The military uses what is called the Uniform Code of Military Justice as the basis of law. That is what you get court-martialed with. I'm no scholar on that document although I have been subject to its' provisions. Yes, I was charged under several articles during my naval career. I can tell you this much, those articles cover just about any situation you can imagine. In case there isn't one specific enough to cover a situation they added article 134, calling it the general article. It's a sort of catch all, I can charge you with just about anything citing article 134. I haven't heard whether this Captain will face charges or not. He can just be removed from command without that process, as a matter of command judgement. He can also file an appeal to that decision.
The bottom line for me is, he violated his oath, breached national security, and his removal from command is justified. His career is for all intents and purposes over. He must have been a good commander in order to receive the prestigious position of Captain of a nuclear powered aircraft carrier. You are not given that responsibility lightly. Why he chose to throw that away is left to speculation. Was it a genuine concern for the crew? Or was it a political play, a cry for more attention, a grab at the brass ring in military circles? Or was it fear, fear in the face of an infectious disease? Certainly a human reaction and one that I'm certain we would all feel. Thing is, your the Captain. You don't get to breach national security, appeal to the civilian press in some attempt to get your way. No, you are there to follow orders same as the lowest seaman on the ship. You took an oath to do so. Dismissed.
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