I had a drill sergeant who yelled at us all the time, but one time in a problem situation he broke a reg to help us out. That's leadership.

10 sailors in a year commit suicide at the same command, people should be investigated and heads should be rolling. Thats disgraceful.

@lcasey6597

2 жыл бұрын

NO!!! The problem is with the way kids are raised today....they have never had to deal with problems and inconveniences today...they have been given everything they wanted and god forbid if it gets to hot or cold...or they have to walk a little too far....kids today do not know how to deal to life on life's terms.....they take the easy way out....leave, quit,....if they can not get instance satisfaction , they chose, suicide as it is the only way they do not have to deal with adversity . It started with Participation Trophies and has not gotten any better.....We are in the Land of Snowflakes....expect everything go their way.....Yes this is harsh.....but someone has to say it......

@eddiebeaty8150

2 жыл бұрын

@@lcasey6597 I totally agree. Kids now don't learn to fend for themselves, work for what they want, and basically just raise too soft. They get into the military and can't handle doing what needs to be done. It's not day care or summer camp.

@JeepCherokeeful

2 жыл бұрын

Time to relieve someone from command.

@SandfordSmythe

2 жыл бұрын

@@lcasey6597 Every generation says this about the preceding generation.

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

@@lcasey6597 No, the problem is tough nuts that aren't actually doing what they brag about. Go show them how tough you are, or admit you're full of it. Have you ever spent four years on a carrier with 24/7/365 construction? I'm betting the captain isn't proving his manhood to these juniors. I've lived roughly a few times. But we aren't talking about a couple weeks or months here. We are talking entire enlistment terms. This isn't combat conditions. It is dry dock USA. There is not one reason they can't be housed off duty. Nor do they have to give the same person the same shitty job every day. Bring in a few marines and let Billy take a turn. All you get with this crap is people who hate the military and warn people against it. Will that do military service any good.

This reminds me of Sgt. Maj. Micheal Barrett, highest enlisted leader of the Marines, back in 2014 saying Marines would prefer to get lower pay to raise discipline and receive better equipment. No they wouldn't!!!

@Deadlydad0331

2 жыл бұрын

I remember that shit went in 2011 ,i thought his name was cool but his mindset was definitely not admired

@49ersmahsf1

2 жыл бұрын

Senile old 👴🏼there is a reason federal agents have a mandatory retirement age of 57 ! They need to have mandatory retirement for those idiots like Barrett !

@tobiasreaper3650

2 жыл бұрын

"Better equipment"

@adamantlyadam5201

2 жыл бұрын

Oh yeah, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff at the time, GEN Dempsey, and the Army Chief of Staff, GEN Odierno, said the same thing to congress. Pissed me off.

@oldgamesinvestigator7852

2 жыл бұрын

@@adamantlyadam5201 I remember one of my Army buddies saying "Who are these soldiers the joint chiefs were talking to? I don't remember them asking me a damn thing!"

MCPON really saw sailors committing suicide and said “what did you expect?”

@g3ronxmo786

2 жыл бұрын

That’s funny as fuck

@CharlonClarke

2 жыл бұрын

those parking spots are a big deal it seems...

@michaelkienzle9961

2 жыл бұрын

@@CharlonClarke Damn right. I have to park 30 minutes away and take an unreliable shuttle to and from the yards. Not fun.

@jgetscensored7837

2 жыл бұрын

@@michaelkienzle9961 and bet your ass you’ll hear about it if you’re late because the shuttles not running at time.

@michaelkienzle9961

2 жыл бұрын

@@jgetscensored7837 “I dunno what to say, should have gotten there earlier to make the shuttle”

When soldiers stop coming to you with their problems, you've stopped leading them. - Powell

I'm actually disappointed I talked my son into the navy I did 6 years back in the 80s but what he's telling me about what's going is sad it doesn't sound like the navy I was in. He tells me about the lack of professionalism and lack of even caring about the crew everyone looks out for themselves

@mitchjames9350

2 жыл бұрын

Tell him to enlist in the Army or Marines.

@juanpena7436

2 жыл бұрын

Too late he's on a ship. They were supposed to go underway and some engineers sabotaged the engine now they will be going to dry dock for extensive repairs

@buckwheatsghettoghost4927

2 жыл бұрын

I served in both USA and USMC and I saw this as well. Nothing new unfortunately

@juanpena7436

2 жыл бұрын

We had sabotage in my own division on the uss Kiska in 87 thank God we caught it. The MM3 was sent to the brig

@davecrupel2817

2 жыл бұрын

I've dealt with this kind of behavior with everyone, navy or otherwise, for so long, that I have a hard time believing the navy WASN'T like this. Case and point: sabotage happened back in your day on your ship.

So the Navy will lose alot of good sailors due the attitudes of the command staffers. Typical of most organizations. People move up and forget where they came from, sucking up for the next promotion. It never ends.

@Xehanortlw

2 жыл бұрын

So true everyone trying to make e-6 and up

As a leader you MUST do all in your power to take care of your crew. Hold them accountable but give them all you can for them to be alert and effective at their post. There has always been a disconnect once senior enlisted ride desks in high places. Sure, they travel to units to shake hands and be purveyors of bad news, but they must be empathetic and listen as much, if not more, than they speak out of their blow hole. Actions and/or inactions have consequences.

@srice8959

2 жыл бұрын

You’re 100% correct. My dad who’s now passed was a captain offshore not navy and his license was unlimited master meaning he was licensed to pilot any size ship. Always said he’d NEVER ask his men to do anything that he wouldn’t do himself, and no matter what his responsibility was to his crew and their well-being and safety. Their safety was more important to him then his ship, the company he worked for, his license, and his job. He used to say he could always get another job, but could NEVER live with knowing that he caused the death of one of his men or could have stopped their death

@brianharrington6276

2 жыл бұрын

I say BS no one is a miricale worker

@lanpartyanimal5215

2 жыл бұрын

@@brianharrington6276 I say BS. Your job as a manager, whether civilian or military, is to manage the people that work for you. That means removing the roadblocks that prevent them from completing their job or the mission whether their roadblocks are the physical environment, the mental environment, rules and regulations, obstinate and uncooperative coworkers, contractors, suppliers, whatever. If you cannot or will not do that then you are a failure as a manager and do not deserve the respect of those that report to you no matter how much "sucking up" you do.

@glennpetersen3139

2 жыл бұрын

You can not compare a civilian ship or it's master to that of a Navy ship and it's captain. You can not remove the noise, the dirt, the long walks to the parking lots, the dust, or just about any of the things that come along with being in a shipyard so stop talking like a fool. All of those things and a lot more discomforting things are what you would find in ever shipyard that's the job, shipyards are not fun places. Your either man/women enough to suck it up or your not and the last thing the Navy needs is the one that can't.

@toddw6716

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like the russian navy, we see how that went.

20+ years on active duty here. I have known literally hundreds of SRNCO's and officers. A vanishingly small percentage of these guys cared more about their subordinates than their next promotion. I have seen E-9's BRAG about how many junior enlisted they had involuntary discharged. "Some of them deserved it." SMH....

@rabidpandamotovlogs1389

2 жыл бұрын

I heard NAS Pensacola was terrible for this after I was discharged from there. We had several E7-E9s just screwing the junior enlisted with all kinds of involuntary discharges as well. I guess it got so bad that JAG got involved.

@robertu

2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately those who care about their people are the ones that continually get passed over for selection. Its more about how many can fit under the bus, then inside of it.

@adamantlyadam5201

2 жыл бұрын

Yep, I’ve known some SNCOs in the Army who thought the soldiers under them were garbage.

My grandpa started as enlisted, OCS, ended a stellar career after 40 something years (Chilean navy marines). He was most remembered by his people for addressing this type of problems right then and there: hot water problems? Lousy mattresses? Bad food? Get me the Engineer and the Logistics head, fix it. His philosphy (he learnt it growing poor, borderline destitute) was you have to take care of your family if you expect them to thrive, those Mr Miyagi stunts you seen on TV, only exist there, you can push people to a limit before they say f* you and f* this, and things start to crumble, and that is not a good navy fit. My mom (DIL) always told the story of how one day walking with him down the street a man aproaches and salutes him, and tells her he remembers him: he had had a 'prolonged stay' in the brig, and was amazed at how my grandpa upon arriving at his new post even brought the brig standard up from what it was.

@StevenPLegere

2 жыл бұрын

I agree with you 100%, but what you're missing is that this ship is in the dockyard undergoing a refit and that's why there was no hot water they are working on the ship.

@abeelvago

2 жыл бұрын

@@StevenPLegere I know that, I didn't miss it. I understand that while refueling, onboard power/heating will be on and off. My point was, the 'suck it up' attitude, it's a big miss. I've lived onboard during refits, it's messy, dull, cramped with equipment, blocked corridors, cold, food's lacking, etc. A morale boost in the form of 'I hear you and I'll see what can be done about it', will go way longer than a 'deal with it'.

@kathiemahoney4261

2 жыл бұрын

Wow. God bless your Grandpa. My dad was in the USN during WWII. Your grandpa was spot on, he lived in the solution instead of pontificating how lucky they are to have shit instead of being in a foxhole. WTF?

