1) O-1s need guidance. We need an example to follow because we're all making a transition whether it's from civilian to officer, enlisted to officer, or midshipman to officer, or whatever.
Again, I know I'm jumping on this one pretty late - but by the time you've made O-1, especially after coming out of USNA/NROTC, where you've had 4 years to prepare to become an officer, should you not be ready to lead day 1? Are SWO's that take their division on the day they report not expected to do the same? Sure, there's a lot to learn, but saying you're in a transition mode, in my mind is a fallacy. If you can't prevent yourself from making blatantly illegal decisions after 4 years of preparing for a commissioning, you should never have been comissioned in the first place in my mind.
Look, I agree that O-1s need guidance. Hell, so do O-5's. You're going to promote and take on more responsibility, but by the time you take that position you should be ready and prepared, if for nothing else, to just learn your job and make good decisions based on the information you have. I just get the feeling that you feel O-1s are a bunch of incompetent idiots, which I think is not the case for the vast majority. I know I'm just a Mid, but I think if you've been prepared well and are ready to soak up knowledge and leadership experience from other O's, Chiefs and the like like a sponge, you ought to be alright by the time you've made O-1. Navy Ensigns and Marine 2nd Lt.'s need to be competent and trusted. These guys were clearly neither.
)