Leadership Quandary

I most heartily agree with National President John Panneton’s message (in the September issue) that the enlisted men and women of our armed forces have long carried the load of leadership. It was true when I served in the U.S. Navy in the early days of the 1960s, it is true today and I am sure it was true long ago.

I also agree that those duties currently assigned to junior officers can, and possibly should, be performed by senior enlisted persons. However, junior officers, such as ensigns and lieutenants, regardless of service branch, do not automatically become captains and colonels by osmosis.

If we eliminate the positions that train our junior officers, from where will our senior officers come?

Charles W. Bird
USN (Ret.)
Oracle, Ariz.

Fuzzy Logic

I am a former naval officer and Vietnam vet, and I do not understand our government’s attitude toward the current military.

If we are at war with terrorism, why are we contracting the military not expanding it?
Why are we decommissioning naval facilities and ships when the Navy/Marines are already stretched terribly thin?
Why is Seapower publishing an interview with Rear Adm. Mike Holmes (September issue) who doesn’t fight for the planes and crews he needs and thinks he has a solution to downsizing his squadrons by training 12 Reserve Patrol Squadron crews to replace 12 active-duty crews? Doesn’t that just shift the money from him to the Naval Reserve budget and make 12 Reserve crews effectively active duty?

Vincent J. Clayton
Received via e-mail

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