Posted on Apr 3, 2020
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(Update: 14 Jun 2020) - While this story remains in the news (https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/06/19/navy-wont-reinstate-crozier-fires-1-star-over-poor-decision-making.html), we are reminded of what is today!!!
On this Father's Day and Flag Day for 2020 it might serve all of us to think about all the fathers and mothers too who are serving away from home and on whom their fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coastguardsmen rely. While many have voiced opinions on many sides of this event, and its implications are not yet fully felt, the point is simply this quote:
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty (aka freedom)"
It does not matter who made the quote often attributed to a particular Founding Father, but with little tangible evidence to verify that attribution; rather, it is the meaning in the words that are much more important!!! In the world of politics, we are reminded, that the mastery of the gymnastic linguistics involved in the defense of an indefensible position is the tangled web woven by the venom of the spiders that need absolute power.
With > 22.5 views, >1.3 K likes and >370 comments as of this date this post has had a lot of play. I want to thank all those the posted. Have a great Father's day, Flag Day and think deeply about the event that will be soon upon us - the 4th of July. Our nation is difficult, but in that difficulty has always been hope. I continue to pray that our nation of men, of women, of black, of white, of so many others learns that our common humanity it more important than our, often contrived differences. We'd be wise to remember that:
ALL people have "...certain unalienable rights..." and "...that among thee are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..." None of which can ever be truly achieved when small minds are willing to act out of fear and ignorance to save only themselves and deny these "...unalienable rights..." to the least among us who are in our care!
Blessing to all....
-------------
(Update: 13 Apr 2020) - Thank you SGT (Join to see) for this "interesting update" regarding the Pentagon's "worries" over CAPT Crozier's actions (https://www.rallypoint.com/shared-links/pentagon-worries-capt-crozier-s-concern-for-his-sailors-may-be-contagious--3). Humm. So, a Pentagon spokesperson could have actually said. “...This makes us sitting here in the Pentagon look like out-of-touch asses....” Now that is interesting!?!?!?!?!
Oh, I love the phrase "Crozier-20" - funnyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!
But, in all seriousness, if you are going to train officers and senior enlisted leaders that taking care of the troops is the #1 priority when it comes to being resilient, mission focused and combat ready, you should expect - the truth.
But, it is the update (https://www.rallypoint.com/shared-links/rising-navy-coronavirus-cases-put-heightened-tempo-into-question?loc=similar_main&pos=0&type=qrc) from PO1 William "Chip" Nagel that makes the update from SGT (Join to see) not just funny from Duffelblog, but actually poignant. Humm!
I'd bet good money that the CO has this over his desk in his stateroom: http://www.worldfuturefund.org/Documents/maninarena.htm
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(Update: 09 Apr 2020) - Thank you SSG Robert Mark Odom for this intel - https://www.rallypoint.com/shared-links/roosevelt-sailor-with-covid-19-found-unresponsive-in-guam.
-------------------------------------------------
Dear RP Family,
By now, the world knows the CO, CAPTAIN B.E. Crozier, of the USS Theodore Rooselvet (CVN-71) has been relieved of command for a letter he wrote dated 30 March 2020 regarding Coronavirus.
CAPT Crozier's letter (https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Exclusive-Captain-of-aircraft-carrier-with-15167883.php) is interesting and reminds me of another CO I once gladly served, CAPT Howick. Capt Howick, I believe, would have taken the same action as Capt Crozier, based on my service with him during an evolution at REFTRA in GITMO just prior to our deploying as part of Desert Shield.
Capt Crozier, stated the obvious impact and outcomes of an uncontrolled disease state on an advanced ship of war. Is that not what a competent war fighter does? So the YES's are:
- Yes, our enemies now know (perhaps have always known) how rapidly they can degrade our at sea war fighting forces with a simple 'invisible bug';
- Yes, I am sure the DoD, especially the US Navy, did not want to reveal this as I am sure it scared the crap out of the CoC;
- Yes, the families of those sailors are scared, but I think those who are honest with themselves are glad their sailors or marines served with this Capt. as much as I was proud to serve a CO like USN Capt. Howick or USMC Col. Doyle in the 1980s.
