The Goat Locker
Captain Jim Loew USCG (retired)
Many miles have passed under the keel
since I was an Ensign reporting to my first ship. The cutter SUNDEW was
homeported in
SUNDEW’s Chiefs varied in age,
experience, rate, and rating. What they
had in common was that they were
sea-going professionals: Respectful, technical experts in their respective areas
of responsibility, and Chiefs before they were BM’s, EN’s, or EM’s … they were a
tightly knit team of leaders at the core of the unit. So, why did this group of
salty (I know, it was fresh water – but they were still “salty”!) Chiefs invite
this “wet behind the ears” Ensign into the Chief’s mess?
Well, I don’t know the answer to this
question since they never shared any sort of “plan” with me … maybe I was just a
poor card player and they wanted to win. But somehow I think it was more than
that. I think they wanted to teach me what I hadn’t learned in school and help
me develop into a good officer … about Chiefs, about the enlisted ranks, about
the Mess, about respect and good communications up and down the chain of
command, and many other aspects of shipboard life and culture (perhaps not even
in a conscious manner, but in a way that good Chiefs had played a role in
officer development for generations). And
in a way that could not have been
as accepted had such interaction been required, I looked forward to being
invited occasionally into the Mess for coffee, a card game, or conversation.
Looking back on the experiences, I learned a lot through observing their
interaction with each other and their subordinates as they would filter through
the Mess for various reasons. And so much more…
I’m not sure how the Chief’s felt when
I was transferred off SUNDEW … probably just thought about starting all over
again when my replacement Ensign reported for duty. Isn’t that how it goes in
the world of high turnover shipboard life … always “breaking in” new
crewmembers? Well, let me tell you that the investment made by SUNDEW’s Chiefs
made all the difference to me as I went off to command a 95 foot “spit kit”, and
went back to sea as often as the service would allow.
So, do you remember your first
Ensigns? How did they turn out? Did they have a healthy respect for Chiefs, the
(potential) power of the Chief’s Mess, and an understanding of the enlisted
workforce when they departed the ship (or other unit)? What would that Ensign
think of you and your fellow Chief’s? Do you even think this is a part of your
responsibility as a Chief? In your mind, does the phrase “Ask the Chief” apply
to officers as well as enlisted?
I feel fortunate to have served in
small cutters in my early years at sea. Service in WLB’s, WPB’s, and WTGB’s
meant that an officer was going to interact frequently and in varying roles with
the Chiefs and enlisted crew, and have small to non-existent wardrooms. It
wasn’t until I “graduated” to MEC’s that I saw the difference in
officer-enlisted relationships onboard those larger cutters with greater numbers
of officers in the wardroom. And in all honesty, there are probably other
changes that occurred during my time in service that affected shipboard
relationships one way or another, including specialization, rate consolidations,
technology, minimal manning, and onboard training programs (PQS). So, my
observations on junior officers and their development is seen in the light of
watch qualification, and heavy duty collateral duty assignments such as boarding
officer, landing signals officer, and various classified systems. Or in the case
of student engineers, the completion of their drawings and qualifications. In
any event, the natural course of events is for the junior officer to stand
watches, sleep, study, conduct boardings, and so forth, leaving little time for
shipboard socialization and cultural development (or fun, for that matter). And
of course, shipboard demands are just as high on the enlisted side. The days of
Chiefs having spare time to sit around the mess and even interact (build the
Mess Team) with each other seem long gone.
But perhaps with forethought and
planning, and desire and determination, it doesn’t have to be that way. I can’t
say how it is on all BWO’s (big white ones), but as CO, I’d be invited to the
mess for supper once or twice a patrol, and would certainly drop by periodically
for a cup of coffee (Knock then enter) and visit with whomever was there.
Typically the XO would be invited once a patrol, usually with a different
purpose in mind on the part of the Chief’s. I never saw the junior officers (O3
and below) be invited for a meal, or coffee, (or cards) and similarly never saw
the PO1’s invited in either (as part of a long term developmental plan). I used
to meet at least once a patrol with the PO1’s, and I’d always take the senior
Chief with me. Typically, my meeting with the PO1’s resulted in “individual”
issues being raised. This large group could have been much more effective had
they been more cohesive and organized. Leadership through the example of an
organized Mess that extends to mentoring developing enlisted leadership could
have led to greater accomplishments, satisfaction, and so
forth.
The issue of the Chief as a leader
will certainly continue to be increasingly challenging as the Service changes
(and there will always be change). The Service itself must continue to foster an
environment and culture where our senior enlisted leadership is relied upon as
integral to mission success and crew development. I can only hope this is
emphasized formally through the
In closing I’ll salute and thank those
SUNDEW Chief’s, and the rest of the Chief’s I was privileged to sail with or
work alongside while ashore, for all they taught me (and their patience) over
the years. There’s no doubt in my mind that a strong corps of Chief Petty
Officers working together to develop future Chiefs and an officer corps capable
of leading and working with Chiefs and the enlisted workforce is critical to
remaining Semper Paratus.