Navy forges ahead with plan to hire civilians for chief, captain

Personally I think they have a screw loose. Can't be a technical expert or understand how the Navy works if you have not be serving for years. That's were guality leadership and expertise comes from not a college education. Experience out ways that every time and every seasoned commander knows this and so does the MCPO. So go ahead be stupid for lack of a better word. I know the system for picking CPO is not perfect but it is a lot better than put a clueless person in that position an expect them to led or people to follow.

Crazy idea I have ever heard

Are they saying civilians are going to be integrated into the mix of the chain of command. Has someone up top fallen and can't get their head of out their ass? I mean what is wrong with the system now, no its not perfect but like CPO James Scruggs said experience out ways a college education in leaps and bounds. I am not saying just because it has been that way it should stay that way. I say keep it that way because it seems to work for the most part. People who move up from inside are also more respected. Civilians should not be intertwined with military, two different animals altogether. Why all these changes and why such extreme ones. If something needs tweaking, make some smaller changes they don't disrupt the flow of the crew and mission.