There is a fine line between happy sailors and happy chiefs. Abuse of power is no excuse for sweeping legitimate problems under the carpet. Whoever promoted MCPON had a reason. It does not take long for sailors to know who cares and who does not share.

@robertu

2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately, it seems some time around 2010 the Navy decided to stop promoting the SME's and the LPOs that took care of their people and started promoting those that could play the political games and didn't care about their guys.

@buddyrich3875

2 жыл бұрын

@@robertu we all lose in the end, whats in it for me politic. Thank You

We all knew that MCPONs don't give a crap about junior enlisted sailors. Hell some in the CPO mess look the other way when some Chiefs break the rules. That closet full of skeletons can't fit anymore.

@Marinealver

2 жыл бұрын

What else did you expect from a Military that cannot win wars or acomplish missions?

@robertu

2 жыл бұрын

That was the M.O. for the Mess on my last sea duty. Half of the CPOs have Junior enlisted girlfriends and the CMC didn't believe it until a a cell phone video showing the DCC getting busy with a FN. Hell a solid quarter to a third of the weirdroom was with a enlisted person.

From a Soldier that's been out for 5 years, I think it's time for vets to stand up and speak about some of the garbage that goes on with senior leadership. As a returned civilian that can't get into trouble anymore, "Honey badger don't give a sh*t". And let's face it, just because some of us aren't in anymore, we still have friends that are. We know the game and know that they can't speak out...but we can. What are they gonna do to us? Give me an Article 15 for talking...Oh, wait...I'm honorably discharged with a DD214, and am not even on IRR anymore...I can get the latest info and say what I want, dick.q

@jambajuice2408

Жыл бұрын

I know, if this was Chucky V in 2012, we would have burned this bitch down. Hey G W, do what we did. Make sure 1 sailor gets a DUI everyday

@chrisloydmas8499

Жыл бұрын

Doesn’t work. Too many higher ups have gained the support of the junior enlisted kool aid drinkers. The main people who are the first to say “you could have a worse life” are the same ones showering in poop and think it’s normal because MCPON said so..

I remember when I was about to head overseas with the Australian Army Reserves to do a peace keeping mission and they told us be prepared to stay deployed for 12 months due to the situation being fluid. Me and my fellow reservists where like "I am happy to do that and serve on a deployment." A few months out it dropped to be prepared to deploy for 8 months, we were cool with that. Shortly after that it dropped to 6 month deployment. This caused a few issues with people pulling out due to not being able to plan ahead, relationship issues and civilian work saying WTF. It dropped to 4 months people started to quit work because they had taken 12 months leave off of work, relationships were breaking up because girlfriends were saying "its me or the deployment." Days before leaving it changed to the standard 3 month deployment much to our amusement "what happened to the 12 month deployment." On the deployment I was in a section with a mining engineer he had taken a significant pay cut with his six figure mining job to be on this deployment and he was stoked that he was going. Deployment went smoothly and a month out from going home they tell us the trip is is being cut short by 16 days making it 2 months and so and so days which meant all our pay would not be tax free. We were going to lose like $9000 dollars from our pay packet and be not eligible for a medal. This deployment had now turned into just a really long exercise and we where really pissed with lots of angry people. Some written complaints where being sent back through the chain of command that we were getting treated poorly and one guy sent an email to the Chief of Army. Wow talk about heat seeker going outside the chain of command to complain about a private losing out on some tax free pay lol and a medal. We were annoyed about the trip but now we thought we were going to have alot of angry top brass giving us a bollocking for harrassing a General with petty complaints ahhhh. The thing is the Vice Chief of Army made a trip over from Canberra Australia and went and had a chat with the junior enisted people to hear our complaints. We were relieved that that we were not going to get a bollocking but thought what was the point of the visit, the General is not going to do anything for mere reservists. To our surprise he went back to Canberra rescheduled Navy and Air Force schedules to get us back home after the three month mark to be eligible for tax free and to get a medal. Not only did that happen but the Chief of Defence Force (the top soldier in the military) showed up and apologised to us personnally!!! His parting words where "Now everyone is happy no going to journalists about this..... good." So getting back to the story of these sailors they can have their situation sorted out..... otherwise local journalists will receive interesting news stories about sailors being treated poorly ;)

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

Afraid to give a complaint to the boss. I'm mean....what kind of candy asses are these bosses. In the civilian world in middle and upper management you quickly learn the golden stream comes from above and below. One guy here commented on how "bring solutions, not complaints." Excuse me? As the seniors, aren't you supposed to be the brains and experience?

@verilyheld

5 ай бұрын

@@icecold9511 Yep, you bring solutions, you get told 'against regulations', 'that's not how it's done' 'suck it up buttercup.' Worst thing enlisted personnel can do in any military is be honest!

“Nobody is telling a marine in the field you’re not getting a hot meal tonight” yes they are, daily. They get mre’s.

@blackie126

2 жыл бұрын

FRHs exist, chief.

@oathkeeper2310

2 жыл бұрын

@@blackie126 even then, many many times people opt to eat them cold due to time constraints

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

And it isn't their entire fucking enlistment. We got real food to soldiers in Iraq. I think we can do better at Drydock USA. The sleep deprivation will be the biggest issue. That really fucks with your head.

@scubasteve743

2 жыл бұрын

MRE heaters, so technically he’s not lying 🤣

@DC-hw7fw

2 жыл бұрын

Have you had boat food after a month? No. And we've had MREs. They are better than most boat food after a month or two.

My little brother was stationed aboard the Harry S. Truman down in the reactor. He said it sucked alot. When they were out to sea, he said it could be several weeks before he saw the sun. When they were docked, he had to do 24hr duty every three days. He said suicide watch was really high.

What if 10 sailors died in 10 months during work? Heads would roll over safety standards. 10 sailors commit suicide and the message is tough it up at least you're not a Marine. Hard to imagine a leader more out of touch with his people than that.

Chief's mess is flaming garbage and the epitome of "f**k you I got mine". Not talking about the 1-3% of Chief's that actually do their job.

The job of the TOP enlisted sailor (or soldier) is to be a voice for those he represents, to tackle work-life issues and conditions, and not stifle their concerns (or put them down). This in NO WAY is a dig at our Navy brothers and sisters but in the heat of the moment had I asked that question that got the response from the MC, "Lower your expectations", I would have fired back with what I'm sure would have been a standing tall before the man moment, "All due respect MC, I did, that's why I joined the Navy out of the 5 branches I had to choose from so how much lower do I need to go?". That would have put a little dent in his "Navy Pride". Sorry but his approach is not that short of a dereliction of duty.

@tomstepp6945

2 жыл бұрын

yep... I heard " you have a bad attitude "plenty. When the CO was on the bridge he wanted to know where I was was. A piss ant PO2

@mightymystery9204

2 жыл бұрын

@@tomstepp6945 Too often, "bad attitude" was deflection of blame. The troop has a BS detector, and normally a bad attitude of duty toward troops brings a bad attitude from the troops. I remember once, after an exhausting long duty night and a bad morning, I finally had a second to get a hasty bite and some peace. A truly motivated PFC found me to ask something. I snapped at him,"I've been busy all morning, can't you see I'm trying to eat? Go away!" The dismayed look on his face made me two inches tall. I went and found him and told him I was sorry. I said, "I was wrong. You did what you were supposed to do, find your leader. I was wrong, since my job is to put you first. Food can wait, that's selfish. You're the only reason I got rank. What do you need?" His face lit up, and he never, ever did less than outstanding work the rest of the time he worked under me. I came that close to ruining a junior by being selfish.

@atticus9845

2 жыл бұрын

Saying something like that will get you masted and eventually dishonorably discharged. The navy has a malicious way of dealing with people at a low level without ever reporting anything or letting anyone else know. People without an extremely loud and aggressive voice get snuffed. I should also mention that masting sailors is a very common way to create a path for discharge without benefits, and is a tool used by many captains in charge of a seafaring command.

I been there when i was in and asked the force master chief a question. Then i was later chewed out by 7 chiefs due to the fact i did not get my question vetted through them.

@OfficiallyBlind

2 жыл бұрын

its mad weird, but then the same people won't let you leave unless you've asked 5 questions

I think it all comes down to perspective. Marines expect to be treated like shit. That’s what we signed up for. Navy sailors didn’t necessarily sign up to be treated like a Marine.

@youssef2366

2 жыл бұрын

Nah man I just drank the kool-aid too early

@bobfg3130

2 жыл бұрын

No, Marines don't expect that.

@salvadorayala3860

2 жыл бұрын

I signed up for an MOS, not to get treated like a dog. I have it pretty good compared to other MOS’s

@RonB208

2 жыл бұрын

"Navy sailors didn’t necessarily sign up to be treated like a Marine." I did, I was in the Seabees from '66 to '78. After peace broke out, the program changed and offered entirely too much 'CYA'.

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

We are also talking entire enlistment terms, not a deployment.

That whole quote sounds like “Don’t be sad because someone has it worse.”

I’m a retired Mustang. This is intolerable! You don’t do this to your people. You don’t just gaf them off. Listen to them, explain the situation, work to improve the situation if at all possible. You can’t fix everything, but you have to try.

