Academies are urged to change course

Zaphod
Tue, 06 Feb 2007 17:50:39 +0000

The leadership principles that have stuck with me through my time are that one of your top priorities, just under mission accomplishment is taking care of the people under you.

How does yelling at them and making them do stupid Plebe tricks teach you that?



The ability to make others respond out of an actual willingness to improve themselves vice a fear of reprisal is something extremely valuable that can be learned in plebe summer.

Unless something has changed, I can assure you the Plebes aren’t getting that lesson.



The biggest stipulation is that there must be a craftmaster onboard. That is either an enlisted E-5 or E-6 from the Naval Station or in some cases the MIDN CO may be a craftmaster.

Ah, yes! That’s the term! Thanks!



Basically though, the enlisted craftmaster often times is there only in the event that there is a navigation issue where the mids need his assisstance. Also every squadron has an officer in charge, as well as few other officers throughout the squadron.

OK. That’s different than originally described and makes more sense.



You should know as well as I do that there are many mids who, if you give them an advanced physics problem they have no problem solving it, but if you make stand up in front of a crowd to give a presentation they may stumble through their speech if they are lucky.

Yep, which is why (again, unless things have changed) you will be taking a public speaking mini-course during your 2/C summer. Presenting, giving briefs, and writing should definitely be stressed. The usefullness of the skillset transcends the Navy.



Yes, many times, especially youngster summer during summer seminar detail, I saw many of my classmates on power trips (the one on the biggest power trip was a future brigade commander… go figure). However, by in large most mids really do not overstep there leadership bounds, and for the most part actually do a decent job. However, there are bad examples out there, and we learn from these people. If these upperclassmen should never be in a position to behave that way, then what is your proposed solution? Personally I would rather see this large spectrum of leadership styles so that I can figure out what works best for me.

Selecting a leadership style should not be done by selecting from a smorgasborg of different styles, good and bad. They should be taught up front what is right and not right, when it is OK to let things slide and when the whip must be cracked.

It is true that many learn from mistakes. I was one of those on the power trip, and my classmates gently but definitely shoved it up my tailpipe one day, and I leanred the lesson quick. Others don’t however. The one thing in common is that we were all following the examples we saw when we were Plebes, or were subscribing to the “It’s OUR turn to get some PAYBACK!” mentality, which is a LOUSY leadership style.

The best method to learn leadership is to practice it. I just don’t think that the type of leadership upperclassmen are expected to practice on Plebes is the best method. The leadership the upperclassmen practice among each other is actually far better.



How did firsties act when you were a mid? For the most part it is only the 2/c that really gave the plebes a hard time. More than anything, especially as 2/c semester plebes, the firstie squad leaders treat the plebes with a certain level of humanity that they may not see too often during the rest of their plebe year.

It was the same way in my day, only by then they had already gone through 2/C year and therefore learned the bad lessons. Some guys NEVER learned it, I’m sorry to say. I actually know of one clown who tried to make his Chief brace up. You can imagine how THAT went over! :rolleyes:



Also, how do you quote other people’s posts?.. I’m obviously not doing it correctly

To quote text, do this:

<quote>This is the text I want to quote.</quote>

Only insted of using “<” and “>”, use “[” and “]”, respectively.