U.S.S.----------------------------------------
October—, 192—.
To Commander----------------
Detail Section,
Bureau of Navigation.
My Dear Brown :
I KNOW you are a busy man and I hesitate to bother you, but I will have been two and a half years on this ship in December and I would like to find out when and where I shall go ashore. Is a lieutenant commander’s cruise now two and a half, or is it three years ?
I would like to get a job on the west coast as my wife’s parents live out here and I like service here. What job can I get?
Sorry to bother you.
Sincerely, Jones Lieutenant Commander
Bureau of Navigation, October—, 192—.
To Lieutenant Commander ---------- Jones,
U.S.S.-----------------
Dear Jones:
Your cruise will probably expire in December, this year. The present policy is to send lieutenant commanders ashore after two and a half years, but that policy might be changed at any time.
I cannot promise you anything at the present time.
Suggest you apply officially for any job you may want.
Hastily, Brown
November—, 192—. To Commander Brown.
Dear Brown :
Complying with your suggestion, I submitted my official application for duty at
the ------------ Navy-- Yard, yesterday. I
hope you can fix me up.
Kindest regards, Jones Lieutenant Commander
Bureau of Navigation, November—, 192—.
To Lieutenant Commander----------- Jones,
U.S.S.-----------------
Dear Jones:
Am sorry but there will be no job vacant
for a lieutenant commander at the-------
Navy Yard in December.
What other job would you like? I don’t know whether we can leave you on the west coast or not. Sincerely, Brown
November—, 192—.
To Commander----------- Brown.
My dear Brown :
Am sorry you can’t get me ordered to
------------- . It is very important that I
know soon whether I will stay on this coast or not. I have had to buy a house out here as the rents are prohibitive, and I need time to make arrangements if I have to go to the east coast. Do what you can for me.
Sincerely, Jones
And so on, ad infinitum.
Along in December, having heard nothing in the meantime, Jones receives his orders to another, equally desirable, station on the west coast. The detail officer has done his best, and hopes no request for a revocation or change will result. At the same time he has been settling the future careers of numerous other officers with equally urgent cases. Jones, and also Mrs. Jones, are satisfied, after months of unrest, and the expenditure of much stationery.
Contented personnel is a wonderful asset to any organization. How many officers of the Navy are there who do not have a feeling of uncertainty at least once every three years as to their immediate future, and wish that some scheme of officer detail could be devised so that they could tell with reasonable certainty some months ahead of time, what their next duty will be?
The following plan is suggested, one that should at least save time for the conscientious, hard working detail officers, and should also make the officer personnel more contented. It could do no harm, and might do some good.
The scheme here outlined refers more to the detail of line officers, commissioned and warrant. It could be used equally well for the staff corps, but, on account of the smaller number in these corps, the need is not so apparent. Their detail officers can keep in closer touch with duty requirements and personal desires.
Why not have a form letter, to be sent to each officer six months before his present tour of sea or shore service should terminate according to the current policy of the Bureau of Navigation? This letter would inform him of the probable date of his next change of duty, and would request as a reply a statement as to the officer’s desires as to future duty. A longer period than six months might be advocated, but it seems that nine months or a year would be too long a time for the Bureau to be expected to predict dates of expirations of cruises. Less than six months would not give adequate time to reach officers on distant stations, allow them time to make up their minds, communicate their preferences, and receive their orders. Six months to settle their affairs, so important to an officer’s morale and contentment, seems about right.
The following forms are suggested, the object being to furnish the Bureau brief and accurate data without resort to personal letters.
Form letter (1) would be mailed to every officer in duplicate, six months prior to the probable date of his detachment.
(1)
N Nav. (In Duplicate)
Navy Department, Washington, D.C.
---------------------------------------- 192—.
From: Bureau of Navigation
To: ------------------------------ U.S.N.
Subject: Prospective change of duty.
- Your present tour of------------- duty
will expire about------------- 192—.
- Please indicate below your preferences as to future duty, and return to the Bureau, retaining the duplicate.
Chief of Bureau
By direction
First Endorsement
---------------------------------------- 192—.
From: --------------------------- U.S.N.
To: Bureau of Navigation
- First choice for duty-------------------
Second choice for duty-----------------
Official home address-------------------
Present address of family---------------
- I will ------------- desire ------------
leave of absence on detachment.
- Remarks: (Give reasons for desiring particular assignments.)
(s).-----------------------------------------------
N Nav.
Navy Department, Washington, D.C.,
----------------------------------- 192—.
From: Bureau of Navigation
To: ------------------ - --- U.S.N.
Subject: Prospective change of duty.
Reference: Bureau’s letter--------------- of
---------------- 192—.
- Receipt is acknowledged of your request for change of duty, endorsed on reference.
- You will probably be granted--------
leave and ordered to----------------- .
Chief of Bureau.
By direction.
(Note: The above procedure will be carried out by the bureau as closely as is consistent with the public interests, and is not to be construed as a promise of future assignment.)
The Bureau of Navigation would then issue the orders to the officer one month prior to detachment. A procedure such as this would help the individual officer to answer the ever present question, “Where do I go from here,” would save him personal worry and expense, obviate a haphazard official and personal correspondence, and increase his value to the Navy.
It would not be expected to function in times of national emergency, but will at other times in direct proportion to the care taken in its administration.