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

This is a situation easy to fix from my perspective. A motel to start with. Why sleep on ship? Rotate this job. Holding a fire extinguisher doesn't require a lot of OJT. And it wouldn't hurt for He Man top enlisted to have a turn with a paint brush or fire extinguisher. People can tough out shit for a month. Years though.....

Commands are usually so top heavy minded. I usually felt like I was seen as a pawn….scratch that. Just an object to be used. We had a couple attempted suicides on my ship in the early 2003. Our captain decided to have a all hands meeting. Figured we would get a pep talk and to seek out help if needed. Instead we got yelled at for an hour about how we are fucking up his career and the mission. We were scheduled for decom in 4 months.

@davewallace.8303

2 жыл бұрын

Wooooow, now that is one @$$hole of a C.O.!

@ronaldbobeck1026

2 жыл бұрын

Let me say this the entire US. Military is Top heavy with senior NCO'S and Officers. This is a fact , during WWII with over 10 million in the US. Army had fewer General officers than now in 2020. But, what the Hell it only the taxpayers money. And miro- management of the force.

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

@@ronaldbobeck1026 Rising to the rank of colonel or captain in the navy used to actually mean something. Now it is a party favor.

@martykarr7058

5 ай бұрын

I've had several CO's whove "burned through a crew" to get their star, and only one of them had karma bite back.

Most of us old vets will tell you that it's always been this way, or far worse, even going back the beginning of time. Grunts are used for attrition. The interesting thing these days is the internet exposes some of what has always been hidden in past ages. Old vets wish you all well and good luck with the DoD and brass.

it's fun when someone up in your chain of command says your young you haven't seen shit , had this happen when the cno came to nnptc. This however was after two dudes lit them selves on fire in a suicide attempt, i still feel bad for the roving watch that responded.

@infinitycabbage3984

Жыл бұрын

holy crap when was this?

@deathbunny1718

Жыл бұрын

@@infinitycabbage3984 either late 2020 or early 2021 but either way it was after the xovid lock down when they threatened some of the staff with living on site.

His job is to fight for the enlisted troops; not please Admirals. Help where you can help and explain to the troops (not coddle or belittle) when you can’t.

@CharlonClarke

2 жыл бұрын

whoa whoa, stop making sense

@guyg8503

2 жыл бұрын

I've been saying the same thing for several years now. Theyre SUPOOSED to be here for us (enlisted) as a voice UP! Now, all they do is carry the Admirals water!

@mikec5054

2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately once you get to E-9 it is all about the brass above.

@dlkramer88

2 жыл бұрын

I suspect this tendency got worse when we got uniformed _HR_ for God's sake. Once of the key lessons of corporate life is that 'HR is not on your side'. HR is really its own side in many organizations, driven by power accumulation and establishing systems to allow them to do as little work as possible.

@jayaudette2063

2 жыл бұрын

@@mikec5054 Mike, you need to learn the difference between a E-9 and a Master Chief Petty Officer. BTCM(SW) Ret.

Retired as HMC in 2003! Honestly one of the reasons I retired after 22 years was I realize the Navy just didn’t give a damn!😒🇺🇸

The MCPON just sounds like your typical chief who doesn’t give a f about junior enlisted and then goes out and gets 3 divorces and a bunch of hookers

@StevenPLegere

2 жыл бұрын

Hey hey hey.... No reason to disparage the hookers they didn't do anything wrong...

@djcuero1

2 жыл бұрын

😂 dam

@lukesargent7551

2 жыл бұрын

Hey... He also shot a cop when he was drunk too... Just sayin

I served aboard three Air Craft Carriers and I went through several yard periods. When living conditions were lowered we would park an “APL” next to the ship or very close to the ship. The APL had berthing facilities, heads with hot water and galley facilities. This is where the on-duty crew stayed. Parking was a different animal. PSNS has bought a multi level Parking facility with security monitoring the garage. Being able to park close to the ship was only available to the CO, XO and senior officers. Very respectfully MM1(SW) USN Ret.

@christophersmith1041

2 жыл бұрын

Knowing were that boat is and growing up next to that yard, I can guarantee you don’t want to be driving your personal car down there, you’ll need an alignment and shocks and struts replaced after 6 months if not sooner it’s all reclaimed land.

I was in the Navy for 10 yrs, 80 to 90, I told my two sons to avoid the services, which gutted me. I enjoyed my time in the service and would have loved to have done 20, but the politics were so bad after the Soviets crashed, that I opted to exit. The fact they are more worried about pronouns, means the services are done as a potential career.

My daughter is in the Navy and I wouldn’t give two shits for her command. I served in the Army and it sucked at times but my command gave a damn and we had decent barracks. Her living conditions have been bad from the beginning. Anyway. I can’t wait for her ETS.

MCPON must want to lose a few more ships due to arson.

As a retired Chief Petty Officer I am very perplexed and saddened. Not sure what MCPON was thinking or indeed the context of the entire situation.

@briguy459

2 жыл бұрын

Bob, he's got a tough job with an ever evolving society of Sailors. I'm not sure how long you've been retired, but the phrases "suck it up, embrace the suck & a bitchin Sailor is a happy Sailor" is no longer the mantra. quality of life and non-toxic leadership is the expectation nowadays. good bad or indifferent, that's the reality for the deck plates.

@boblynch2802

2 жыл бұрын

Been retired since 2005, 26 years. I am all to familiar with "embrace the suck". I never heard a MCPON or someone in a similar position take such a direct statment. Still context is very important. I wonder because all to often make comments about the Chief's that are bothersome. When I was in we respected the mess, yes there are jerks. I guess I am just to far removed to properly understand the context.

@briguy459

2 жыл бұрын

@@boblynch2802 as a whole its definitely changed. I would encourage you to visit a fleet week near you to see the changes. Even the last 10 years or so are night and day.

@MarkHerndon

2 жыл бұрын

@@briguy459 Hi there just wondering does the navy still use the COSAL? That's a supply system term if you don't know.

@briguy459

2 жыл бұрын

@@MarkHerndon RSupply definitely... that other stuff might apply to disbo, I dunno. Not a box kicker.

We were having a Commander’s Call a few years ago and our squadron commander opened the floor up for questions and concerns. Multiple airman brought up concerns about unit morale and our commander just dead-ass said “Your morale is your problem, not mine.” I could respect that response if it was just a few airman who were boo-hoo big sad about a lack of unit pancake breakfasts or something, but the issues were directly related to the commander’s policies and frequent throwing under the bus of his subordinates.

The Navy’s only, and I mean only priority is diversity. This is at the expense of how effective the Navy is at it one function, to protect the country.

and for anyone wondering yes he did absolutely say to lower our standards for habitability and mental health support was there when he was giving his "Q&A" he said he wasn't even there for us he was there for the tennis and just stopped by because he had time to kill quite frankly he should have never shown up and is quite frankly the worst person in my entire chain of command based on that one encounter he talks like a politician and doesn't actually answer most of the question and just tells stories about how were better off than marines in foxholes just for another side of this one officer on board said that when he was overseas in Europe they had a little trailer at the end of their parking lot where anyone can come in and get the help they need and they returned to work happier than they left the next day and the officer then said why do we have nothing like that here the shipyard is not going to move and we have no mental health support immediately available when is the navy going to step in and give the ships that come through here actual help. to that the mcpon said "who's going to buy the land and we have a lack of mental health specialists" which is somewhat reasonable until you realize that he then continued on to say "we are trying to build a 240 million dollar DC building to get sailors basic DC qualified before they leave Great Lakes" and yet the navy will do nothing to a rapidly declining mental health issue in the shipyard.

@LocalMilkMan

2 жыл бұрын

The man really said we’re just one boat in the entire fleet and that suicides were declining across the navy so it’s not really a problem if it’s just one boat

@jmsmeier1113

2 жыл бұрын

They use to do something. There was a time that when military personnel couldn’t hack day to day struggles, they were made available to the civilian job market.

@irishm9812

2 жыл бұрын

​@@jmsmeier1113 I completely agree with you however when it takes a suicidal sailor 2 years to get discharged it changes things

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

@@jmsmeier1113 Or just rotate the shitty jobs. They could grab marine privates and give him a day watching a welder or painting. And rotate who is on the damned ship. 🙄

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

@@LocalMilkMan And he can't figure out from that that the problem might be real. Lazy selfish thinking.

One of those deaths was my niece, Natasha. Had nothing to do with the ship undergoing repairs but with the Navy taking her off her bi-polar meds, her buying a house in Norfolk and then being told that she was being non-retained for re-enlistment. Too many problems all at one time for a person who had some mental problems. With this many suicides in such a short time, I'm almost willing to say that the Navy was doing this on purpose to take care of a mental health problem on that carrier!

@TopFloorSnipa

2 жыл бұрын

The carriers that are in the yards are disgusting the navy dosent even move sailors to on base housing it is legit horrible

@bullnukeoldman3794

2 жыл бұрын

@@TopFloorSnipa ...and nothing appears to have been changed with overhaul periods for ships over the last 50 years. It sucked then, it sucks now. Shipyards are located in crappy locations, never has there been adequate parking, temporary hotel services (food/heat/berthing) are horrible. It's part of the stuff that recruiter never seems to mention and yet, there it is.

