Captain Brett Crozier, the former commanding officer of the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), was relieved of duty in 2020 after a letter to Navy leaders asking for help as COVID-19 spread throughout his ship was leaked to the press. Although his removal was met with backlash, an investigation found Crozier had not removed infected sailors from his ship fast enough and used “questionable judgment” when releasing sailors from quarantine.

Learn from ‘Losses of Confidence’

It is time to start looking at these “loss of confidence” events more carefully and feed the lessons back into formal training programs.

September 2024
Marines attend casualty assistance calls officer training at Camp Pendleton, California. In some cases, notification of next of kin can be straightforward, but in other cases there can be complicated feelings and dynamics CACOs must help families navigate.

CACO: Learning to Lead Through Loss

CACOs must take on these duties with the same degree of professionalism with which they pursue their combat duties.

Lieutenant Colonel Brian Kerg, U.S. Marine Corps
August 2024
An ensign fist bumps a chief petty officer on the deck of the USCGC James (WMSL-754). A pump up speech doesn’t need to always come from the top, or even need to be a speech. Being a positive leader and sharing high fives and fist bumps with the crew are underrated tools in keeping a team motivated.

Empower the Midlevel Leader

A unit’s climate and effectiveness can be bolstered or hindered by the quality of leaders throughout the middle ranks.

July 2024
Coast Guard recruits going through basic training participate in an off-base run. Leaders may strive to finish first, but they must not outpace their crews.

Don’t Run Faster Than Your Crew

Leadership Essay Contest—Second Prize, Sponsored by Drs. Jack and Jennifer London Charitable Foundation. My training taught me the importance of leading from the front.

Lieutenant Nick D. Jabs, U.S. Coast Guard
June 2024
The USCGC Tern (WPB-87343), shown here patrolling in front of Alcatraz Island, is one of the Coast Guard’s 65 87-foot Marine Protector–class cutters. While in command of this ship, the author and his crew conducted a dangerous rescue mission that shook his faith in his gut instincts.

Follow Your Gut?

Leadership Essay Contest—First Prize, Sponsored by Drs. Jack and Jennifer London Charitable Foundation. Leaders are at their best when they maintain autonomy for appropriate decision-making.

Lieutenant Matthew J. Nagle, U.S. Coast Guard
May 2024
The crew of the USS Stockdale (DDG-106) often celebrate their ship and her namesake, including holding a commissioning anniversary party and inviting guests from the ship’s commissioning as well as one of Vice Admiral James Stockdale’s sons. Events such as these indoctrinate sailors in a command’s culture and get them invested in its brand.

Build Your Command Brand

Connectedness and trust are integral to mission success—branding is one method to increase both.

Captain Brandon Booher, U.S. Navy
April 2024
Enginemen conduct maintenance on board the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD-50). Navy leaders have to consider key decisions, such as when to share the workload among multiple departments, to meet evaluation dates and other deadlines.

Command Requires a Clear Philosophy

Every prospective CO would do well to emulate Captain Rinn’s ability to make a hard command decision based on his instinct and well-thought-out command philosophy.

Rear Admiral James B. Hinkle, U.S. Navy (Retired)
March 2024
Admirals Chester Nimitz and William Halsey on board the USS Curtiss (AV-4) in January 1946. After Rear Admiral Wilson Brown declined to lead the Navy’s attack in the Marshall Islands, Nimitz presented the opportunity to Halsey, who jumped at the mission. A strong leader must assess his subordinates and choose the right leader for the right job.

The Nimitz Way Still Applies

Giving your people opportunities to grow and succeed is a vital part of being a good leader.

Lieutenant Seth C. Breen, U.S. Navy
February 2024
After a hazing incident, the author adopted Medal of Honor runs for his platoon, using the citations of former company members to help inspire his Marines to aspire for more.

You Never Know Who Will Be the Next Hero

Marines need to begin forging bonds from the day they arrive to their unit, and it begins with a welcome hand from their fellow Marines.

Major Michael A. Hanson, U.S. Marine Corps
January 2024
The USCGC Campbell (WMEC-909) intercepts a rustic vessel of Cuban migrants about 65 miles south of Marathon, Florida. As the Coast Guard’s missions continue to expand, the service must abandon its scarcity culture in favor of one that cultivates each service member’s success.

Do Less with Less

To be more effective, the Coast Guard must reevaluate its culture.

Lieutenant (junior grade) Elizabeth E. Nixon, U.S. Coast Guard
December 2023