September 2011 - Navy
By Raymond J. Torp
“All commanding officers and others in
authority are required to show in themselves a
good example of virtue, honor, patriotism, and
subordination.” Title 10 United States Code
Section 5947
Today, social media, a 24-hour news
cycle and the blending of work and
home have put tremendous pressures
on those charged with leading.
Recently, several high profile firings have
pundits questioning our Navy’s method for
selecting those who command. Our Navy has
responded. The CNO has renewed emphasis on
the responsibilities of those in command. His
memorandum for all prospective commanding
officers is titled “The Charge of Command”
and can be found on the Web site at http://
www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/
Detailing/Documents/CNO%20Charge%20
of%20Command%20Letter%20-%20Signed.
pdf.
But this really isn’t anything new. More
than a generation ago, then CNO, Admiral James D.
Watkins, issued a timeless missive in a similar vein which
I share in part:
“My thoughts on the direction I will lead the Navy . . .
these thoughts included some general comments on the
subject of accountability and responsibility . . . a specific
key element which must be understood is the concept of
command responsibility.
“Command is the cornerstone upon which navies
have been built since man first went to sea . . . command
is fundamentally a trinity of authority, responsibility,
and accountability . . . the great technological advances
of our age have not negated the principles embodied in
command.
“The old adage states that ‘authority can be delegated
– responsibility cannot.’ The lethality of modern weapons
makes the idea of delegating responsibility and accountability
away from the commanding officer even more
inconceivable . . . to the contrary, this has made the
responsibility of command more absolute than at any
time in naval history.
“To fully understand the standard of accountability
these regulations impose, it must first be recognized
that I am not discussing a standard for measuring the
criminal responsibility of a commanding officer . . . The
absolute responsibility mandated by Navy Regulations
necessarily imposes a stricter standard of accountability
than the lawyer’s ‘reasonable doubt.’ It is
sometimes, as it must be, a harsh standard
which may jeopardize promotions and
careers. Sanctions for deviations from this
standard may take the form of documented
professional short-comings noted in reports
of fitness, and matters thus detailed are
taken into account when an individual is
considered for assignment or promotion or
entrusted with command . . . it may lead to
relief for cause because a senior no longer
enjoys that special trust and confidence
necessary to a relationship with a subordinate
commander . . . it may lead to censure, either
officially or as a matter of not-of-record for
individual and private contemplation . . .
what it most certainly will be continually,
however, is a test of the strength of character,
judgment, and professional ability of every
officer in command. The standard remains
immutable, guiding all subject to its terms
to that final and most satisfying reward of
command – knowledge of having measured
up to the most demanding of professional disciplines.
“In summary, I have restated an ancient message.
A commander’s responsibility remains absolute, and
that commander must, and will, be held accountable for
the safety, well-being, and efficiency of his command.
This accountability may be exacted in various ways. In
some cases, commanders may be called to account in a
court of law . . . in all cases, they will be judged by their
professional peers – those who have been subjected to,
and exalted by, the same stringent requirements of
command. Our country, and every Navy man and
woman serving at sea or ashore, has the absolute right
to expect that our commanding officers will be the
finest, and the most responsible, we can provide. I
intend to make it so.”–– Admiral James D. Watkins,
U.S. Navy.
As commanders, we are held to highest standards.
Because command responsibility cannot be delegated,
commanders are held accountable for mishaps simply
because they are not supposed to happen under good
leadership – not because of actual “fault.”
To all of you who command, lead and serve, thank
you.
I am pleased to join the AUSN team as your new
National VP for Officer Affairs. If you have any
comments or suggestions please feel free to contact me
at ray.torp@ausn.org.