Perhaps what Capt. Crozier was thinking about was what Sun Tzu was reported to have said: "So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak." His mighty warship was weakening and he knew it. The CoC was apparently not listening, so he took the only course of action that was seemly left to him in order to take care of "his crew - aka his shipmates" and "attempt to maintain mission readiness."
He knew the risk the letter entailed. While he has been relieved, I think he will be asked to retire; and, I am not sure he will be Courts-Marshaled for this "seeming insubordination" as such an act by DoD could be spun in the media, if they chose to, into greater questions that would expose the military's ability to protect our own in times of this kind of crisis. He did not commit a USA LT William Calley or a USN Chief Gallagher type event from their 'personal actions'. If anything, from his letter he has outlined courses of action that could become military wide, if not US Navy, medical doctrine going forward under similar future conditions and provide a better process for OPSEC under such conditions. Even when we get a handle on testing and treatment, there will be other "hidden COVID-19 type" threats. The question should be for the CoC, is how will we now keep our war fighters at sea safer and mission responsive, especially aboard one of the most powerful platforms in our arsenal?
I have been a carrier sailor and I am sure the CMO and Senior PMT along with the entire Medical Department on TR are busting ass. In closing, I remember the singular case of Legionnaires disease we got aboard the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) when to the Med in 1989. The young (20 yo) sailor died about 10 days after arrival on board after his leave. I was a new PMT then, it was interesting times.
Finally, my sister is a DoD Civlian in the ME and she tells me that troops are coughing all over in her particular indoor-based operations. This operation is not mission essential. Apparently, no PPE or social distancing is being accomplished when I last spoke with her 26 Mar (4 days before CAPT Crozier's letter.)
In any event, just sharing some thoughts from an old sea dawg!
Blessing always to the RP family,
Question: Did CAPTAIN Crozier ultimately show "genuine leadership" or "fool-heartiness" by the penning of this letter and transmitting it in the open?
BTW, if you want to understand how sailors and marines feel about those that lead them under difficult circumstances this video might tell you something - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpNT5KUYhTM.
On this Father's Day and Flag Day for 2020 it might serve all of us to think about all the fathers and mothers too who are serving away from home and on whom their fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coastguardsmen rely. While many have voiced opinions on many sides of this event, and its implications are not yet fully felt, the point is simply this quote:
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty (aka freedom)"
It does not matter who made the quote often attributed to a particular Founding Father, but with little tangible evidence to verify that attribution; rather, it is the meaning in the words that are much more important!!! In the world of politics, we are reminded, that the mastery of the gymnastic linguistics involved in the defense of an indefensible position is the tangled web woven by the venom of the spiders that need absolute power.
With > 22.5 views, >1.3 K likes and >370 comments as of this date this post has had a lot of play. I want to thank all those the posted. Have a great Father's day, Flag Day and think deeply about the event that will be soon upon us - the 4th of July. Our nation is difficult, but in that difficulty has always been hope. I continue to pray that our nation of men, of women, of black, of white, of so many others learns that our common humanity it more important than our, often contrived differences. We'd be wise to remember that:
ALL people have "...certain unalienable rights..." and "...that among thee are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..." None of which can ever be truly achieved when small minds are willing to act out of fear and ignorance to save only themselves and deny these "...unalienable rights..." to the least among us who are in our care!
Blessing to all....
-------------
(Update: 13 Apr 2020) - Thank you SGT (Join to see) for this "interesting update" regarding the Pentagon's "worries" over CAPT Crozier's actions (https://www.rallypoint.com/shared-links/pentagon-worries-capt-crozier-s-concern-for-his-sailors-may-be-contagious--3). Humm. So, a Pentagon spokesperson could have actually said. “...This makes us sitting here in the Pentagon look like out-of-touch asses....” Now that is interesting!?!?!?!?!
