Highly-trained, capable and ready … people
This good nugget came out in my feeds over the last few days and thought it worth sharing. Everyone can use consistent reminders that the highest level of productivity does not come without some good R&R.
Make no mistake, the Sailors and Marines of the USS Enterprise are highly-trained, capable and ready professionals…but they are also people…people who appreciate approval and recognition. They succeed not only because of their technical and professional ability but also because they know that there are people back home… mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, children, friends, and yes, celebrities like those who visited today…who value the contribution they’re making to our nation through their service.
CAPT Bill "Boomer" Hamilton
Commanding Officer
USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
(via NavyLive)
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Music is…
I'm no stranger to music. I have spent many afternoons, mornings and nights making, listening, and celebrating music.
Music is...
- ... not constrained to three dimensions
- ... unique to each set of ears
- ... expression
- ... part of your identity
- ... an art
- ... free
- ... what you want it to be
- ... culture
- ... stimulating
- ... relaxing
- ... refreshing
- ... good
Check out this video:
The beginnings of the US Navy: John Adams
In 1775 the Continental Congress while assembled in Philadelphia, charged seven members of a "Marine Committee" the task of standing up a navy. John Adams of Massachusetts was one of the seven. And he along with the other six were all perfectly unaware of how to organize a new navy.
Excerpt from a letter from John Adams to Elbridge Gerry (future Vice President to James Madison)
It is very odd that, I, who have Spent my Days in Researches and Employments so very different, and who have never thought much of old Ocean, or the Dominion of it, should be necessitated to make such Enquiries: But it is my Fate, and my duty, and therefore I must attempt it. (via masshist.org)
Due to restrictions set in place by the British, the United States lacked naval experience making designing and building ships of war and the armaments required to be aboard a nontrivial process. The beginnings of the Continental Navy were rough. Officers that were commissioned were corrupt and could not be trusted. The initial 13 frigates that were commissioned were no match for British vessels and all but one were either captured or sunk (by friendly or foe).
Fortunately our nation had great and motivated leaders that could see over the horizon. In the same letter quoted above, John Adams exclaims that the status quo will not always be:
But I must take the Liberty to say that I think We shall Soon think of maritime Affairs, and naval Preparations: No great Things are to be expected at first, but out of a little a great deal may grow. (via masshist.org)
Many references attributed to Ian W. Toll's Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of The U.S Navy
Habitual Leadership
The Internet tells me that it takes about 21 days (or 21 actions) to create a habit. Can we become better leaders (and better members of society) by keeping ourselves accountable by checkboxing leadership traits? Let's find out. Below is a table with each of the 14 leadership traits the Navy wants its leaders to embrace. Print it out and check a box when you recognize your own action as meeting the description of one of the traits.
For easy printing, here is a single page copy as a PDF: Leadership_Traits-checklist.pdf
| Habitual Leadership | ||
|---|---|---|
| Leadership Trait | Definition | Applied |
| Judgment | The ability to weigh facts and possible solutions on which to base sound decisions. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Justice | Giving reward and punishment according to merits of the case in question; the ability to administer a system of rewards and punishment impartially and consistently. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Decisiveness | Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear, forceful manner. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Initiative | Taking action in the absence of orders. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Dependability | The certainty of proper performance of duty. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Tact | The ability to deal with others without creating offense. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Integrity | Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles; includes the qualities of truthfulness and honesty. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Endurance | The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress and hardship. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Bearing | Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance and personal conduct at all times. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Unselfishness | Avoidance of providing for one's own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Courage | The mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a man to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Knowledge | Understanding of a science or an art. The range of one's information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your Sailors. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Loyalty | The quality of faithfulness to country, the Navy, the unit, to one's seniors, subordinates and peers. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Enthusiasm | The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
Navy Women in 1917
The last few days of This Day in US Navy History had an interesting theme among some of the bullets: Women.
On 21March1917, Loretta Walsh became the first female Navy Petty Officer when she was sworn in as a Chief Yeoman (link). She was also the first woman allowed to serve in any of the US Armed Forces as anything but a Nurse (link).
On 19March1917, the Navy Department authorized enrollment of women in the Naval Reserve with ratings of yeoman or radio electrician (link).
Now I am sure I am just scratching the surface here, but just a few weeks later on 06April1917 the US declared war on Germany in WWI, and if I had to guess, there was probably a lot of push for this to happen because of the imminent war ahead. This mirrors the civilian sector where many women were moving into jobs typically held by men such as mining, chemical manufacturing, automobile and railway plants. This also includes the political world where Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman to be elected to Congress (link).
The irony of the last point slaps you across the face, though, when you realize that the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution (women's suffrage), was not ratified until August 1920 (link).
I've been on a history kick lately and loving Khan Academy's history lessons.