Quote Of The Day: ‘We Need To Take Better Care Of Sailors Who Make Mistakes’

“Over the past three years I have seen an incredible gap in leadership. Sailors of all ranks and rates have...

By Tom Ricks | Published Jan 29, 2018 12:06 PM EST

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Group of Sailors & Marines — Sailors and Marines stand in formation during an all-hands call on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group is on a patrol, operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance warfighting readiness and posture forward as a ready-response force for any type of contingency.

“Over the past three years I have seen an incredible gap in leadership. Sailors of all ranks and rates have made mistakes and been knocked down, yet more senior Sailors show no compassion for junior Sailors in those situations. Putting down our Sailors have they get into trouble, questioning their character, and stripping them of opportunities sets them up for further failures and tells them that the Navy will not take care of them. How can we trust these Sailors to fight for the Navy and defend their ship if they don’t believe the Navy will fight for them?”—Petty Officer 3rd Class Elizabeth Heck in the December issue of “Proceedings.”