You know your Navy sucks when...

even the Russian's won't use your submarine for target practice.

http://nosint.blogspot.com/2014/03/russian-black-sea-fleet-gives-up.html

The tyranny of busy

(From: http://navycaptain-therealnavy.blogspot.com/2014/03/fighting-good-fight.html)

 Busy is never an acceptable reason for anything.

The reality is that at the end of every workday, there is always work left undone.  I have never gotten through every email or every tasker I write in my notepad, and I think most people are likely in the same situation.  We are fooling ourselves if we think we'll wake up one day and literally have nothing to do.

So when we have work and delegate it to our subordinates (or have it delegated to us by our boss), the refrain of "I'm too busy to do it." is simply an excuse.  You're not too busy, you've simply prioritized something else above it.  Maybe that task is higher priority, but often what I find is that there are lots of tasks that suck up our time and aren't worth it.

JO Retention in crisis?

Another whitepaper on JO retention is here.

Some thoughts:

- One factor listed is that Millennials (those born 1981-1995) are different than previous generations and are "placing a greater emphasis on being supported and appreciated."

While on its face this sounds like whining, let's jump into an Ensign's shoes here: you work your butt off to get a four-year engineering degree, work hard through your initial Navy training, then get to your ship and get treated like garbage for 5 years? And the promise of the next 5 years is...more poor treatment? OR...you can get out, get paid more, get treated professionally and not have to move every 3-5 years. Choice is simple. We don't need to baby our JOs, but we could afford to give them some decent respect from time to time.

- "Sailors are bombarded with annual online training, general military training, and safety stand-downs – all in an effort to combat problems that will never be defeated."

YES! Can we please admit that no matter what, our Sailors will occasionally drink to excess, kill themselves, and do other terrible things?  And that no matter what you do, you might actually not be able to prevent that?

- "Sailors continue to cite the over-focus on social issues by senior leadership – above and beyond discussions on warfighting – a fact that demoralizes junior and mid-grade officers alike."

Completely agree.  Why is there no mandatory GMT on Rules of the Road? Or Maritime Law? Or platform tactics? I can get excited about tactics...pregnancy prevention GMT, not so much.

A cooler looking Littoral Combat Ship

With all the raging about our Littoral Combat Ship, it's interesting to see what other navies have come up with. Take a look at Taiwan's newly commissioned Tuo River:

http://thediplomat.com/2014/03/taiwan-receives-first-carrier-killer-ship/

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201403140004.aspx

And apparently the Japanese want a Littoral Combat Ship too...

http://thediplomat.com/2014/03/us-japan-to-jointly-develop-littoral-combat-ship/

Enlisted masters degree from NPS

Get a Masters of Science in Applied Cyber Operations if you're an IT or CTN.

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2014/NAV14057.txt

Our actual collective defense treaties

With all the craziness in the Ukraine, here are our actual collective defense arrangements. From http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/collectivedefense/

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY

 

A treaty signed April 4, 1949, by which the Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all; and each of them will assist the attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force.

PARTIES: United States, Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom

Time to update NFAAS!

Yes, the NFAAS system is dumb. Yes, it is likely the last thing you will update in an emergency. But, you're going to wind up on a dinq list, so get it done now. Due on 31 March.

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2014/NAV14039.txt

HTTPS://NAVYFAMILY.NAVY.MIL