Oh, I love the phrase "Crozier-20" - funnyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!
But, in all seriousness, if you are going to train officers and senior enlisted leaders that taking care of the troops is the #1 priority when it comes to being resilient, mission focused and combat ready, you should expect - the truth.
But, it is the update (https://www.rallypoint.com/shared-links/rising-navy-coronavirus-cases-put-heightened-tempo-into-question?loc=similar_main&pos=0&type=qrc) from PO1 William "Chip" Nagel that makes the update from SGT (Join to see) not just funny from Duffelblog, but actually poignant. Humm!
I'd bet good money that the CO has this over his desk in his stateroom: http://www.worldfuturefund.org/Documents/maninarena.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(Update: 09 Apr 2020) - Thank you SSG Robert Mark Odom for this intel - https://www.rallypoint.com/shared-links/roosevelt-sailor-with-covid-19-found-unresponsive-in-guam.
-------------------------------------------------
Dear RP Family,
By now, the world knows the CO, CAPTAIN B.E. Crozier, of the USS Theodore Rooselvet (CVN-71) has been relieved of command for a letter he wrote dated 30 March 2020 regarding Coronavirus.
CAPT Crozier's letter (https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Exclusive-Captain-of-aircraft-carrier-with-15167883.php) is interesting and reminds me of another CO I once gladly served, CAPT Howick. Capt Howick, I believe, would have taken the same action as Capt Crozier, based on my service with him during an evolution at REFTRA in GITMO just prior to our deploying as part of Desert Shield.
Capt Crozier, stated the obvious impact and outcomes of an uncontrolled disease state on an advanced ship of war. Is that not what a competent war fighter does? So the YES's are:
- Yes, our enemies now know (perhaps have always known) how rapidly they can degrade our at sea war fighting forces with a simple 'invisible bug';
- Yes, I am sure the DoD, especially the US Navy, did not want to reveal this as I am sure it scared the crap out of the CoC;
- Yes, the families of those sailors are scared, but I think those who are honest with themselves are glad their sailors or marines served with this Capt. as much as I was proud to serve a CO like USN Capt. Howick or USMC Col. Doyle in the 1980s.
Perhaps what Capt. Crozier was thinking about was what Sun Tzu was reported to have said: "So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak." His mighty warship was weakening and he knew it. The CoC was apparently not listening, so he took the only course of action that was seemly left to him in order to take care of "his crew - aka his shipmates" and "attempt to maintain mission readiness."
He knew the risk the letter entailed. While he has been relieved, I think he will be asked to retire; and, I am not sure he will be Courts-Marshaled for this "seeming insubordination" as such an act by DoD could be spun in the media, if they chose to, into greater questions that would expose the military's ability to protect our own in times of this kind of crisis. He did not commit a USA LT William Calley or a USN Chief Gallagher type event from their 'personal actions'. If anything, from his letter he has outlined courses of action that could become military wide, if not US Navy, medical doctrine going forward under similar future conditions and provide a better process for OPSEC under such conditions. Even when we get a handle on testing and treatment, there will be other "hidden COVID-19 type" threats. The question should be for the CoC, is how will we now keep our war fighters at sea safer and mission responsive, especially aboard one of the most powerful platforms in our arsenal?
I have been a carrier sailor and I am sure the CMO and Senior PMT along with the entire Medical Department on TR are busting ass. In closing, I remember the singular case of Legionnaires disease we got aboard the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) when to the Med in 1989. The young (20 yo) sailor died about 10 days after arrival on board after his leave. I was a new PMT then, it was interesting times.
Finally, my sister is a DoD Civlian in the ME and she tells me that troops are coughing all over in her particular indoor-based operations. This operation is not mission essential. Apparently, no PPE or social distancing is being accomplished when I last spoke with her 26 Mar (4 days before CAPT Crozier's letter.)
In any event, just sharing some thoughts from an old sea dawg!
