NRA News, March 2009
By YNCS Ralph H. Hensley III, USN
Usually, I start this column out by congratulating Shipmates, honoring their service, or something of that nature. This month is no different, but I want to swerve a little and talk about the future. The Naval Reserve Association (NRA) is changing. Change is scary for some and nerve-racking for others. Over the years, I have learned to embrace change and benefit from it. Change is a healthy alternative to demise, but change for change’s sake is nothing I would advocate or pursue. That brings me back around to the change that is taking place within the NRA.
At the Norfolk conference, we voted “to do business” as the Association of the United States Navy (AUSN). I have been advocating AUSN to anyone that will listen. I have invited my brethren onboard a virtual AUSN Chief’s Mess and have received some positive feedback about commissioning AUSN. Think of the awesome ability to serve our Shipmates if we come together as one voice speaking to our needs as Active, Reserve, and retired Sailors, their families, and the other members of the One Navy Team. The future is bright if we proceed down this road!
Due to finances and work commitments, I will not be attending the Fort Worth conference. However, I implore my Shipmates who do attend to vote with their brains and not their hearts. Just as NRA invited enlisted Sailors onboard, it is now time for NRA to look to the future while remembering the past by voting to become the Association of the United States Navy. The time is now!
Before I dive into this month’s column, let me wish HMC(AW/NAC) Jody Wooten and Chaplain Filer a happy and healthy retirement and say I look forward to celebrating STG(SW) Sultan “Sully” Camp’s retirement. For now, I humble myself before those serving in harm’s way and the loved ones who await their safe return. May God watch over each and every one of you and surround you with His love.
I also want to thank those of you who e-mailed me or sent comments regarding last month’s column on Servant Leadership. Sharing Servant Leadership with you was my pleasure. However, portraying the influence Jesus had in this leadership model was challenging, especially in today’s pc world. I especially want to thank CAPT Fisher for sharing his kind words and the book he and CAPT Perry Martini coauthored. CAPT Martini and I served together 20 years ago on the OPNAV staff.
As I have portrayed over the past few columns, I am on a journey to unearth my true leadership abilities. From time-to-time, all leaders should take this step as an opportunity to step back, review one’s standing, and forge a path ahead. To guide me on this path, I have enlisted the help of noted authors from various professions. This month’s book, Jim Collins’ GOOD TO GREAT: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... And Others Don’t, has quickly become a business classic with over three million hardback copies sold and 35 language translations. The lessons learned in Good to Great can be used in any environment.
In his monograph, “Good to Great and the Social Sectors,” Collins states, “We must reject the idea . . . well-intentioned, but dead wrong . . . that the primary path to greatness in the social sectors is to become ‘more like a business.’” Our Navy has been on a quest to become more business like but we’re playing on the fringes. I think being more business like is achievable in some sectors but not in the Navy. However, our role as good stewards should make each one of us weary of wasteful tactics because the resources entrusted to us belong to all of us, not to any one of us.
Why do the lessons Collins advocates in Good to Great matter to us or the Navy? Our Navy is portrayed as the greatest Navy in the world. The right people want to be part of building something great! All the Services struggle to recruit the right people. Well, if the Navy truly evolves itself into a great organization, then the right people will come to join.
In that fashion, the Army boasts that it is the rank one of the top ten Federal workplaces. I’m not too sure about that; but at my civilian job with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Programs Center, we want to be “the right place for the right people to work.” And, as a whole, the Army Corps of Engineers is working through Collins’ lessons on how to move from good to great. The Commanding General is leading the charge as we work towards disciplined thoughts and disciplined actions in our daily endeavors.
Next month’s column will continue with Good to Great. We’ll look at some of the seven concepts found in the book:
- Level 5 Leadership;
- First Who, Then What;
- Confront the Brutal Facts (Yet Never Lose Faith);
- Hedgehog Concept;
- A Culture of Discipline;
- Technology Acceleration; and,
- The Flywheel and the Doom Loop.
Until next month, be safe and steady as she goes. If I may be of service, please feel free to e-mail me at: ralph.hensley@ usnr.org