Admiral Fowler's "New" Approach

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>As the parent of a midshipman and also, a student of geopolitics I coudn't help but be dismayed by the apparent disconnect between the expectations placed upon the military's role in "winning the heart's and mind's" of the citizens of the countries we are supporting, and the "new" orientation the Admiral reveals in his comments:</p>

<p>Fowler: Military Mission Academy's First Priority</p>

<p>10Oct07 - Naval Academy midshipmen will spend more time with sailors in the fleet and have less time for extracurricular activities such as music programs and sailing, the school's new superintendent said Friday.</p>

<p>Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler said during a meeting with the editorial board of The Capital that less time will be spent on some worthwhile midshipmen activities, such as building homes for Habitat for Humanity, to make time for more training.</p>

<p>"I don't want my midshipmen missing class, going to build houses for the homeless," Adm. Fowler said. "My midshipmen need to take care of their own business, their own mission, first. Then, during their truly free time, they can volunteer for this or other really good community service organizations." </p>

<p>Perhaps he is not tuned in to the success stories in Iraq, Afganistan, Africa and other locations wherein the troops functionally and culturally imbed with the citizens in order to win their trust and support, and leverage the locals to turn against extremists and insurgents. While he doesn't want his midshipman missing class to go build houses for the homeless and perform their mission first, it is very likely that in fact, many mids will find that the work with the locals WILL be their mission!</p>

<p>This hardcore, neocon orientation, focused on might and force has not been shown to be successful for the military in the current hotspots. While there is a role for this in theater, and there always be, warfare now appears to include an element of nation building that will require that set of skills among our troops and their leaders. </p>

<p>I fear that the Admiral's views, while having the charm of reviving old school values may instead be counter to the current realities on the ground.</p>

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<p>"This hardcore, neocon orientation, " </p>

<p>Not sure but isn't the current "neocon" administration doing all the school building, infrastructure rebuilding, winning the hearts and minds, stuff right now. I have a neighbor that just returned from his 2nd or third tour and he was a artillery Woop that just spent the last 16 months or so setting up their banking system. (bull major I think)</p>

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<p>I should not have used this language because it distracts from the point you affirmed. Yes the administration is focused upon this NOW, but many have argued convincingly, that the Defense department and admoinistration did not have the resources or planning in place to provide the functions that you describe. I think you would agree, based upon your illustration, that being sure that our leaders' education include these human elements, that the related activities, such as helping the homeless, are skill sets that our aspiring leaders will find necessary to the successful conduct of their mission.</p>

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<p>A broad based education with a focus on the Needs of the Navy should include areas that give a Mid experience in areas that are not just engineering. The "Mission" involves so much more. This is not a new concept. I was on Ike in the 80's and we were the first US ship to visit Venezula in many years. We were involved in many humanitarian projects that visit. It is good that we were able to be out and and among the citizens. I made friends and we were able to show them that we were not "diablos" as were being portrayed locally by some at the time. (still are I think). I understand clamping down on the liberty, just don't think Adm Fowler is getting the message out correctly. He has marching orders handed down from on high. He is executing them as he see's fit. I think it all may be a PR thing though. I had 2 skippers on Ike both were outstanding men. CAPT Edward(fast eddy) Clexton was a lot like RR to us. Very available, and outgoing. CAPT. Macke was never around and I can't hardly remember seeing him at all, Made a lot of changes when he came onboard. However we got a Battle "E" with Macke while in NNS for a SLEP overhaul. How we got the "E" while in drydock baffles me to this day. Both were good for the mission. Just different styles I guess.</p>

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<p>Exactly how are midshipmen spending more time with sailors on the fleet? </p>

<p>I'm not questioning whether they really are or not, I just want to know what they are doing differently.</p>

<p>From what I've heard from my mid friends, they are just spending more time in Bancroft.</p>

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<p>GOINTOUSNA08.. YES! They are spending a WHOOOOLLLLEE LOTTA TIME in Bancroft! Lots of free (did I say free..whoops! Meant STUDY) time to get into all kinds of mischief.</p>

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<p>My guess (opinion, not fact) is that the summer cruises will be extended. I was a little shocked to hear my son say that his Youngster "gray hull" (i.e. time with a Fleet ship) cruise last summer was only going to be 2-3 weeks long. Cruises "back in the day" were 4-6 weeks long. </p>

<p>Granted, we didn't do the sailing cruise, and I think there's value in doing the sailing cruise, but in terms of exposure to what the mids will see in the Fleet, gray hull time is really important.</p>

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<p>Lots and Lots of time in Bancroft. Even of mine's cruise this past summer - not much time spent with enlisted. And junior officers we not all that keen of dragging a Mid. </p>

<p>Also do know that Jr Officers can get a Mid into a whole load of trouble if the Mid lets them!</p>

<p>Unless the fleet is willing to participate in the Supes plan, not sure what this will accomplish.</p>

<p>Hope Lola is doing well.</p>

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<p>I'm all for summer cruises being longer. I'd much rather have a longer one.</p>

<p>I've been on my share of 2 week Sea Cadet trainings, and they are too short. Once you finally get into the swing of things, its over.</p>

<p>But I'm still failing to see where mandatory study time and more required meals and less liberty equates to more time with the fleet.</p>

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<p>I think all the study time in Bancroft this year will make for lots of mids very ready for some "gray hull time" away from Annapolis next summer.</p>

