highlyrandom said:
Fast forward to 2004, and to today...the last year has seen numerous highly inappropriate conversations with junior enlisted people in front of Chiefs, Senior Chiefs, and even superior officers on commercial air flights...all of whom blatantly encouraged the view of ensigns as eternally useless without some prior fleet time. It went like this: E-2: "Sir, aren't you officers just figureheads? Way I see it, we could run this show without you." E-7: "Airman, don't embarrass him. He probably thinks OCS was hard."
Screw that. Command climate was much the same at each intermediate command, including a public works office where the Chief advocated not following the rules, and exchanged words with me on how little authority I had as the friggin DivO. Mistake: I left TAD with my tail between my legs; already cynical beyond words...it took flight school to build me back up again.
You may not want to hear this and others may disagree, but if there is any "blame" to be had in these situations - IT IS YOURS.
YOU are the officer. YOU let these situations happen.
First situation - you should have immediately informed the Chief that you want to have a word with him and walked away to a private area. If he did not follow, a curt "Chief, now" would have brought him. The E-2 would have realized the right away that what the Chief said was not appropriate and hopefully your talk with the Chief would have shown him the error of his ways. I said take the Chief to a private area because there is much wisdow in the old adage "praise in public, criticize in private".
Second situation - YOU allowed the Chief to break the rules and YOU allowed your authority to lapse. A Chief has authority. An officer has authority and RESPONSIBILITY. You are responsible to enforce the rules and ensure the job is completed. Even if the situation existed before you arrived, it was your responsibility to fix it. If your tail was tucked between your legs, it is because YOU put it there by NOT doing your job.
I will grant that a new Ensign with no prior experience can easily get in over his head, but there are many resources for you to consult. Go to a more experienced officer (it does not have to be your DH, XO or CO - just someone with more experience). Go to a Master Chief. Granted there will be a very few Master Chiefs that are bad, but it's as hard to make E-9 as it is to make O-6. Most Master Chiefs are great leaders and they will not only square you away, but they will square away any Chief or Sailor that steps out of bounds.
I was a product of Navy AOCS. It had the leadership courses necessary to give you the academic knowledge needed to be an officer and a leader. ROTC and the Academy have even more time for these courses. It is up to you to apply this academic knowledge successfully and seek the approriate help when you can't. There are many non-prior enlisted officer that have succeeded with your level of training and experience.
I was also enlisted in the Army. Junior enlisted guys are easily influenced and just as easily set straight. All it takes is an honest talk with the appropriate facts. They realize every organization has its leaders and its followers. It's your job to teach the junior Sailor why the leaders are necessary and what it takes to become a leader.
Your profile says SNA. Now is the time to start thinking about this. Get a good military leadership book and read it. Get the necessary academic knowledge now - when you hit your first squadron, it will be too late. Remember first impressions are lasting ones. If you are unsure how to initially approach your first Division/Branch Chief, talk to your Dept Head or the CMC prior to meeting him.
This is not to say you should be a "Hitler" as a Branch or Division Officer. There is much you have too learn and one of the Chief's many jobs is to teach you. But YOU are the boss and YOU have the responsibility. It's a fine line and most Chiefs know exactly where and what it is. You need to find it too.
Being a leader can be scary but a challenge. Don't let it intimidate you.