You know, the people being critical of the video's have never been to sea for weeks on end doing a job for 20+ hours straight each and every day without a break. They do not know what it is like to not have time off except for that 20 minutes before they pass out asleep before getting up and doing it again.
They have no idea that things like this keep people sane. That the XO, by being PART of the community, would get more respect from his people because they see him as one of them.
There is a hierachy at sea. The CO is GOD. Period. You live and DIE by that mans sufferance and command. The CO is EXPECTED to be above it all and lord over his command with a firm hand and a steely eye. He is the rock that the command is anchored to.
The XO, he is the mouth of god. He brings down the commands and demands of the man in charge. He is the man who tells the CO what the crew is up to. He tells the CO that all is well and that his command can do its job.
He can only find that out by wallowing in the muck with the wardroom and the enlisted guys. Otherwise all he is getting is the BS smiley face that ANY enlisted man can put up when a officer walks in the room. Believe me, we LOVED to gaslight a officer. Particularly one who was displaying a false sense of "give a sh**" to us.
I have seen the videos. There is NOTHING to see. Geesh, the guy made it INTERESTING. Was he colorful? Yes, but he had the crew WAITING for the next time he came on the CCTV. If he had something to put out, he KNEW that the line of communication was open and being listened to.
They should give the man a commendation for maintaining moral and let him do his job. You know, like making sure his command is ready to KILL people and lay waste to an enemy at the pleasure of the US goverment.
This whole thing just upsets me.. damn airchair warriors who have never had to do the job telling people how they should act. I have a son (a Marine) who just got back from Afganistan and when he told me the ROG that he had to deal with, I am suprised that we do not have MORE dead people over there.
Let the military do its JOB. We were not there to be politically correct or host a international tea party. We were there to KILL people should they decide to threaten our country or people.
We need a real damn war. One that gets rid of the 'me too's' and the resume writers. One were people did the job and that job was to kill the other SOB. Real fast they would realize what was important and what was not. Yes, I would loose a child or two, but then my other children would be in a world that is concerned with what is importand and relevant.
Sorry for the rant.. long day and too many customer at work who want to be critical of the whole situation....
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