<p>PROF.. No word yet on what happened today. Will keep you posted.</p>

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<p>Time with the fleet varies, depending on what kind of cruise you do. Some classmates only spent 10 days underway on a sub. I spent more than a month on a destroyer on the East Coast.</p>

<p>From what I've heard, there will be no more CSNTS training, replaced by more time in the fleet, ie, more or longer grey hull cruises.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Exactly how are midshipmen spending more time with sailors on the fleet?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>At a recent meeting with alums, the Supe said that there will be fewer/shorter YP and sail cruises in the summer. Instead, nearly all mids will go to a fleet ship. YP and sailing will be used to "augment" grey boat cruises. This will provide more exposure to the fleet.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
At a recent meeting with alums, the Supe said that there will be fewer/shorter YP and sail cruises in the summer. Instead, nearly all mids will go to a fleet ship. YP and sailing will be used to "augment" grey boat cruises. This will provide more exposure to the fleet.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Good deal.</p>

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<p>Many years ago the third class and some of the first class would all go to a couple of ships on each coast. These were the NATRON cruises if I remember the name correctly. The third class wore dungarees and were assigned to an enlisted running mate. It was a very good experience and you learned a great deal. The first class were assigned to a junior officer and also oversaw the third class. This was a great training experience. The main reason it worked was because that was the ships' duty at the time: train Midshipmen. We were underway for about 6-8 weeks. It was a good deal for the ships, because the port visits were often in great places, such as Sidney, Aus; Auckland, NZ; Hong Kong; Copenhagen; etc. The Optempo of today's ships may not allow for this type of cruise. But it was great and served the purpose of experiencing the fleet.</p>

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<p>"I don't want my midshipmen missing class, going to build houses for the homeless," Adm. Fowler said. "My midshipmen need to take care of their own business, their own mission, first. Then, during their truly free time, they can volunteer for this or other really good community service organizations." Adm Fowler</p>

<p>"The Department has also been called upon to conduct disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions -- often being the first to respond to natural disasters around the world as in the case of the 2005 Indian Ocean tsunami, the earthquake in Pakistan and Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast."
SECNAV to Congress last week. </p>

<p>Am I the only one who is getting mixed messages??????</p>

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<p>Easy to understand your observation. But one is momentary, the other chronic.</p>

<p>The bigger issue is that the Supe observes that USNA resources ... Mids, facilities, staff, etc. ... have been and remain an easy target for misappropriation. The leakage does not result from a broadside hit, but rather many, often well intended, "Why don't we ask USNA for ... space, manpower, pizza-purchases, etc. ad nauseum. After all, we're a local business built on the appetites of Midshipmen ... and we're a local chapter of HfH and even Jimmy Carter, one of their own, thinks this is meritorious ... and the USNA will never again get a Midshipman-of-color from Nashville if the gospel choir fails to show up this winter ... and ..." All great things, all side-trips to the mission.</p>

<p>Supt. Fowler has shared and begun implementation of his determination to plug and reign in much of the run-off, that it may be<br>
re-reallocated to its intended use. Unfortunately, many of those well-intended garden plots will feel the loss of resource, be it Pizza Hut or Habitat or the Nashville locals that don't get a local rendering of the Academy gospel singers or ... </p>

<p>Many of us and our worthy needs and desires have been written outta the USNA trust fund and it hurts for awhile. But there's really only one thing that counts in this and it seems those raw junior officers-in-training are the intended and increasingly beneficiaries of our tax bucks.</p>

<p>btw, Adm. Fowler has indicated these changes are NOT the result of orders from higher-ups, but rather a result of his staff's observations and strategies.</p>

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<p>When a new Supt. comes in, how much "new staff" does he bring? I assume he steps into place w/ most of his staff having been around a while... </p>

<p>Perhaps he has done more "listening" than he has been given credit for on these threads...</p>

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<p>It seems to me that if the Admiral is responding to the issues raised by WhistlePig, then he hasn't made himself clear. In fact, with each new quote he indicts himself further. Sniping at "homeless peolple" and referring to a gospel choir in terms that suggest they are to function as a recruiting arm of the Naval Academy not only stuns many, but offends most. He sounds peevish, small, and disconnected from the human condition. If he hasn't noticed, many of us hold the troops in high esteem because they are men and women who aim to preserve and respect human life first, and are warriors only when necessary. The human connection, and the value we place on dignity and honor, maintains strength with compassion, and differentiates us from barbarians. How hateful is it to see the radical extremists endeavor to accomplish their goals with regard for nothing but victory, killing non-combatants, and innocents along the way. Maintaining the respect for people, the homeless included, is what keeps our troops from exerting might without conscience.</p>

<p>Perhaps the Admiral would be well served to be more thoughtful with his language...in the end, whether he proves to be on the right course or not, he will have lost the hearts and minds of those that he wishes to lead, and others as well. </p>

<p>He is his own worse enemy...he needn't worry about others speculating about his motives, he speaks them loud and clear.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
The Admiral needs a public relations expert

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm hopeful and confident he'd deem that more of the "run-off." Truth be told, again ... he needs not to worry about or please a handful of coffee-clatching parents and prodigal alums hanging around a purported college counseling message board. Of that, let's be quite hopeful. Agree or otherwise, it seems apparent who's in charge of the Yard.</p>

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<p>No one person matters more than the institution. And, his boss, in fact, is we the people (including coffee clatching parents). Truth be told, his charge of the yard will be a footnote in history...not a personal legacy. </p>

<p>How quickly those that are given the privilege to represent the people of this country forget that they serve at our pleasure.</p>