Well said, and great CPO's help turn those good CPO's into great CPO's.
The mess knows what CMC's think they are the CO, and we quietly let the new CPO's know that isn't the right way, generally you can figure out what CMC's think they are the CO because the CPO mess is fractured, some will follow that CMC because they want to be in the inner circle, but when that CMC goes it is interesting to see how far out of favor those inner circle guys fall.
Very true. We had a CMC who had already successfully fractured the mess. Well, to be honest, it wasn't that fractured because most were fed up with the CMC. The Wardroom was fed up, as well. At one point there was some initiative being pushed forward by the CMC that was going to cause issues for the Maint. dept. My Maint. Senior Chief, my MMCO, and I were all on the same page. My CO asked that we come up and break it down for him so he could weigh the options. The CMC would be there, as well. No sweat, we had the info we needed.
Unfortunately, a new E-8 who hadn't figured out the dynamics of the squadron yet tried to snuggle up to the CMC during this discussion, wrongfully thinking this would make him points. When he showed up to the meeting (which he wasn't invited to), he started to see that the CMC didn't have the stock that he thought the CMC had. The CO heard the arguments, quickly figured out that not everyone one in Maint. was on the same page (which wasn't really true, just the E-8), and kicked everyone out. I hung back and we started the, "that was weird...what the heck..." discussion.
Not surprisingly, the CO went with our recommendation when we presented him with actual facts and metrics and not an emotional plea with no real substance, something that was common with that CMC.
Yeah but that CMC can be there 3+ years. And its not just the CPO mess that gets fractured, but the wardroom/CPO relationship as well.
This particular CMC was highly encouraged to seek orders elsewhere eventually. The front office had to get the ducks in a row first, so it took time, but it did happen.