What an ADSEP board looks like

Courtroom photo, from Wikipedia

This past week I sat on my first ever Administrative Separation (ADSEP) board.  Having never been on an ADSEP board before, I wanted to share my experience to try and remove some of the myths out there about this process.  Please note, I am NOT going to give any specifics on the people involved, as that is privacy act information.

Punishment and behavior

Two recent news items grated on my nerves:

Ft. Gordon official arrested following child porn investigation

http://wjbf.com/2016/09/19/ft-gordon-official-arrested-following-child-porn-investigation/

and

Strike Group Boss watched porn for hours on Navy computer

https://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2016/03/08/strike-group-boss-watched-porn-hours-navy-computer-report/81510180/

I'm not angered by the fact this happened. Unfortunately, you can never screen well enough to weed out behavior like this. The majority of our O-6 and above officers are great people that serve America honorably.

No, my problem is that these two people, along with countless others, will never be properly punished. They will get fired, but it is unlikely that they will lose benefits, rank or anything of that nature. For some reason, we're OK as a military protecting these people.

Funny enough, how many times have you heard that you have to send a strong message at Captain's Mast? I've heard it plenty. That was the subject of more than a few debates at my Leadership school, where we talked about what was appropriate. There were plenty of people that believed a one-time offense, like a DUI, should be punished, but allow a Sailor to bounce back. There were others that were "One and your done." In all the talk, nobody once said "Well, we should just fire the guy and be done with it."

Why am I so harsh on the above two officers? First, they've been in forever, so they know the rules. Second, their offenses were severe. And most importantly, they repeated them. It's not like they clicked a bad link once, or violated a rule that was minor. They committed a serious offense multiple times. I'm more forgiving to a guy who collides with a buoy...at the very least, it was a one time event.

But the most we'll do is fire these two and give them a retirement. And we wonder why the Navy Times runs stories about double standards.

If you want to send a message, if these two are found guilty, tear them down to O-1 and give them a dishonorable discharge. You'll send a strong message about standards of behavior, and maybe restore some honor in the process.

Bouncing back

Gavel, by Wikipedia

Did you know that at any time after a Sailor has been reduced in rank from E-2 or E-3, a CO can restore them based on their performance? It's true!

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/milpersman/1000/1400Promotions/Documents/1430-020.pdf

2. Reinstatement to Pay Grades E-2 and E-3.  As outlined in reference (a), COs have the authority to reinstate members to E-2 or E-3 (one paygrade only) any time after reduction in rate, without referral to higher authority.

Other reductions can be appealed and restored, but it must be at least 12 months after the offense.

Some accountability with drinking

Over dinner, my wife relayed an interesting conversation she had with the wife of an Air Force Officer I know from college.  He had volunteered over the weekend to sit on a hotline to drive drunk service members home, and wanted to see if I would volunteer as well.  My wife kindly declined for me, since I had watch, but she was rather irate at being asked in the first place.

In her mind, it was simply enabling bad behavior.  She couldn't understand how Sailors could afford enough alcohol to get drunk, yet then not have enough sense to arrange a ride before or pay for a cab.  She was then further insulted when it was apparently my responsibility to give up my time on the weekend when I already work later than most of the problem children.

At that point, I realized how much brain washing we do in the Navy.  How often do we glorify the guys that sacrifice their time for such endeavors, and never ask whether we are simply enabling the behavior in the first place?  It's similar to our glorification of the guy that spends all his time at work, letting his family life completely deteriorate while destroying his subordinate's initiative. 

What freedom and democracy is being defended around the world?

My first real overseas experience (for longer than a port visit) was Bahrain. The Navy has a large base there, and I got to spend 6 months supporting our mission. While I was there, I spent my free time exploring the island, the culture and getting to know all the areas that weren't off limits.

The problem with Army leadership

Thoughts from BlackFive here:

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2013/08/senior-officer-email-the-problem-with-army-leadership-at-the-division-level.html

As a Navy guy on an Army post, specifically one that is training new troops out of Basic, I'm shocked at the difference in discipline. For the Navy, if a sailor messes something up (looks like a slob, gets a ticket, etc.) we put the responsibility on the local chain of command to fix. I've personally, as a division officer, corrected sailors for failing to salute Army officers and for looking like slobs. It's pretty rare, I think I've caught maybe six in the 2 years I've been here.