What's said in the Mess, should stay in the Mess- ALWAYS!

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

Not always (in my opinion). And, I think those things that shouldn't be discussed, aren't. I think critics that bring up this point are closed-minded, fearful people that aren't contributing to the Coast Guard anyway.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

I share your opinion on both the policy and your assessment of the people.

[BMCM Bill Sheretz]

This is a hot button topic for me, so I’ll wade in….I’m a firm believer in “What’s said in the mess, stays in the mess.” Almost always! The reason for this policy is not secrecy, but unity within and without the mess. Knowing that they are sharing ideas in a non-attributable environment encourages Chiefs to share their thoughts freely and openly. The Chief’s Mess is one of the relatively few places on earth where everyone is expected to speak their minds without fear or reservation. We’ll never know what you think if you don’t speak your mind. It is one of the strengths of a good Chief’s Mess. Since we depend upon that, you owe it to your brother and sister Chiefs not to pass along what is said inside the mess.

If you have a beef with one of your fellow Chiefs, you need to discuss it within the mess, face to face. One of the prerequisites of leadership is open communications. If you don’t discuss differences of opinion out in the open, they’ll fester until they poison the relationship. There will always be diversity of opinions within the mess….unless they’re discussed freely, we don’t have the advantage of all that diversity.

The purpose of this policy is to permit open discussion in a non-attributable atmosphere. Mess business is mess business. Nothing will tear a mess apart more quickly than someone bearing tales out of the mess. I have seen several occurrences where that has happened, and the result was a divided mess. In each incident, the Chief that betrayed the confidence of the Mess found it extremely difficult to find a member of that Mess who would trust them again.

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

Master Chief-

Agreed.

What irks me are those Chiefs that use that maxim to discount the validity of this forum. It becomes yet another excuse to avoid speaking up and being heard.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

I would never divulge what is said in the Mess to the outside, I take the stand that anything, I post here is my opinion, my thoughts, my theories, etc.

I would say them in the Mess and I will submit them here, I am even more than enthusiastic to have my name attached to my posts, if someone calls me on the carpet for something that is posted here, my response is simple, "I typed it out, and it stimulated discussion, and that was the point."

Now, I do find it interesting that there are a few E5/6's that seem to have a lot of "knowledge" about CCTI, hmmmmmm, who is talking out of place?

[DCCS Todd Holcomb]

Steve, I haven't heard any E-5/6's here,with Knowledge of, CCTI, but again I just got here about a month ago. If that is going on then yes we have a problem. How do we fix it?

Do you know YNC Tonia Allen? :D she rocks, she's there somewhere in E-City.

Todd

[BMCS Shawn Vredenburg]

Something to remember about this forum: THIS IS NOT A MESS! The door is not shut. While only active duty Chiefs can post here, anyone can listen in.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

Todd,

I don't know Tonia, she must be on the base somewhere. I was over at the Strike Force which was not located on the base.

I recently transfered up to LANT/D5 but still live in E-City, so now I am trying to learn a whole new set of names and faces.

[HSC Brian Apolito]

I am new to this forum but here is my two cents on this issue and what I write for CCTI folks:

"What is said in the mess stays in the mess. A very important rule. You can
vent all you want in the mess but always support your chain of command and fellow chiefs outside of the mess." :D

[OSC Thomas Jackson]

Hey Brian, welcome to the forum, haven't heard from you in awhile. How goes it?

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

To add to the comments ...

As posted in the Anchor Room of the Chief's Mess [OPEN] on Governors Island,

What you see here
What you hear here
What you say here

Stays here
When you leave here.

The Chiefs need an area where they can say whatever is on their mind.

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

I agree. But, this isn't that place. This forum was designed to allow non-Chiefs to get a glimpse of our conversations and concerns. It's good for them and for us. Anything that poses a concern should be discussed behind a real closed door.

You would have a difficult time convincing me, however, that there are very many conversations that shouldn't be discussed in the open.

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

And I agree which is why you described this as more of a Chief's Call vice a Chief's Mess on your home page. If it were more like a mess, it would be less visible to the public, and all the previous statements concerning the privacy of the Mess would be valid.

There is nothing wrong with ... public discussions on whatever the topic du jour.