GET RID OF THE SURFACE ENSIGN STIGMA

摘要

Most officers spend four years in their quest for a commission. The journey from dream to ensign looks different for everyone, but for the average 22 year old, becoming an 0-1 has consumed nearly 20 percent of his or her life. That process culminates in a ceremony in which they don their sharpest uniforms, parade out in front of God and country, and accept commissions as the fleet's newest ensigns (a title that, in that moment, they are proud to bear). They understand just how inexperienced they are; they are eager to learn; and they are excited to begin service as the future of the naval fighting force. They report to their first commands within a few weeks, and quickly-and abruptly-they transition to a climate that is more annoyed by their existence than it is excited to help them learn.No one who has spent a day in the Surface Navy wants to be an ensign. 1 know of warrants who balked at becoming limited duty officers (LDOs) simply to avoid two years of having to wear "butter bars." I've had junior sailors tell me after briefings that they feel "sorry for us" based on how we were publicly belittled. I've seen peers be dominated in conversations with chief petty officers (CPOs) because of their "real" standing in the rank structure, then criticized by more senior officers for the actions of those same chiefs for "not leading them." I can't tell you how many times I was told "You're basically a seaman," even after qualifying as a surface warfare officer (SWO). This is the unwinnable position of surface ensigns. Yet, we want these men and women to lead enthusiastically, take the deck of a warship with pride, and command sailors who just watched them get ripped in public. We put our best and brightest in this position, and then question why many of these officers do not seem excited to receive their SWO pins.