As many CP readers and contributors know, long, demanding, and stressful deployments can have several phenomena:
1) Safety lapses.
2) Friendly fire incidents, collisions at sea, inadvertent engagement of neutral, non-combatant aircraft, and so on.
3) Rote, inertial thinking at times when alert and innovative responses need to be developed.
4) Spare part shortages, equipment fatigue, and attendant compromises to get “just one more day” from people and equipment.
5) Petty Officer, junior officer, and even senior officer lapses in supervision.
The list is long, and the refrain shows up in too many post-accident investigations. Regrettably, it is those closest to the incident, those who were striving the longest and the hardest to accomplish the mission that are held accountable. And, yes, it is those closest to the incident that suffer the loss of shipmates and fellow Marines … a loss and a feeling of culpability that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
But, who is truly culpable? Perhaps, it is time to hold accountable the Admirals, Generals, senior DoD/DoN civilians, and senior officials in both the Executive and Legislative branches that for years have both under-resourced required operational capabilities and have squandered much needed and combat proven capabilities to chase the latest ideologies and technologies.
Where O’Where is the “Bonnie Dick”? Never forget that after a 250 million dollar modernization of this magnificent ship, it was lost not at sea in battle but burned beyond repair because the US Navy failed to “set the watch”! It was lost because the toxic Admiralty did not train, equip and supervise its Commanders and their crews concerning the absolute necessity of maintaining a competent responsive 24/7 fire watch ! Marines morn the loss of this faithful sea going super ship and pray for a proper fleet of her expeditionary amphibious sisters to rise from her ashes in order to STRIKE OUR ENEMIES from “The Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli”!
Ticking the box again for "To fix the Amphibs, we need to address shipbuilding, ship maintenance, and ship repair capability". This requires a break with tradition and a USMC push on those typically USN topics, vice just asking for our piece of the pie being cooked while the kitchen is burning. Otherwise, we are just shuffling numbers on a spreadsheet. There are real and relatively simple solutions, but they require a different approach by the USN, USMC, and DoD.
This situation is beyond dire and disgraceful. The sooner Congress exercises its oversight responsibility the sooner the Marine Corps can get back on track! We should not be promoting Marines who have sold their soul by buying into putting Marines on defensive posture on isolated islands with no means of support!
This particular string of comments is powerful, and, absolutely, spot on target. I can’t fault any of it as being off base. To coin a term, Keith Holcomb’s contribution can be called a report on the “humanology” of the neglect our amphibious have received. I have never thought of the matter in terms he presents, but, I believe his views are accurate, and, if not effectively addressed, can lead to mission failure. If we really want to have history temper our judgement, I recommend reviewing Adm. J.O.Richardson’s “Treadmill To Pearl Harbor” … change the names & dates, Admiral Richardson’s remarks address us in our predicament today. Semper Fi!
Why should any here be remotely surprised at the articles and commentary in this latest stack. There is an apparent new game in town, it makes the 3 Card Monty play in the Boston Common look childish. It’s called don’t ask, and if you do ask we won’t tell, keep your eye on the pea, and the man and his hands as he moves the walnut shells before your very eyes. So, now the US Congress in an over sight role, is asking a third party consultant to have a look (presumptively) at the decision making process and outcomes of FD2030. Good luck with that, “Colonel Beknots, as you and the five other members of your “team” developed your base case for FD2030 what where the key drivers, the inputs?” “I am sorry Mr.Mrs.Ms.They.Them.you, consultant, I can’t answer that question for two reasons; the first is, I am under a non disclosure agreement, my boss made me sign, (there goes accountability!) and secondly and most importantly it is none of your business.” Ah exactly. It’s none of our business. Can we get our money back, we don’t like this new game of 3 Card Monty. No sorry, the SECDEF isn’t taking calls, he might be ill, or he might not be ill, the undersecretary is on holiday and can’t be bothered, (it was a long standing and planned break from the puzzle palace) the 39th CMC isn’t available either and it is especially none of you old tyrants wearing stars, eagles and oak leaves, bars, chevrons and service stripes business to ask these penetrating questions. But what about the Marines and sailors on station in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea? They might need relief. Never you mind, the Navy sailed off the horizon in 1942 at Guadalcanal and you Marines did just fine making do ashore, and besides it wasn’t the Navy’s fault they were not prepared, it was just bad luck and poor planning, and a foe who blind sided us, with a series of attacks that were overwhelming in their speed and ferocious nature.
The light of hope is that is variously the Chowder Society II and Compass Points and just “The word” be passed around, is starting to make it known that there are significant problems. We can only hope the clarion call gets louder and louder and louder. Then, that serious reflection is made on the current lack of ship building, ship maintenance, ship repair, force structure and alignment with some kind of coherent national strategy to get us out of the current pickle we are in with the Navy and Marine Corps and their futures, and ergo with the defense posture of the United States writ large.
Earl in this debate I wrote both my senators and requested they inquire with fellow senators why the USMC was divesting of known capabilities in an uncertain world. Neither are directly on committees in defense. In this age in which correspondence takes only minutes and can provide mass when the questions are asked, it is an easy way to make feeling known!! CSMO on this critical issue please.
As many CP readers and contributors know, long, demanding, and stressful deployments can have several phenomena:
1) Safety lapses.