@scarling9367

2 жыл бұрын

@Happy Dog You can make an entire 20-30 year career with issues like that. I certainly knew a few folks like that while in the service.

@iamkesha.

2 жыл бұрын

Gary, I am so sorry got what your family is going through. ~ retired Navy

@CAAT308

2 жыл бұрын

Bi-polar can’t join military. So meps fuck up and let her in or you got the meds wrong. And yes I was military for 9yrs before being forced out do to being wounded in Iraq

I remember the E-1 through E-3 Barracks in New London Naval Station. 6 stories tall and had not been repaired since the Korean war. The top 2 stories had collapsing buckling walls and floors. The top 3 stories always stank of mold and mildew. We were always having severe allergy problems. We told both the base Chaplain and Corpsman about it. They even did an inspection that was in late 99. I found out from a friend that joined the Navy as a submariner that the old E-1 through E-3 barracks was boarded up and scheduled for demolition back in 05. Hopefully that is true. I remember me and my roommates waking up having sneezing fits that burned. When we wiped our noses we often found blood. One of the biggest problems in the military is the old on base barracks for junior enlisted that have been there since WW2 era and have received no repairs or upkeep. Hell I remember OSHA tearing the Norfolk base CO a new ass after just a 2 week inspection of the bases living facilities and sewage system.

@ursulasmith6402

2 жыл бұрын

Huh? I thought the Navy has excellent logding/ berthing. The Army had workhouses style barracks until Bush changed all that. Now there is quality of life, a whole lot better.

@jasonswearingin1009

2 жыл бұрын

@@ursulasmith6402 They did but only for junior officer and senior enlisted lodging/barracks. Their barrack looked like 3 to 4 star hotels both inside and out. If you were E-4 and down you were lucky if your barracks wasn't an old Cold War building that looked and smelt like a converted hardened cattle barn. We had a heavy storm drop about 5 inches of rain in about 2 hours back in 02 and the bottom 2 floors of my barracks was evacuated because back pressure from the sewage system was literally blowing toilets off the floor sinks off walls and piping was bursting up trough the shower drains.

@rishnix

Жыл бұрын

I was stationed at Grotton back in 09 for a bit when I was an E-4. I can tell you that at least by the time I got there, I didn't see anything that bad. We just had your standard cockroach infestation. Those fuckers were everywhere and it didn't matter how clean you kept your room. I once woke up with one just sitting there on my arm. I hate those things so much. But I didn't get any mold induced nosebleeds, soooo, improvements?

I enlisted in the Navy 36 years ago and my first command was the USS CORAL SEA. She was a 40 year old aircraft carrier and the living conditions were challenging to say the least. That being said it was also the best experience I have ever been fortunate enough to experience. We had pride and professionalism and all I can say is the Navy of today is a sad and sorry example of a once great branch of service.

@lewiseberhart2871

2 жыл бұрын

I concur shipmate. I served 22 years from 1975 to 1997. USS Seattle AOE-3, USS Inchon LPH-12 and USS Butte AE-27.

@scubasteve743

2 жыл бұрын

Pride 🌈 *insert village people songs* 😂

@kirk2767

2 жыл бұрын

We escorted the USS Coral Sea on a Med Cruise. ('87-'88, I think.) Every time we'd follow her into a port, we'd be able to smell--and even see--the oil slick she'd leave everywhere. Still, she was a good-looking ship, and seemed to do her job reasonably well, despite everything.

@lewiseberhart2871

2 жыл бұрын

I would agree Ray. The armed forces are now a bunch of woke crybabies.

@gpdragon1404

2 жыл бұрын

"I can say is the United States of today is a sad and sorry example of a once great country." There, fixed that for ya.

From what I've seen in the Navy since 97 is that when a CO takes really good care of his crew, he gets transferred to another command. Had one CO who took really good care of us (ie procured the best liberty ports for us, the best food, even booked a private concert for us) he got transferred out after two and half years in command, now he is a 4 star admiral.

We knew this already, top echelons of command don't give a F ab us lower enlisted. Doesn't matter what branch. We also need to make sure people know the hard/harsh realities of military life before they join.

@mctransportation9831

2 жыл бұрын

Most would never join if they did that.

@Setton_Exile

2 жыл бұрын

It’s a Corporate World and The Military is No Exception. Top couldn’t afford a F to give even if they had it financed, an until it effects their Numbers they still won’t ever GAF

@PBVader

2 жыл бұрын

Sure, some of us did know the rigors. But fraud, waste and abuse at the top leading to poor mgmt decisions at the bottom has never been addressed appropriately. Rules for thee. The ones at the top should be the ones that been thru the ringer, not the ones that were willing to place the sacrifice on someone else.

HM2 should have rebutted: “Show of hands, who here signed up to be a Marine? Who’s a SEAL in here?”

@ddomina34

2 жыл бұрын

I always hated hearing that from certain FMF HMC’s when I was in, I didn’t join the marines and my NEC didn’t really go FMF

@danielpeters2282

2 жыл бұрын

Marine

@Val81121

2 жыл бұрын

Shoulda coulda woulda

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

I'd have asked him "so how did you cope with your four years on a 24/7 live aboard construction assignment with only crapoy jobs? And when was this?"

Ppl like him is the reason why I left. I get that every branch, department, gov have pole like him but when the navy has as many of these ppl I couldn’t take it anymore. They just don’t care about the ppl, mission over the ppl.

I was in the navy from 1982 to 1986 and then went and did 25 years in the army. I will say this...I was in the persian gulf during the Iran/Iraq war assigned to the USS Cushing (DD-985). Bottom line, it sucked. But, once we left the gulf, we went back to being a "spit shine" ship. Denied meals only because the deck didn't shine good enough. No other reason. Most of us expect to miss a meal or two in the military, but it should be because of being at General Quarters under attack or something worth while. So when the time came for me to get out or re-enlist I got called into the Retention NCO office. He asked me what my plans were. I just said, "Master Chief, you only have to kick this dog once", and I walked out. At least in the army when they knew we would be unable to eat a hot meal, they threw some MRE's at us.

@billfuentes7989

2 жыл бұрын

Whoa you actually were called into the ships Retention Office?! I was on the USS Kittyhawk (CV-63) aka The Shitty Kitty aka CB-63 (CB = Cell Block) 94' to 97' and was an undesignated airman thrown into the Administrative Dept and I was friends with the Yeoman for our ships Retention Office and he would tell me the Master Chief slept all day because they averaged about two or three appointments a month! On the bright side the Master Chief was trying to get his masseuse certification in time for his retirement and he gave really good massages on the shoulders and neck!

@brianharrington6276

2 жыл бұрын

the pgw happened 89-1990 time frame us navy at the time

@joecitizen6046

2 жыл бұрын

@@brianharrington6276 The Iran/Iraq war was from 1980 to 1988. The USS Cushing was in the Persian Gulf in 1984. We escorted Iraqi tankers so that Iran wouldn't sink them.

@big1jim4x4jeep3

2 жыл бұрын

Brother, another Cushing DD-985 Sailor here, 91-94. Made Chief on that ship. OW-Division, we were fantastic CT's.... Ship didn't care. Couldn't wait to get off her. The old saying, "What does it sound like when $hit hits the fan? Cushing!"

@joecitizen6046

2 жыл бұрын

@@big1jim4x4jeep3 Having an uncaring leadership must've been an ongoing tradition on the Cush.

Nobody ever said that it's going to be all sunshine and unicorns when you join the navy. My first 7 months when I reported to my first ship back in '93 it was in dry dock. The mess hall, berthing, and all of engineering was torn out so we had to stay in the barracks. I had to wake up 1 hour earlier to walk from the barracks to a barge next to the ship where the crew would eat lunch. And even when we finally moved in to our berthing, we had no hot water for months. I am sure that sailors had it much worse in the 40' or 50's so we are making progress.

@Garviel.Loken.Knight.Errant.

2 жыл бұрын

MM2, 2005(EoS). USS Tarawa (LHA-1). Life generally sucked while in. As an engineer we were always working, seldom sleeping. Lucky to get a cold trickle shower and room temp food when we could. Berthing had sucky ventilation, even after a refit to the cooling system. 18/6 rotations with many 24 and carry-ons. So yeah some of these new kids come in and can't hack it. Life on a ship is tough. And only made tougher depending on the job you have.

@buzzbomb9495

2 жыл бұрын

I walked on USS America CV66 in '87 in NNSY. She was fresh outta drydock. Everything was still tore apart. Ya never new from one day to the next what was gonna work and what wasnt. More often than not, ya were wondering looking for a head that was open. It was difficult at times dealing with the revolving door of BS. Just had to deal with it and rise above. By time i left...she was back in the yards.

@Attack_Pillow

2 жыл бұрын

They aren’t asking for sunshine and rainbows, they’re asking for livable conditions. It ain’t the 50’s post WW2 anymore.

I remember seeing a meme in the company office it said you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain it had e3 chevron and a e6 chevron. I feel like most leadership are assholes that feel like your their personal slave and you should be grateful to be there.

