Premier Ruc wrote:I think we forget that URLs select promotion and our community selects commanding officers. I am sure all the COs had great paper, but in the event of a tie with a URL chairing the board which do you think is looked upon more favorably? Breakouts in a tough fleet assignment on a two star staff? Or 1/1 at a shore command in command with limited interaction with URLs. This board is likely an aberration, but if the trend lines continue we might need to change the way we are selecting our command officers.
Good thoughts - Some clarification...
Having stood two promotion boards (one O6 and one O4), I can assure you that it is not the URLs who make our promotion decisions. There are two key elements. One (and most important) is the
paper written on the individuals being considered. The thing is it's the very same paper that informs the CO selection board. As you become RSs, don't underestimate the power of the paper you sign. Use that power for good. Lobby for our best and make it clear who our less than best are. Leads to many genuine conversations and that's what leaders do. We don't lobby equally hard for everyone under our charge, we make it clear who our best are and that includes making it clear who isn't quite our best. Second, is the
power of the briefer. The Community Briefers are responsible for communicating our values and making it clear to the rest of the tank (based solely on paper) who is best and fully qualified. Other communities make it very clear that if someone has command as an O5 and enjoyed a band at the Change of Command, they are who we want at the next level. Our precept states the same without saying it so directly. Something got lost in translation.
As a leader fortunate enough to be enjoying O6 Command right now after enjoying every day as an O5 CO, I can assure you that there is nothing like it. There are many roles across the IWC and Navy that are at least as vital to our collective success, but for me,
none are nearly as fulfilling.
This result is an aberration, so please do not dwell on it. That said, if our best start to decide that they don't want to take on the challenge (and done right, it most certainly is), we will enter a downward spiral. While there are few things as critical to operational success as effective leaders, there is nothing more impactful than people who cannot effectively lead yet are assigned to leadership positions. We need to ensure our COs are ready and willing to lead. I certainly hope that our best are the ones most willing to lead at the Command level. Rather than frame this around how does this impact future promotion, I am concerned with how this affects your desire for Command. If any of you are interested in a conversation, please let me know. I'm very passionate and concerned about this subject.
