Red Over Red, The Failure Of U.S. Navy Leadership – gCaptain

PO1 (Join to see) - That's because the Navy requires CO's to have deep-hull experience before they assume command of a bird farm. So before they get there, they've done something like the Kearsarge. But still, they're aviators. They'll have nothing like the experience of a comparable MM Master.

SN Greg Wright LTC Orlando Illi Greg is absolutely right. I lived through the meat grinder that is SWO qualification. There is a jack of all trades, master of none mentality that is being looked at closely right now. Granted we have had 4 major accidents in a relatively short amount of time, but generally we go YEARS between incidents. That being said, I think there will be a massive change concerning who drives Navy ships in the future. We, the Navy, can learn a lot from the maritime forces. Even when we aren't having accidents every few weeks, I always felt like I was at the kiddie table in comparison with a Master Mariner's skills...

Greg - admittedly I am a ground pounder - but giving a Naval Aviator command of a Surface warship just does not pass the common sense test (and I don't really give a shit about all that Tom Cruise Top Gun Bullshit that I hear about Naval Aviators being a cut above the rest). On my last Holland American Cruise I got a chance to get a bridge tour (the Second Officer saw my Desert Storm Vet T-shirt while I was at the pool and came up to me, thanked me for my service and offered me a tour). That Cruise Ship Bridge (80,000 Ton) had triple redundant Radars as well as men on watch all the time. The Captain had over 30 years at sea and was a graduate of the Dutch Maritime Academy. The Second Officer told me how difficult it was to get a Masters Licence. I just think that somewhere the Navy blew it by assuming that just anyone can command a warship. You won't find that mindset at MSC, Carnival Cruise Lines or the other shipping companies.

Even as a bubblehead, I was exposed to the world of preparing a Navy pilot for command of a carrier. Greg is correct as to them having to successfully command a deep draft vessel such as an AFS (refrigeration supply ship). When I was stationed in Guam, we had 3 of these ships and in the 2 1/2 years I was there, I had never seen so many CO's get relieved for cause. I saw 1 CO make it through his entire tour of 2 years. Someone asked about testing CO's, this was the test as to whether they have the skill set necessary to command a carrier.
The Navy's concept of trying to make the SWO a jack of all trades, master of none has been a significant discussion for many years, particularly on submarines. Should we go the British and civilian concept and have Engineering Officers and Ship Drivers? I have always been an advocate for this method. I actually lived it as a Navy CWO with an Engineering designator. My specialty was engineering and although I could qualify SWO, I never did feel comfortable on the bridge. I could handle that engineering plant in any condition, just keep me off the bridge.