@spieseeboi820

2 жыл бұрын

Honestly how I’ve felt and regretting joining

@alexx3914

2 жыл бұрын

I'm just in for my benefits man.

When I saw this on the news I immediately checked to see if your channel covered it and you did not disappoint!!

Recruiters punching the air rn

@Blastoise-rx3qv

2 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣🤣

@garbage_gallery4432

2 жыл бұрын

Bruh my recruiter tried to cover this lmao

@Attack_Pillow

2 жыл бұрын

Recruiting was the worst, avoid it at all cost for your sanity.

Many years ago when I was in the Navy and an E3, the MCPON came to our base to give a speech but, I wasn't told I needed to be there until late. I arived late to the speech and he noticed when I walked in the room. After his speech he stayed late to talk to me personally and, gave me a MCPON "challenge coin". The fact that he took the extra time really stuck with me.

During vietnam alot of Lt's or above were fragged for treating solders under their command like shit. Officers wouldn't go out as leaders on patrols. They got medals, NCO's got WIA OR KIA. The termed fragged was started in Vietnam.

I won't say much about my own command because of how damning some of the shit going on is, but ever since I joined I never had any support. Military always wants to make it seem like we're a family but it's all a sham. This shit isn't Blackhawk down, saving private Ryan type shit. The reality is most of your command and the people you work with could give less of a fuck about you. Also in the yards your surrounded by contractors who dont care if you live there and trash the ship. Stealing copper and brass parts, leaving trash everywhere, pissing in spaces they shouldn't because they don't want to walk all the way to a head off ship. Pretty much turning the ship into a floating third world country.

The DM to Grant just shows that they'll have a nice way of essentially strong arming someone into compliance and not speaking ill of a politically positioned MCPON.

Things have sure changed since I was in the Marines. Back in 1969 to 1975 I was thrilled to have enough water to drink in the field.

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

That's just it though. We aren't talking about in the field. We are talking about basically their entire enlistment, not a tour or combat conditions.

A big problem is recruiting. The military needs to stress the hardship associated with military life. Last good line from the Army was “Be All You Can Be!” You reap what you sow.

@RPx813x

2 жыл бұрын

Recruiting isn’t the problem

@FOREVERONDUTY1

2 жыл бұрын

I would agree, recruiting is not the problem. As leaders we need to push our military members to do more. Many of the problems with behavior and performance can be cut down with higher expectations for our personnel. Specifically the first four years of a service members career should feel like an internship, not just work and go home. Meaning fitness and readiness, professional development and military education. It may seem like putting extra and expectations could cause stress, but really when they can see their growth, meaning achieving new certifications and education and watching how there opportunities improve, it will lead them to a healthier lifestyle. The reason young people don’t want to enlist is because they don’t see enough military members succeeding in the outside. If we really impressive statistics, showing success coming out. Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to take the challenge of serving in the military, regardless of how tough.

@Wolly735

2 жыл бұрын

Of course, you have to take care of your people. Yet, disappointment is the child of unfulfilled expectations. Suggest reading “On Combat, The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and Peace”. by Dave Grossman. There’s a psychological profile that makes some folks more able to shoulder adversity and come through mentally and emotionally intact. Conversely, there are many people who do not have that predisposition. You can hone resilience in training, you can turn iron into steel, but you need that iron to be there. The more we advertise a military built to serve the service member instead of the other way around, we over emphasize the benefits and minimize the hardship, we make initial entry training and standards easier to keep the numbers up and satisfy the politicians, the more we leave broken and dead people behind that should have been thanked and given a plane ticket home.

@gunnara6044

2 жыл бұрын

@@FOREVERONDUTY1 Maybe the upper enlisted should stop getting away with 6 DUIs and fuckin hookers before we talk about how the junior enlisted should up their game.

@craigcrissman4651

2 жыл бұрын

@@Wolly735 Dave Grossman is a quack

As a retired Army NCO and now a volunteer at my local VA Hospital, I have spoken with a few veterans who suicidal. I'll do anything I can to help them!

This all stems from when the Navy became seriously pussified, and thought it would better to stop "Properly Initiating" selectees to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. These days they're merely E-7's, 8's, or 9's.

@beckyumphrey2626

2 жыл бұрын

Spot on!!!!!!!!!!!

@PBVader

2 жыл бұрын

You got the "selectees" right. Its about the hookup, nothing about quality. Junior EN1 $45,000 bonus can't install a turbocharger but makes e7 in 8? I got a bridge to sell. They're using people, just like a good little lower level narc.

Three times in the ship yard. Floating Barracks barges for the first two times. Clean bunk, Hot water and ok food. The third time Officers and Chiefs were put up in studio apartments. Yard periods basically suck but I always had a clean bunk, hot showers, and again ok food. BMC(SW) USNR

@dennisss3974

2 жыл бұрын

Ships are basically uninhabitable during dry dock, that's why they have the berthing barges. I don't know why they are being forced to live aboard. They're not complaining about standing watch on the ship, they are complaining about the living conditions. This is probably about some XO saving money to look good.

Picture seeing a number of your shipmates throw in the towel, and being on the fence about it yourself when you get word about a visit from the mcpon....."hells bells", you say, "I'll stick around and see what he has to say, he's the freakin MCPon, right?". And then...."suck it up, buttercup".......what do you suppose happens then?

I say do a command survey for the command. When the results are in, it should either break or keep the leadership. I saw in my time is, three commanders relief of their duties. This only works if is used properly.

His answer was to manage expectations and be realistic. It can be and was interpreted as lower your expectations. No different than any other senior enlisted member at the strategic level. What worries me is he never said that he would look into it and see if there is anyway to improve the situation or if there is anything coming down the pike to address the problems. He basically said “it is what it is” and it could be worse. The problem with “it could be worse” is the implication that the complaints are not valid because it has been worse and belittles what is being experienced now compared to past experiences by the senior leader. This approach is what kills retention in the lower ranks. The perception that “it is what it is” provides no hope for change therefore killing junior enlisted morale.

@StevenPLegere

2 жыл бұрын

Now that is a very succinct statement. He should have said as well.

@dbevels1

2 жыл бұрын

I couldn’t have said that any better my damn self

@michaelkienzle9961

2 жыл бұрын

What I ultimately hated the most was the fact that he kept using his experiences and time in the navy and in the yards to justify why we're dealing with the same issues and that because he went through it, it means it's fine that we do because we'll survive through it. My take from part of what he said at least.

@genericpinesol

2 жыл бұрын

While the MCPON isn't technically wrong, I hope the navy understands with the outrage of his comment this will affect their numbers in getting sailors into the navy

@davecrupel2817

2 жыл бұрын

If he meant "manage your expectations," he should have SAID *"manage your expectations and be realistic!"* But he Didn't.

MCPON Smith gave a speech to my shipmates and me while we stayed at TSC Great Lakes in a holding pattern waiting to go to Groton for BESS, he seemed like a good guy and he seemed like he cared but I did note that he didn't seem to be as interested in trying to solve the backup at BESS as the other Master Cheifs, Senior Chiefs, Lutenient Comanders, Commanders, and Captians that also visited us. I get he has bigger fish to fry than a few hundred sailors who are upset about sweeping twice a day and not getting phase 3 liberty due to their "holds" status. But when the Captain of NAVSUBSCOL came out in person and talked to us one on one and even directly apologized for what he seemed to think was a waste of our and the Navy's time, it felt more genuine than MCPON talking about the importance of us waiting to be a part of the submarine fleet. I think the OP on that Reditt thread posablily mistook him not having firsthand on the ground knowledge but instead an overview of a bad situation, as dispassion for the bad situation. Again when I got to meet MCPON Smith he struck me as a genuinely good guy and I think he cared that we where upset about the hold, but as I said, he probably has bigger fish to fry.

As usual, you give both sides, as accurately as you can, while also speaking truth and reality. I will tell you, from the senior enlisted viewpoint of a Marine, the ancient tradition of absolute authority aboard ship has carried down enough that there are still people of rank, officers and enlisted, who tend to hold the highline. Ideally, a Command Master Chief, just like a Command Sergeant Major, is not in a chain of command, for a reason: Any junior may speak to him without being accused of insubordination to his chain, and he himself maumy not be intimidated by some officer who does not want problems forwarded to high command. Some, however, feeling the exaltation of their position, may be tempted to be selfish of their spot and politically careful, currying favor rather than correcting faults. I had the misfortune of challenging an officer lawfully, straight out of specific regulations, to prevent abusing power and wrecking a troop's career. He set out to get me, and seduced the Division Sergeant Major, who instead of helping me, took part in sabotaging my career. It happens. Ideally, the Command Senior Enlisted should do an explanation of reality and inspiration to the juniors, for their growth, and to avoid breaking a promise, and then be honest and accurate to his reporting senior. His own skin and career and popularity with seniors are not important. Rank hath its responsibility. I will say that, when on shipboard, it warmed my heart in one way and bothered me in another, when sailors would come to me instead of their Petty Officer, for advice or help. That definitely speaks to the need for seniors to be approachable and trustable. If juniors think a senior is all about himself, he needs to grow up or go out. Your job is to get your juniors promoted, not yourself, and taking care of their motivation and morale is job one.