2) Friendly fire incidents, collisions at sea, inadvertent engagement of neutral, non-combatant aircraft, and so on.
3) Rote, inertial thinking at times when alert and innovative responses need to be developed.
4) Spare part shortages, equipment fatigue, and attendant compromises to get “just one more day” from people and equipment.
5) Petty Officer, junior officer, and even senior officer lapses in supervision.
The list is long, and the refrain shows up in too many post-accident investigations. Regrettably, it is those closest to the incident, those who were striving the longest and the hardest to accomplish the mission that are held accountable. And, yes, it is those closest to the incident that suffer the loss of shipmates and fellow Marines … a loss and a feeling of culpability that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
But, who is truly culpable? Perhaps, it is time to hold accountable the Admirals, Generals, senior DoD/DoN civilians, and senior officials in both the Executive and Legislative branches that for years have both under-resourced required operational capabilities and have squandered much needed and combat proven capabilities to chase the latest ideologies and technologies.
Where O’Where is the “Bonnie Dick”? Never forget that after a 250 million dollar modernization of this magnificent ship, it was lost not at sea in battle but burned beyond repair because the US Navy failed to “set the watch”! It was lost because the toxic Admiralty did not train, equip and supervise its Commanders and their crews concerning the absolute necessity of maintaining a competent responsive 24/7 fire watch ! Marines morn the loss of this faithful sea going super ship and pray for a proper fleet of her expeditionary amphibious sisters to rise from her ashes in order to STRIKE OUR ENEMIES from “The Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli”!
Ticking the box again for "To fix the Amphibs, we need to address shipbuilding, ship maintenance, and ship repair capability". This requires a break with tradition and a USMC push on those typically USN topics, vice just asking for our piece of the pie being cooked while the kitchen is burning. Otherwise, we are just shuffling numbers on a spreadsheet. There are real and relatively simple solutions, but they require a different approach by the USN, USMC, and DoD.
This situation is beyond dire and disgraceful. The sooner Congress exercises its oversight responsibility the sooner the Marine Corps can get back on track! We should not be promoting Marines who have sold their soul by buying into putting Marines on defensive posture on isolated islands with no means of support!
This particular string of comments is powerful, and, absolutely, spot on target. I can’t fault any of it as being off base. To coin a term, Keith Holcomb’s contribution can be called a report on the “humanology” of the neglect our amphibious have received. I have never thought of the matter in terms he presents, but, I believe his views are accurate, and, if not effectively addressed, can lead to mission failure. If we really want to have history temper our judgement, I recommend reviewing Adm. J.O.Richardson’s “Treadmill To Pearl Harbor” … change the names & dates, Admiral Richardson’s remarks address us in our predicament today. Semper Fi!
Why should any here be remotely surprised at the articles and commentary in this latest stack. There is an apparent new game in town, it makes the 3 Card Monty play in the Boston Common look childish. It’s called don’t ask, and if you do ask we won’t tell, keep your eye on the pea, and the man and his hands as he moves the walnut shells before your very eyes. So, now the US Congress in an over sight role, is asking a third party consultant to have a look (presumptively) at the decision making process and outcomes of FD2030. Good luck with that, “Colonel Beknots, as you and the five other members of your “team” developed your base case for FD2030 what where the key drivers, the inputs?” “I am sorry Mr.Mrs.Ms.They.Them.you, consultant, I can’t answer that question for two reasons; the first is, I am under a non disclosure agreement, my boss made me sign, (there goes accountability!) and secondly and most importantly it is none of your business.” Ah exactly. It’s none of our business. Can we get our money back, we don’t like this new game of 3 Card Monty. No sorry, the SECDEF isn’t taking calls, he might be ill, or he might not be ill, the undersecretary is on holiday and can’t be bothered, (it was a long standing and planned break from the puzzle palace) the 39th CMC isn’t available either and it is especially none of you old tyrants wearing stars, eagles and oak leaves, bars, chevrons and service stripes business to ask these penetrating questions. But what about the Marines and sailors on station in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea? They might need relief. Never you mind, the Navy sailed off the horizon in 1942 at Guadalcanal and you Marines did just fine making do ashore, and besides it wasn’t the Navy’s fault they were not prepared, it was just bad luck and poor planning, and a foe who blind sided us, with a series of attacks that were overwhelming in their speed and ferocious nature.
The light of hope is that is variously the Chowder Society II and Compass Points and just “The word” be passed around, is starting to make it known that there are significant problems. We can only hope the clarion call gets louder and louder and louder. Then, that serious reflection is made on the current lack of ship building, ship maintenance, ship repair, force structure and alignment with some kind of coherent national strategy to get us out of the current pickle we are in with the Navy and Marine Corps and their futures, and ergo with the defense posture of the United States writ large.
Earl in this debate I wrote both my senators and requested they inquire with fellow senators why the USMC was divesting of known capabilities in an uncertain world. Neither are directly on committees in defense. In this age in which correspondence takes only minutes and can provide mass when the questions are asked, it is an easy way to make feeling known!! CSMO on this critical issue please.
Skip - Did you get a reply you can share?
I always get a standard reply. “Thanks for contacting me, now let me tell you how good I am” response, but I did contact them, and plant hen seed.