Blessing always to the RP family,
Question: Did CAPTAIN Crozier ultimately show "genuine leadership" or "fool-heartiness" by the penning of this letter and transmitting it in the open?
BTW, if you want to understand how sailors and marines feel about those that lead them under difficult circumstances this video might tell you something - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpNT5KUYhTM.
CAPT
Mission
Integrity
Political Correctness
Medical
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 86
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What I saw in your supplied video was disturbing. On one hand you have a man "claiming" to have done all of this for his sailors because of the impending disaster of infection yet walked off the ship like a rockstar. By allowing all of the crew to rush together in that fashion, he himself just became personally responsible for more infections than what might have occurred. He could have left quietly, got it all sorted (the president has said he was looking into whether or not his firing was right) and dealt with the consequences however they came. Instead it looked like a bunch of tween girls rushing the fence at a Cavetown or Bieber concert with all of the flashing paparazzi in accompany. The only thing I didn't see is him stopping for autographs. If his intent with going to the media (which it seems like during this administration is the go to option cause it only seems to either get you a contributor spot or a book deal unlike the last administration when those in command got fired left and right and not a whisper in the media) was to bring to light conditions onboard then why the circus. Why didn't he stop in his tracks and tell all of those service members to disperse and return to duty? I've read a lot of comments from people saying I served with so and so back when, well people change because circumstances change us. That person you served with last year, month or 10 years ago isn't always the same person. All I saw in the video provided was a man, filled with hubris, strutting off of one of the most important pieces of our naval forces as crewmembers crowed together to transmit this virus between themselves at an even faster rate. A good leader in my humble opinion would have stopped and told everyone back to work this isn't a Princess Cruise, it's a United States Navy warship.
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I don’t know the whole story. Perhaps he attempted to go through the proper channels. But for whatever reason, he saw his men in danger and he took action. I overheard one soldier on the news, they bleeped him out, but upon hearing about the CDRs firing his reaction was “WTF?!” Lol at least I assume that reaction was in retaliation of the firing.
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Courage is the last thing that should be brought into this problem. It takes someone unafraid to turn to all resources for advice and management of the situation. I would have considered it an easy challenge. Having close quarters is no reason to not have discipline and be able to prevent the spread. I would have immediately formed a team to investigate the cause and isolate as well as protect every individual with proper homemade equip with what each sailor has. Even if it meant putting everyone overboard and anchoring the vessel. Simple masks with hand, rail, door and instrument/equipment cleaning would have begun post haste. The Medical Corp station has the means to test. The JAG has the ability to investigate and the crew has the ability to follow text book orders to ensure a stop of contamination. This could have made a perfect model to follow and within 4 weeks the entire crew could have been back to readiness.
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The Capt could have achieved the same directly through his COC; the media release was unwarranted, in my opinion. However, having said that, I feel that the Capt was aware of Command issues that would perhaps have left his ship with sailors and marines on board dying while waiting for help. His action, therefore, to use the open letter might have been his best leadership decision at the time. We need more details.
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As for the coward who called him stupid.. what does a business knows about running the military .. unless you served in the military you shouldn't be the secretary of navy. You cant relate to the military and its military family
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PO1 Timothy Kline
He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy class of 1983,[9] Georgetown University, and Harvard Business School. He served on active duty in the United States Navy as a helicopter pilot and spent seven years as a U.S. Navy officer.
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Another Navy veteran friend asked me about this morning.
To be honest when I first heard about this and that a lot of Navy/military Vets were supporting the Captain I was a little bit taken back.
Of course, I have to tell you a story you should expect that from an Irish Navy Vet.