@cecilgarr5408

2 жыл бұрын

Same thing happened to this Marine! As a 1stSgt I dared asked the Wing SgtMajor to consider my jr. Marines in a decision and the destruction of my career was on! the destruction did not succeed as I was too hardheaded to just let them have their way. It ended up me being Senior to one of them while on deployment to Somalia. No retribution. But alot of self-satisfaction! Semper Fi

@mightymystery9204

2 жыл бұрын

@@cecilgarr5408 Semper Fi! That was indeed heartwarming to hear from you, and to know that you survived. I admit that I had to transfer away from the spiteful "ossifer", only to find that the adjutant of my new unit was a buddy of his, just as shallow, and also passed over for promotion. That thorn in my side is the reason I decided to stop at 20. I put in my papers during a stop-loss. Stop-loss opened right after my papers prepared, and closed right after I got approved. Ironically, I had a letter waiting at home, from HQMC, apparently mailed the day my package went up, asking why I had not yet put in my package for MGySgt. I suppose no amount of silt can hide gold, and it showed me a few lies cannot hide the truth seen by many eyes. And I had another good laugh. My failure to remain caused a string of promotions, so there's that.

@lewiseberhart2871

2 жыл бұрын

While on board the USS Seattle AOE-3 we were tasked with a 12 month Med cruise as the USS Detroit could not get out of the yards. On our return our Captain ignored the placement order on ships arriving to Norfolk. He brought Seattle right up to the piers before the base tugs came alongside. He was a great Captain a real captain that cared for his men.

if this is mcpon smith im going to laugh my ass off because hes under investigation for sexual assalt charges

@dakotareid1566

2 жыл бұрын

It is him

In my day when I was stationed aboard the USS Dwight D Eisenhower CVN 69 when the MCPON or anyone important stepped on board it was amazing all those problems of crappy food no hot water just disappeared for the day sometimes even two or three days. Back then MCPON's made promises and kept them. Now I served on the mighty IKE from 80 to 83 stepped on as SR and left as a GMM 2 with 10 grand and a new duty station seems like todays Navy is all about me myself and I, what a shame

@beckyumphrey2626

2 жыл бұрын

I served 81-85. Loved the Navy. Today the Navy is pussified. Sad.

This 25 thousand for new enlisted is a joke for sure. It's like I don't care about senior enlisted. I know an AM1 that is up to reenlist and will be getting continous pay which is a couple thousand. I would think if the navy wanted to keep people they would offer them way more.

@davewallace.8303

2 жыл бұрын

The Navy like most everything is cyclical, things go in phases. I equate todays Navy to how it was in the early to mid 70’s. Morale and retention, except for Senior Enlisted was at an all-time low. The pay SUCKED, benefits SUCKED and there were few incentives for sticking around, plus we were still reeling from Viet Nam, the economy was in the shitter and unemployment was incredibly high. Flash forward to today: Pandemic/post-pandemic, NO ONE WANTS TO WORK because they’re getting paid to sit at home, inflation is at a near record high and we’re sitting close to another recession (wait for it). So basically we about in a similar situation. All I can offer you is to do your job as best you possibly can, stick out your current enlistment and then reassess at that point.

The fact that only junior sailors are pissed and no one in senior positions also speaks volumes…

We had three sailors I know of that died on my first cruise aboard the Coral Sea. One sailor slept in the rack below me and he wanted out of the Navy. they wouldn’t let him out so one morning when they opened the fan tail to dump trash he jumped overboard. They never found him. The other two died sniffing paint thinner in a airtight room.

When hot water went out in my Marines barracks the command had emergency maintenance and the entire barracks was fixed with in three days, replaced the major water heater and added a back heater within the barracks. P.S The Marine Corps has and gets the lowest budgeting from the government. Every other branches get waaaaaaay more money then the Marine Corps. Point being even though Marines are typically hard chargers. At times you have to embrace the suck but even Marines commands know taking care of basic needs is a most because it'll affect moral. Yet if their in the process of fixing the issues then doesn't make sense to bitch about it. Military at the end of the day isn't a easy life. What I will say is the Chief bring up Marines in a fox hole or a navy seal in the river were extreme examples to use because the situation those navy members are going through are not close to either of those examples compared what is actually happening. Not saying solve every issue those navy members are bring up but make a effort to check some of it off and show your actually trying and listening. Or moral will suffer greatly. Especially if you are having so many deaths happening. Should wake up and be like okay this is a problem we need to find a way to at least find common ground with our juniors instead of saying * Hey it could be worse* That's not an acceptable answer when moral is obviously extremely low at that point start giving answers and plans to at least knock some of the issues going on in that situation.

@TheWeezyfly

2 жыл бұрын

@PHUCHU lol facts

@christophersmith1041

2 жыл бұрын

The hot water is out, because the shipbuilders are doing repairs to systems, boat is on for an overhaul, grew up next to them yard they’re in. The workers do their best to keep stuff like that down as short as possible but it takes time to replace valves or pipes.

@TheWeezyfly

2 жыл бұрын

@@escapedfromnewyork Exactly, I'm glad I got out as well. Glad you're son made it out safe and thank you for your service as well. The Marines getting the bottom of the barrel items and equipment and they expect moral not to reflect. Which is not surprising non of the branches are meeting their recruiting goal. Navy not taking care of their personnel but can haver enough money to make a *woke* commercia.

I've been out of the Navy 34 years. During my 10 years active duty I went through 2 ROCH's, 1 on an Adams Class DDG and 1 on the Nimitz. The DDG was in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (now defunct) and Nimitz was at Newport News. Parking sucked everywhere I ever went in the Navy if you were stationed aboard ship. Habitability in Philly was really good. Probably because we were on a DDG. We were berthed on an APL (Barracks Barge) it was clean and freshly painted, still had the old pipe racks with stand up lockers vs. the modular coffin racks of today. We kept a roving fire watch aboard ship the entire time in drydock and yes we had occasional fires. Overall it was pretty good and Philly was a great place for liberty. Newport News sucked. We berthed on a WWII Liberty Ship the ex-USNS DARBY. My dad joined the Merchant Marines after he got out of the Army after WWII and I envisioned that he probably served on this damn thing just before it was decommissioned and turned into a barracks barge. Now, you want to talk about no heat, no hot water, it was damp and dank and overall sucked. However, we didn't complain about it that much. Besides they just would have said a bitchin sailor is a happy sailor and suck it up buttercup. So we did. Thank God we weren't at sea in those conditions because the old Adams Class were notorious for evaps going down and we'd all be stinkin like hell from being on water hours for days. I'm talking about bird baths not the luxury of water on, water off, soap up, water on water off, rinse, get the hell out. You guys have got way worse problems in the Navy to complain about today. Parking and Habitability aren't one of them. MCPON is a political appointment get over it. It's always been that way.

My berthing area was on top of a fuel tank. For days (weeks? I can't remember) they had the access plates removed. Not only did we have to contend with the smell, but for the first few days they had air-driven pumps running day-and-night to remove what they hadn't been able to drain out beforehand. In the four-and-a-half years I was on that ship, the six months in the yards was the only time I ever rented a place on shore.

ALWAYS great content Doc. Makes one 🤔

I was onboard the USS Carl Vinson in 2007-2010 when they were in RCOH. And we had some issues moving crew onboard but we only moved the crew into the aft part of the ship because the rest of the ship was not done yet. Which helped because you only had to provide hot water to that part of the ship. IMO it’s simply bad crew move onboard management by the GW chain of command. Parking is horrible in Newport News it was like that in 2007. MCPON was highly insensitive to the issues of the crew onboard GW.

@lewiseberhart2871

2 жыл бұрын

Parking in the shipyards in Norfolk has always been a problem. I joined in 1975 and it was bad then and never improved right up to my departure from active duty in 1997.

@jaffsharp769

2 жыл бұрын

I was stationed on the USS OKINAWA (LPH-3) during an overhaul 1977-1978. We had to live onboard during the entire overhaul. Needleguns, hoses and electrical lines everywhere, welding, you name it. It sucked big time. No one killed themselves. I think it's the generation that is spoiled rotten now and can't take any adversity.

@dariusevans4157

2 жыл бұрын

@@jaffsharp769 stop that’s not adversity that’s just horrible living conditions. Y’all in the older generation gotta stop discounting peoples experiences because you had it bad. It’s a reason why the Navy stop making junior sailors live on ships. You know better you do better. Put it in perspective there are Sailors from the 1940s who would think your generation is soft because y’all had amenities that they didn’t back then. Stop blaming the kids and blame the leadership for horrible mishandling of their Sailors. The yards are not a cake walk but there are things you can do to help make things easier. I am proof of that cause we didn’t have those issues even though living on ship in the yards was hard.

@jambajuice2408

Жыл бұрын

All that, then Haiti…. Then around the horn…. Then Deployment. Cell block 70 baby

The loss of a service member is never easy..but I am curious..10 deaths in 10 months on one ship ??why isn’t the media blowing this up ??

