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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"Dopes and Babies"? Not the Navy I served
I served 30 years in the United States Navy. The greatest Navy the world has ever known.
Started as an E-Nothing and worked my way up through Second, First and eventually Chief Petty Officer. Earned a commission as a Limited Duty Officer, also known as a Mustang Officer. Retired as a CDR.
I can't count the number of times I had to speak up. I can't count the number of times I had to stand up to leadership.
It was not that I was a contrarion...it was drilled into me that it was my DUTY!
As an E5 Leading Petty Officer, I had to stand up for what was right. As a Leading Chief Petty Officer, I had to speak up when my Commanding Officer tried to do stupid or unethical shit.
I served as an Aide to multiple Flag Officers, including my last tour as the EA to a 3 Star Combatant Commander.
Without exception, these leaders may not have agreed with me, or liked what I had to say, but to a person, they appreciated my advice.
I've been in briefings where leaders got pissed, but they'd never dream of screaming at us as dopes and babies. If they had, folks like me would have called them on it.
As leaders, we tried to follow the Golden Rule; "Praise in public, criticize in private".
I can't tell you how disappointed and discouraged I am that the Orange Asspickle is reported to have said this, and not one leader spoke out.
Where's Mattis?
Where's Kelly?
Where's the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs?
It's as if all I've experienced, witnessed and lived during a fantastic Navy career was all a lie.
Are we really going to sacrifice all the integrity and honor we've earned for an ignorant fuckstick that we know in our hearts is unfit to lead this country.
I can't describe how I feel as anything but depressed and discouraged.
I find it increasingly unrealistic to be proud that I served this nation.
MH1
(17,600 posts)"Orange Asspickle" << excellent nickname for him
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Poiuyt
(18,130 posts)They are no longer serving the president, they are now serving the country, and it's in America's best interest that they come out and tell the truth.
N_E_1 for Tennis
(9,773 posts)Everything you wrote was drilled into us. I cannot understand where morals and honor went.
Baitball Blogger
(46,756 posts)Its like the Right co-opts everything from a soldier.
Doc_Technical
(3,527 posts)This is when we have a fascist President and it is up to
the military flag officers to preserve our Constitution.
PJMcK
(22,047 posts)They are sworn to recognize the president's authority as Commander-in-Chief.
But when they look at Trump, they see an ignorant idiot.
How do they square that circle?
BSdetect
(8,998 posts)Just not enough people have the guts to do so.
maxrandb
(15,349 posts)It's hard to tell junior folks that they have a duty to speak up when you've got a Cheeto stained penis in your mouth.
Their calls for integrity and honor are kinda muffled with their heads so far up Donnie Shit for Brains enormous "looks like 50 lbs of chewed bubblegum" ass.
That's why this is so disheartening. I learned honor, courage and commitment from the example of the leaders around me.
What are todays Sailors learning from Mattis, Kelly and Donnie Short Fingers.
I think this is an example exclusive of the Navy:. We have 18 and 19 year old kids that earn qualifications as Plane Captains in Naval Aviation. These young kids can shut down flight operations on a $6 billion Aircraft Carrier if something isn't right. There's not a Flag Officer, Carrier CO, Airwing Commodore our Squadron CO that would dare interfere. When that happens, we go to All-Stop until we figure out what's wrong.
Our country is just about at the All-Stop point.
James48
(4,438 posts)Like me (also a Mustang Officer) , they left the military during the G.W. Years because I could not, in good faith, serve under criminal behavior of our most senior civilian officials ( Bush/Cheney).
I had no problem serving during Reagan, Actually admired Bush the father. Wasnt happy with Clinton as C in C, but I dealt with it.
But Bush/Cheneys lies going into Iraq were the breaking point for me, and many other honorable military people.
albacore
(2,405 posts)When your nickname is "Mad Dog", and you have mottos like this one, ya gotta walk the walk....
MyOwnPeace
(16,937 posts)the number of military and ex-military people who are sharing those same feelings. Add all of them to those who have simply become disgusted with IQ45's behaviors and actions and we hope ALL OF THEM will show up at the polls this coming November.
tinymontgomery
(2,584 posts)What field of LDO did you go to. I was a QMC and commissioned as a LDO
6110, deck officer.
maxrandb
(15,349 posts)Did a couple of Admin/Legal Officer tours then Security Manager.
Once promoted to O4, I got selected for the Flag Sec/Exec. Asst world.
Like they say, once you get into flag duty, the only way out is you get fired, die, or retire. Spent the last 8 years of my career working for multiple Flag Officers... last tour I found myself on the O-Plats in the Persian Gulf with a 3 Star lugging a pelican case full of gear up a 40 foot acom ladder.
I chose retirement right then and there
New Breed Leader
(625 posts)I too am heartbroken at the lack of courage of these people.
BigDemVoter
(4,156 posts)At least you can say that this is NOT the military you served, as at one time its leaders would have spoken up.
This orange asshole has damaged so many institutions on our country. I hope we even have a country that will want to reestablish these damaged institutions and the trust of its citizens. I am afraid.
Demonaut
(8,924 posts)and we need realists like you to swab up this mess with sense