I was active duty for 7 1/2 pushing 8 years. During that time there were all these stories about people who had used the chain of command in some pretty interesting circumstances. We were all taught about the chain of command in boot camp and told we had the right to use it. That said my only first-hand knowledge of someone using the chain of command in the way it was designed to be used when there's something that's in violation of the regulations or just needs to be dealt with was myself. I won't go into all the gory details or call out anybody's names. I had a division officer, lieutenant commander 04, who had given it division-wide order that was in clear violation of the regulations. I was an E4 and informed my E6 work center supervisor of such. He shrugged and said well it's what the commander says we got to do. I said "no" and proceeded to walk all the way up to the air boss through my chief and my division officer following the chain of command. The air boss who was in 05, when I got to him explained the situation, lo and behold he was a stand-up guy he said you're right and I'll take care of it. Needless to say my division officer never said another word to me the entire the rest of the time I was stationed there. My evals weren't bad but they surely weren't outstanding the rest of the time I was there. I took heart because I knew I'd done the right thing. I saved my shipmates a lot of wasted time when they could have been performing their duties related to the mission and save the Navy a tremendous amount of money.
So I told this story to say that it was my experience when I was in the Navy that few people were willing to actually use the chain of command in the way in which it was designed to be used. If you didn't like what somebody was telling you to do or you felt like they were violating regulations, everybody, from E1 all the way up to the CO of a ship has the right to walk up the chain of the command until they're standing in the President's office. Quite frankly I think if that's what the captain had done, even if it took getting all the way to President Trump's office, he would have gotten a fair shake.
To be honest when I first heard about this and that a lot of Navy/military Vets were supporting the Captain I was a little bit taken back.
Of course, I have to tell you a story you should expect that from an Irish Navy Vet.
I was active duty for 7 1/2 pushing 8 years. During that time there were all these stories about people who had used the chain of command in some pretty interesting circumstances. We were all taught about the chain of command in boot camp and told we had the right to use it. That said my only first-hand knowledge of someone using the chain of command in the way it was designed to be used when there's something that's in violation of the regulations or just needs to be dealt with was myself. I won't go into all the gory details or call out anybody's names. I had a division officer, lieutenant commander 04, who had given it division-wide order that was in clear violation of the regulations. I was an E4 and informed my E6 work center supervisor of such. He shrugged and said well it's what the commander says we got to do. I said "no" and proceeded to walk all the way up to the air boss through my chief and my division officer following the chain of command. The air boss who was in 05, when I got to him explained the situation, lo and behold he was a stand-up guy he said you're right and I'll take care of it. Needless to say my division officer never said another word to me the entire the rest of the time I was stationed there. My evals weren't bad but they surely weren't outstanding the rest of the time I was there. I took heart because I knew I'd done the right thing. I saved my shipmates a lot of wasted time when they could have been performing their duties related to the mission and save the Navy a tremendous amount of money.
So I told this story to say that it was my experience when I was in the Navy that few people were willing to actually use the chain of command in the way in which it was designed to be used. If you didn't like what somebody was telling you to do or you felt like they were violating regulations, everybody, from E1 all the way up to the CO of a ship has the right to walk up the chain of the command until they're standing in the President's office. Quite frankly I think if that's what the captain had done, even if it took getting all the way to President Trump's office, he would have gotten a fair shake.
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Given that all leaders must take responsibility for their decisions, going outside the CoC and revealing OpSec to potential enemy threats was foolish. It's well-known that units train together to build cohesion and readiness. The gravity of this mistake can be weighed by this question: would that carrier and her fleet be capable of performing should they be called tomorrow? A confident yes answer can't be given.
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Not to make light of the situation, but he will probably sell the book/movie rights for millions.
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CPO Nate S.
Yep! May be? But, the skipper of the USS Greenville did not make much from his book (which I got and he signed in 2008 when attending a lecture he was giving at the hospital I worked at) and I don't think he got a movie deal! Also, here is a little something that is interesting to read: https://premierespeakers.com/scott-waddle/bio.
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Since this has become an "opinion" column, then okay, he was wrong and he knew it. His actions put his ship and crew at risk and he knew it. I'm not convinced he did anything for the betterment of his crew. It sounded more like the actions of commander who'd lost his will to command. I found the chanting as he left the boat appalling as well. You're sailors...you sounded juvenile.
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