MCPON is following the example set by The Commander in Chief. Did the President, not long ago, tell us as a country to "Lower Our Expectations" Seriously though, At times, I may not have had the best leadership when I served. Yet I did the best I could, I learned from "good leaders" and earned the rank of E-6. When I was a leader, I did the best I could for my team and overall was supported by my chain of command with whatever my team needed. The team comes first. I know times have changed, yet the team always comes first. We as a country (and military) have lost sight of this fact.

BTDT on a frigate in Newport RI in February. Porta shitter's on the pier, no water, etc. Had 3 go UA and one went to the base chaplain told had he was going to end it. Somehow they found BEQ rooms for the non duty guys.

As a retired GMC after 22 years, I will let you in on a little secret. The CPO mess started a downward spiral after it became common (Late 90's) for newly minted E-7's to decline to participate in the CPO initiation. It was a right of passage, turned political and thus changed Navy Chiefs, by creating a divide within the CPO community. You will note that I may refer to some as Chiefs and others as E-7's, there is a difference. I was pushed on 4 occasions after putting on khakis to go LDO or CWO, I declined each time. Most common response, "I feel I can be better utilized in my current role as a Chief Petty Officer". Why you ask? Because I not only preferred to be enlisted, but also understood that with the endless rotation of officers the Chief was most often the only constant, junior sailors had. It's a challenge to motivate people who feel as if they are just a number, and no one cares about them. The role of a Chief is not as easy one. You are the critical link between officer and enlisted, responsible for the education, motivation, moral, care and feeding, and conduct of your people. This was a job I took very seriously, knowing that not only their success, but my success hinged on being able to get things done. There was no shortage of E-7's who cared only for themselves and their own careers, who ultimately became butt smooching, political, yes men. They received "0" respect from me. I can't even count the number of E-8's and E-9's I encountered that were no longer Chiefs, but politicians who were ineffective as leaders and mentors. It's really very simple, if your troops don't trust you, they will not follow you. It's a lose, lose situation. Due to the political atmosphere in the new military in general, there is a massive void between junior enlisted and senior enlisted. Multiple suicides shows a huge disconnect, and even worse a major dereliction of duty in the senior ranks. I made it a point to speak to every one of my people (25+) every day, just to maintain the pulse of my Division. If there was an issue, it was my duty, and responsibility to solve it, or link the right people together. Months before my decision to retire it was decided that the CPO mess was to integrate more with the wardroom, and act and do as they do! I saw the writing on the wall and had NO desire to be, or pretend to be an officer. So I put in my papers, before my mouth wrote a check my ass could not cash. Retiring was the hardest thing I ever did in my life. I loved the Navy, loved being Chief, and loved turning my people into the best technicians, and best sailors they could be. This issue with MCPON is just another tone deaf, sign of the political degradation of our military. I knew as much as it hurt I would not last in the "New Navy", and opted out. I feel for every service member today, and appreciate your sacrifices, been there done that. What advice would I give a sailor or soldier today? To be successful in just about anything you need to do 2 things. #1 Learn the rules of the game, and #2 To rise to the top, all you need to do is be 10% better than your peers. Strive to be the best at whatever you do; military bearing, uniforms, conduct, technical expertise etc. Seek out those who know the job better and follow their lead. As a junior it can seem like an impossible task at times, but it can be done. I made Chief in just over 9 years which was unheard of in my over manned rating, but I did it, and so can you!

@beckyumphrey2626

2 жыл бұрын

Well said and thank you for your service. My cousin retired MCPO and got out for the same reasons you did.

@gunnersecuador7515

2 жыл бұрын

@@beckyumphrey2626 You are very welcome.

@dougc.3998

2 жыл бұрын

There will always be men and women who will become sailors, able seamanship will be their badge of honor, not praise or reward nor threat of punishment will be their primary motivators. You know this, and anyone else who has worked on a ship. Unfortunately, most of the navy personnel do not go to sea any more.

Don't forget. This is also happening in the Marine Corps, especially in the Marine Corps.

@eethal3366

2 жыл бұрын

For a long ass time lol

Seeing this MCPON doing this, wow. I met him years ago during my Chief season, when I was on a GHWB before he was elevated to the DC swamp. That swamp is poisonous and changes people.

@Nicky MGTV … LEADERS LIKE HIM ARE THE EXACT REASON I PUT IN MY US Army Warrant Officer Packet, when I was a Staff Sergeant/ E-6 … once I pinned on, Warrant Officer Candidate in accordance with Army Command Policy 600-20 … I outranked all E-9’s and below 😮 … This is why I am Happily Retired as a Warrant Officer One / W-1 ✌🏾

That shipyard is soooo sketchy. I would stay in my office on duty days until they made everyone move to the barge for safety. At least I had an apartment to go to after work though...

I can only speak for myself but there is a different mentality for different branches of the service let alone different MOS. I was a US Army combat engineer (parachutist) and expected things to suck. Things like riding in a M113 on a 2 week FTX in Germany in the middle of winter with no heater, while the command tracks were nice and toasty. Staying in a deserted Navy barracks while the Air Force crew, flying us to Honduras, bragged how they were staying in a hotel in Key West. We stayed in Norfolk for Marine Amphibious Warfare Training and we were allowed to eat to the Navy chow hall ("dining facility"). We thought it was heaven because we were served excellent food by people that weren't pissed off about being Army cooks. Combat MOS enlisted have a different mentality and expectations than other service members and their leaders should be aware of the differences.

@jakelucid9650

2 жыл бұрын

sadly how about that M113 for 9 months, come home to 24 more months of living, on, working in and on that machine day in-day out fro enarly 3 years with out a walk away. Sailors dont live in fox holes - youre right, but theyre freezing in a poorly ventilated ship, or roasting - climate depending. I dont mean to detract and say you didnt have it hard - you did. but understand these folks do understand the arduous duty they have. but to live in a contrsuction zone- your home- and to go through what they have and to see so many issues go unresolved - it leads to a breaking point. Look at naxy promotion and retention against the army - dare i say the navy cant keep people...some dont like being at sea - others live through this and know there is no reason to do it - something better down the road for them.

"There's not enough parking around the Starbucks!" That's basically what I'm hearing.

Something I realized as a CPO at an air station. The Command Master Chief (CMC) was an extension of the command, i.e., another officer. AND, the CMC didn't act in the best interests of the enlisted. Instead, the CMC pushed the policy & desires of the command. A military branch E-10? They are so high level the people in the trenches don't matter. An important question. Would this crap happen in the Air Force?

@Crow-cb6yx

2 жыл бұрын

USAF

@briguy459

2 жыл бұрын

no, but to compare the 2 is BS. maybe a closer comparison would have to be our Sea/Shore squadrons to thiers. thier squadrons are all "shore" based regardless of locale.

@larry648

2 жыл бұрын

I don’t know about today, but I was in SAC in the 80’s. I was in an SP ground combat unit. Our gear was old worn out shit. Our vehicles were completely unsafe and shouldn’t have been on the road. We were the response force to secure 6 aircraft with 12 weapons each. 72 alert nuclear weapons. We’re had enough to load the rest of the wing and surplus in the weapons storage area. And, of course, SAC bases were alway in bad locations. 12 hour outside walking post in the UP of Michigan in the winter. If were ever complained we would have caught hell. All of our E-7, 8, 9’s might as well have been officers. SAC gave out article 15 like they were nothing. If you got a good conduct medal it actually meant something, lots of guys didn’t get them. SAC was a bitch back in the day.

@briguy459

2 жыл бұрын

@@larry648 80s as a whole was a different time though. Now you're really comparing apples to oranges. My first Supervisor(Civ) quit after 8 years because he got tired of retraining guys popping in Urinalysis. But, you folks also had better ports, more leeway & lower paychecks then us post 9/11 folks. I think port/ liberty wise you got away with alot more. Nowadays, even in the short "18" years I've been in, I feel it's more corporatized, with a focus on what the kinder, gentler outside world is doing.

@navigator5426

2 жыл бұрын

Actually, it has happened in the Airforce, I have relatives that were in the Airforce, and I know of some people in the Airforce that say it still happens but they don't talk about it online. There is one Major Difference between the Airforce and the Navy and that is the Airforce Usually gets More Money than the Navy and doesn't have to Spend Money on Ships so the Airforce has more money Available for Health Care etc than the Navy. And that fact is really the Fault of the Pentagon and the D.O.D. and the Government and has been for decades.

The problem that the leadership at the top doesn't seem to understand is that quality of life in the military is what ultimately makes serving worthwhile. Because they don't have to deal the issues of lower enlisted, it is not at the forefront of their agendas. Just like the situation in the barracks at NSAB, it shouldn't take bringing these situations to the public to get them taken care of. Understandably, maintenance needs to occur on the ship. So while it's being done, put soldiers up in lodging if there is not enough space in the barracks. We understand that living conditions aren't going to always be ideal, particularly at sea or in combat. But that's when you should be embracing the suck. Not while in garrison. We get the situation could be worse. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do your best to accommodate those who have to suffer through the issues that arise. I'm getting sick and tired of issues like living situations, issues with seeking medical treatment/behavioral health, and time to take care of personal issues being disregarded or just completely ignored just because it "conflicts with the mission". We need time to get our personal affairs in order or just need a fucking break. I'm sorry those thing don't fit within your training schedule, but if your service members don't feel like they are being heard or taken care of, it will show in their performance. And before someone comes on here with the "this is what you signed up for", know that it isn't. Nowhere in our contract did it say we must give up our constitutional rights or put up with conditions that are not acceptable for a human being to endure. We train to be a cog in the big machine that is the military. Like any machine, every piece is important. So if one piece is damaged, rusted, or missing, it affects the whole machine. Perhaps subtly in the beginning, but after a while more and more pieces will start to fail. Once that happens, it will take far more effort and time to fix it.

