This will be my second and hopefully, the last post on the abomination that is the Harry Harris sponsored assrape investigation into the Blue Angels “command climate”. Also known as its more common name, assassination by IG.
There have been wonderful comments made that, “since the events were substantiated as occurring”, all objections to the way the investigation was handled and the timing of the complaint are irrelevant. And by implication, it is perfectly fine to destroy a good officer’s career as a result of one set of time.
I thoroughly reject that contention. And you Navy folks who are voicing it-may rest secure in the knowledge that you have completely sold your souls to Satan. Enjoy life in this brave new world you are creating with its protected classes and diversity bullies run amok.
If you have not read the investigation report, I think you should. It can be found here or here. Sadly, it is clear that the investigation team failed to look at some of the background issues that are also at play in a command like the Blue Angels or for that matter TOPGUN. They are not “normal” commands say that the Captain’s VFA squadron was, a tour he did exceptionally well at.
Now perhaps it is because both the Blues and TOPGUN believe their own hype, about having the best of the best, that it sets folks up for the kind of dramas that ultimately created this vendetta by a butthurt subordinate and the subsequent witch hunt. Personally, I think Maurice is right and this is a case of someone trying to get even when a selection board did not go her way, and now in the brave new world, the Navy is quite accommodating of this particular type of character assassination. But I think there is insufficient understanding of the group dynamics that are in play in an organization such as the Blue Angels or TOPGUN.
Some history. I was at NSAWC when the three weapons schools, CAEWWS, Topgun, and Strike were brought together in the ultimate “shotgun marriage”. The Topgun guys were our “neighbors” so to speak so we got to observe them up close. TOPGUN very much resented the merger and went out of its way to avoid integrating into the rest of the NSAWC organization. Like the Blues, they had their own set of traditions and rituals. They also like the Blues, have a huge set of powerful “alumni”. You tinker with the organizations at great peril. The flag officers who ran the larger organization of NSAWC understood this. I remember having a conversation with one, who really felt that his efforts to reign in the outfit was having a direct impact on the way the rest of big Navy worked with him.
In the Blues, how the 8 aviators get along is more than just important, its a foundation on which their life is built. Thus I categorically reject the assumptions made by the investigators that the support officers were shunned. Anybody who has spent any time in Carrier Aviation knows there is a pecking order in the world and learns to deal with it. After all, in the Blues, there are still plenty of good deals to be had.
But you are absolutely kidding yourself if you think a new CO can go in there and be an authoritarian from the gitgo. They have had people who tried to do that. They got run out of town on a rail. So the wise person is going to be very mindful of that and try to shape the change he wants subtly and carefully. Also, the squadron is on the road a lot and that creates its own unique challenges. I personally think CAPT McWherter was mindful of that and thus was trying his best to be collegial with his wardroom and foster camaraderie. Remember that? Much of Naval Aviation tradition is (or was) built on it and the best squadrons I served in were where the camaraderie was high and so was the interaction between the wardroom. During my 20 years of flying, based on these criteria outlined in the CPF report, every one of my CO’s, including myself would have been fired. That alone should tell you it’s an unreasonable standard.
Does that mean that there were things in hindsight, that could have been done differently? Of course, there could have been. But a simple course correction would have sufficed-not a public shaming. I also don’t think the incidents that are discussed are as numerous and non-stop as the report makes out. Seems to me there was also a lot of emphasis on the squadron’s primary mission of good demonstration flying. And when you have a lot of young men together, the talk will turn to women and girls. And calling someone gay is still an accepted pejorative. It is a fact of life.
It may not have been right, but the Blues will be a unique organization. It is not, just another squadron. And it never will be. And in making judgments in this case you should keep that in mind.
And for the record. Maxim style shots of women are not pornography-and people who say they are should be horsewhipped. As should subordinates who think it is their duty to “mentor” people of their gender. ( A key warning flag that this was a witchhunt, mentioned in the investigation).
For those people, Professor Van Kreveld would like a chat with you.