Years ago, an instructor asked my U.S. Naval Academy class what the most important asset in the Navy was. There were as many answers as there were students in the class. I said it was the aircraft carrier. Some of my friends opted for jets or submarines. My instructor simply said, “The sailors.” Truer words were never spoken. I joined the Navy because I love America, but after having worked with sailors in the aviation community, I can confidently say they will be the reason I stay. They humble me and keep me growing as a leader, and I learn from them every day.
Technical Knowledge
As an aviator, I must be familiar with the bible of my platform—the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) manual. While I consider myself familiar with the document that governs the procedures and systems of the aircraft I fly, my theoretical knowledge pales in comparison to the technical expertise that the enlisted professionals possess. The maintainers know the aircraft intimately. They routinely take apart the engines. They remove, replace, and troubleshoot parts within the notoriously finicky propeller system. Just as I can fly my aircraft with a degree of confidence and safety, they can fix anything wrong with it because they know it inside and out.
I believe that this is accurate not only in my squadron, but across the Navy. During the summer of my second year in college, I was assigned to the engineering department of the USS Mason (DDG-87). The midshipmen were given the freedom to wander around to the other divisions and see what it took to run daily operations on board the ship. I shadowed an electrician for a few hours and watched him troubleshoot and repair a panel that was causing intermittent electrical output on board a sector of the destroyer. There was no written procedure for what he was doing. He had to rely on his knowledge, experience, and resourcefulness because the ship depended on him to do so. I watched him try and fail multiple times to resolve the problem, until one thing finally worked and throughout the process, he patiently walked me through what he was doing and what he was thinking. When he figured it out, he explained the “why” behind that, too. Sailors often save the day with their technical brilliance and ingenuity. It is a common occurrence across the fleet that often goes unnoticed and unrecognized.
Improvisation
My sailors are unparalleled in their ability to improvise and find solutions quickly. In part, I believe this is because of the values we are taught in the United States and the emphasis placed on creativity and innovation. That is why our nation leads the world entrepreneurially and will continue to do so. When it comes to sailors, their ability to flex and improvise remains unparalleled. Using creativity to solve problems that need quick solutions, and often without the fix readily available, encourages resourcefulness. I believe this practical brilliance of the Navy’s enlisted ranks will give us the edge in future conflicts.
The Navy also faces the challenge of government slowdowns, bureaucratic processes, and funding limitations. As a result, sailors are certainly forced to get creative when faced with obstacles and come up with alternate methods to accomplish their tasks. To give an example, one of the parachute riggers in my squadron took it upon herself to hand-etch every single new callsign on the back of the aircrew helmets after the engraving machine broke. She did not have to do that. A replacement machine had been ordered. Yet, her initiative and dedication took over.
Looking Forward
My sailors have taught me so much and they will continue to do so. Whether it is through technical expertise, innovation and resourcefulness, or their ability to face challenges unique to the service, I have grown as a leader and as a person because of them. I hope that along the way, I can provide some good leadership lessons for them as well.