@SpaceRanger187

2 жыл бұрын

Not what they signed up for..As much money as they give away and spend on bullshit..living standards should be amazing in all branches

@omarmassey2522

2 жыл бұрын

@@SpaceRanger187 It should, and yet it seems only the Air Force and Space Force care about quality of life for their people.

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

The people talking tough probably never did it. For one, how many MCPON came up through the holding a fire extinguisher for their entire enlistment? You don't get noticed for promotion doing that.

The Chief Mafia is legit a cancer. I was stationed on The CVN 70 from 2013-16 & I had to go to chiefs mast over a lot of issues I was having on our 10month deployment & the fact I brought up “I’ve been going through a lot lately, disappointed in myself (voice cracked) kuz I think about suicide on a daily basis & I rather not”, they ended the mast & said with a disgust in there voices “we have another one”. I can tell you as I’m sure you’re aware, The Fleet, especially West Coast doesn’t give a flying fuck about their junior enlisted, especially with engineers, you’d think they would treat us somewhat decent being the people who run ships but nah lol

@ericdavisii3912

2 жыл бұрын

Cell Block 70 could care less about any Sailor Enlisted or Officer but especially enlisted E6 and below..

So glad I was never ship's company. Always appreciated going back to Miramar when the boat pulled in

I'm an old-school Navy retired, I have one comment, "suck it up buttercup." From the stress cards to the lowering of standards, we are creating a fighting force that can't handle stress. War is hell and even in peacetime, we train as we fight. So, if you can't handle a cold shower, or stress in your daily job maybe it's time you found another profession. We old school veterans are happy to park where ever you put us and take cold showers if it means America is a strong warfighter.

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

Then make the captain live aboard, along with he man type NCOs that got off ship living conditions. Show them kids what a heman these experienced salts are. Or shut the fuck up about never was.

@beckyumphrey2626

2 жыл бұрын

Spot on. Imagine us fighting a real war with this Navy worried about getting their feelings hurt.

Personel remaining on board the ship for duty is necessary and understandable. However having crew members live on board every single day is total bullshit. Yet another supposed leader that forgot about the people

Someone on the GW here, I was on leave when the mcpon was there but the CO is doing his best to remedy complaints. Word is he's moving people back off the boat into military rented apartments (or giving bah), and they're getting 6 days off next week (with exception to duty days)

@aboomba3050

2 жыл бұрын

Another point, apparently his opening statement was "I was here to see the Stennis (the boat literally right next to GW) but I figured I'd stop by to see you guys"

When I was in Jr leadership training the idea is you give your unit 150%. Then expect 100% back. The troops need to understand the love. Love is the anchor of leadership. Love creates. Apathy destroys.

It sounded like the mod on Facebook was saving that sailor and telling him to cool down. It's the equivalent of someone telling a person in an argument to "go home" or "Walk away".

He didn't say it directly but he 100% said it in meaning. What the hell else does saying "we should have managed your expectations better" in response to a question about subpar living conditions mean other than other than " your standards are to high and you should lower them"?

LITERALLY CAME ONTO MY CARRIER AND SAID “Lower your standards” 💀

i went through 3 yard periods.... they truly SUCK... from missing ladders, blocked off passageways, noise day and night and fires at any hour of the day...

He said RCOH, and all I thought was say no more. I was on CVN-71 for basically that whole thing, and it was not pleasant. Duty section stayed on a barge along with all the departments admins with the exception of rx and engineering. What we ended up doing was a lot of rework because of delayed equipment installs, spaces getting prepped for paint but by the time we’re ready we’d have to prep again. In short, RCOH sucks, and I definitely get the saltiness on the part of junior sailors. I yelled at a CTT2 when on shore duty because she thought all yard periods are the same, and at least one other sailor in that office had come from the same ship as I so she didn’t get it.

Hey Nicky, great video. I'd like to add some insight on what it actually feels like while within ROCH - having gone through it myself and shaped my Navy experience. Physically - You're performing a job that you did not sign up to do. Everybody during this time is a janitorial/construction specialist. LS, CS, HM, OS, IT, ABE, ABF, etc doesn't matter. Your day-to-day is move equipment, paint, manage cables, destroy/build decks, and etc. Environmentally - You're within Newport News (ship building facility these guys are in), this is not sunny California, it's a construction zone coupled with being in a not-so-good neighborhood. Newport News / Norfolk isn't a place where sailors can live the adventurous life they seek - it's the polar opposite. The reason sailors complain about parking is because it's normal to walk around 1-2miles, one way, just to get to the ship. Which, it's not too the worst thing in the world, but coupled with all other factors listed adds on to the stress level. It's normal to wake up in the middle of the night to paint fumes, loud noises from drilling, cold water, no water, lack of quality food, over-worked, etc - when you see photos of sailors being able to sleep "anywhere" it's due to the level of Physical work along with Environment exhausting the sailors Years of ROCH process. Emotionally - Besides the Shipyard + ROCH culture. The current Navy culture doesn't favor the sailors. In war, you can trust the people to the left and right of you. What I personally experienced was the opposite and I feel these sailors are going through the same. There are great people doing great things but there are people who were not raised in the right upbringing, join the Navy, and unknowingly create a hostile culture amongst each other. I HATED some of the people I worked with, I was stuck with them for 5 years, I can't trust them, etc. When sailors express "complaints" - it's seen as weakness. But all these are legitament warning signs that emotionally it's having a negative effect on sailors. Yes, some sailors can become better through this experience, some will not, and some will never recover. Mentally - Everyone has a battle they personally fight Outside the Navy. Some deal with it through external stimulus like drugs, alchohal, etc. For some people who join the Navy, they left home to "escape" something. When they escape and fall into a High Pressure lifestyle like ROCH whatever personal battle they've been fighting is against them amplified. These are just some of the things these sailors are currently going through, as I have gone through, most people only understand the "surface level" of what actually goes on.

MCPON: Another expert in verbal virtuosity. It's how you get that job ... When I experienced the curse of drydocking and refits the crew manned the ship 24-7 - BUT - the crew was quartered off boat with 1/3 crew always on duty for security, fire protection/response, safety enforcement, while non in-port standers turned to as welder's fire watchers standing by with fire extinguishers, working space maintenance upgrades/cleaning, assisting civilians going about conducting the work as to why the boat is getting repairs/upgrades such as doing the tag outs for equipment removals, repairs, or an annual PM evolution. The MCPON has the clout to get proper housing but may not be able to do anything about parking: I remember parking was a good walking excercise because the nature of shipyards is to provide parking for ships - and they are big, often, and so, to place parking near the work is tuff: there can be thousands of people needing parking and there can no reasonble solution except for providing bus transportation to and from parking areas which would also be tuff if done 24-7. Nice cushy civilian job busing tired sailors around ... The solution to housing seems to be another issue of space. There are lots of FEMA trailers that could be brought to bear but again: lspaceI. Where are they going to be set so as to have utilities and be somewhere in the vicinity of the yard. Another tuff one. Even tuffer is why in the Naval world of common sense does the ombudsman people not reach out to find ways to house sailors a reasonable time BEFORE refits and overhauls begin? Overhaul, drydock, refit is a masterful sadist's torture of aromas unknown and unabashedly fettered with YukK, fire danger: extremely high; physical danger/harm: extremely high; incredibly constant cacaphony of noise reaching the ionisphere and beyond which helps keep UFOs from venturing near such activity. Smart. It is a time when your rating is abandoned for the paint brush, paperwork, interruptions galore, stop the critical work you are doing right now and start on the latest critical work and never knowing for sure if the first critical work you got pulled from ever got done ... and so tired, you don't care or remember to remember ... It is another world. Nonetheless: GO NAVY Thanks for your service, Doc. I have high regard for FMF (I served USMC, too) and Submarine Corpsmen. You are the best people. Have a nice day - no matter what.

@icecold9511

2 жыл бұрын

To me the solution when you can't solve it in port, rotate them out. 300ish people doing no brain jobs. Shouldn't be hard.

I served on the USS Constellation between 87-and Mid 89. On August of 88 we blew up main machinery room 1 and had to fix 1/3 of the ship. In all of that we always had fresh food in the Galleys for 4 meals a day and the Cheif and Officer's had Hot water. We got enough of it fixed to leaves for west pac on 12-1-88. And we had to replace one I tire engine

I was on the Forrestal (CVA-59) while it was being repaired from the second fire (72). OE berthing was on the 03, very near CIC/Flag plot. No AC, Yard Lights and fire SMELL. So what. We were getting the ship back in service for a (delayed) Med cruise. I have also been in Dry Dock (Long Beach) a number of times. Parking was out where the Queen Mary was first moored (later). We dealt with it.