CG Accountibilty-Whose to blame?

[BMCS Burt Ford]

We have many threads on this issue so I thought we could start a poll and see where it takes us, who or what the Chiefs corps thinks is the root problem. Is it our problem as chiefs? IS it societies problem? Is it a unit problem? Everyone wtaches the news and we see lack of accountibilty everyday in every facet of our lives. We see it on base and off, at home and at work. So where do we think this trend starts? What input do you have to change the perception?

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

Good question Burt, but I can't answer that. The answer will change with each circumstance. Our society is changing in it's culture. Each "generation" has it's own sort of identitiy. The Coast Guard has it's culture but even that is changing and evolving. More and more our "traditions" are coming under fire and we are giving things up for the sake of "PC". As long as our "core values" remain intact, I guess we can live with the rest of the changes. We are all accountable for maintaining our core values. Society as a whole my not share those values though, and that is the leadership challange that we may face now and in the future. As our society looses it's moral fiber, we will have to try to instill some of that into those that follow us and will be the future leaders of the Coast Guard.

[BMCS Dave Considine]

I agree, I would have answered "all of the above" in some cases, depends largely on the scenario.

[MSTC F Bizzell]

Jim and Dave,


I would agree with you both on all points. As a organization, we draw our pool of potential leaders from our current society. Depending on the particular circumstances there will be a different set of responses based on our changing cultural norms etc. We must continue to keep our traditions in front of everyone while continuing to adjust as an organization to account for the changes we are facing. I believe the best word to describe what we must be as an organization is "Innovative". Our traditions are the foundation upon which we build while we seek out better ways to get our jobs done as an organization. Our core values as an organization however should not change. They set the tone.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

It's the senior leadership.

We have always held ourselves to a higher standard than society holds itself. The Senior leadership is responsibile for not holding people accountable to the standards that they set. If they feel as though the standards that were set are too high,....... it's still their responsibility to set that standard lower. Ignoring the standard isn't the answer.

[BMCS John Brady - Ret.]

Stu,

"It's the senior leadership." YES and let's not forget all of the levels of somewhat senior leadership who forget, ignore, make-up their own, disregard standards set above them...


JB

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

John, I'm witchya....
I'm a very "senior person present" kinda guy. At any area of the CG, there is one person there that's responsible for holding everyone else to a standard. When something goes wrong it can be traced back to that person. Unfortunately we seem to be less willing to hold those people accountable.....
and more likely to blame society. Society is what we make it, or alow it to become........

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

Stu, clarify something for me... Are you talking about Senior Leadership being the senior person present, senior officers, flags...? What about the things that happen with "nobody" present? Just for arguments sake, it sounds like the buck doesn't stop until it reaches the top. Seems to me that somewhere along the way, somebody needs to step in. That is why we are called "leaders". We are all accountable for our actions to someone.

[BMC John Phillips III]

I read the pole and first post and thought I should try to answer before reading or being influenced by other peoples posts. Well as it turns out I had trouble putting my finger on one choice as well. The answer I wanted to go with the most was Senior Leadership. That answer however was too broad as was the question, at least for me. Then I read the first reply and thought, damn, that's how I felt. Then I read the next and the next and so on.

So it looks like my original thought was that I would be influenced by the rest of your answers and I may have been right or perhaps it was that all of our thoughts on the question were already similar. Anyway, what I thought I would add is, that no matter who is to blame there is one group of people that should be making the difference and that is us, the Coast Guard Chiefs. We are supposed to be setting the example for both juniors and seniors. Holding ourselves accountable and then everyone else.

I just wouldn't say we were to blame. I never heard this before the Chiefs academy, but they said, "whenever you point your finger, there are always more fingers point back at you." Something like that anyway.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Jim, I'm going with senior leadership to mean our highest officers and highest enlisted. The policy makers that are refusing to hold people accountable. Once they show that you can make exceptions, other people make exceptions, and the people that witness that start making their own exceptions, and the people that............

An example...... If you have the CO/OinC of a unit spouting off at the Sector Commander, and the Sector Commander doesn't put the person in check. Everyone who witnesses it may think that it's okay to respond in kind.

We are all responsible. But the questions is asking who is responsible for the lack of accountability in the CG. If you think that there isn't a lack of it present, we're good to go and nothing needs to be changed. But if you see a lack of accountability in certain areas, as I do, you'd have to think that we need to make changes. Those changes are going to have to come in the form of new policies............. or requiring people to enforce standards that we already have in place. Either way,........ Senior Leadership needs to take the lead.

D7 has done that. He came down and talked about personal accountability. People need to take accountability for their actions. And we as leaders need to take the personal accountability to ensure that they do.

[YNC Matt Kristofferson]

Who is responsible for lack of accountability in some areas of the CG?

Each one of us needs to look in the mirror on this question. I would love to tell all of you that I've held myself accountable in all accounts, but I can't. Having just returned from the CPOA, and reading several threads about the weight program the Coast Guard has a problem keeping itself accountable. I can realistically find fault with all categories listed on this question, but I’m not throwing any rocks in my glass house.

Matt

[ETC John D Zidek]

There is a difference between blame and responsibility to correct. Our Military Society mirrors the civilian society, so what we see is what's out there. If you look at the example being set for the young people (ie Slick Willie's " I Did not have $ex with that woman, Can you define is? statements to congress) what do we expect to get? It is OUR responsibilty to Correct this behavior and set things right when we see them....That goes Up and Down the Chain.

I strong Chief's Mess can do amazing things. I guess what I am saying is: Yes it is Societies fault, but it is Our Actions and Reactions that will fix it. Atleast in our part of the Guard!

ETC "Z"

[ETC Aaron Cordell]

Having read all of the replies to the thread I agree with most things that were said. Every one of the offerings for the poll is responsible to some degree. I believe the root is society because of the lack of punishment fears. In a country when you can plea-bargain a murder or robbery down so a conviction can be accounted for, I ask what is to be feared? How many times have you read that he/she was a 16 year old minor or just a SN, so they are not responsible for their actions because of their junority.
The problem that I see in the military is the perception that "My people are a reflection of me." It is easier to transfer a problem than deal with it and keep the tarnish off of your record or give them a 2nd or even 3rd chance. It is every person’s job to hold themselves and others accountable. When I was 16, I knew right and wrong regardless of consequences. When I was a SN, I knew what the military expected of me. As a Chief, I am expected to be on the front lines of accountability. The United States Coast Guardsman’s Creed and our Core Values give me a goal for what I, and others, should endeavor to be, an asset to the Guard and Society. Everyone is to blame if one person falls short of that goal whether it is by lack of training, mentoring,following through when the situation calls for consequences or praising a job well done to re-enforce positive behaviors. ;)

[ETC John D Zidek]

Nicely put Aaron.