Watch it while you can-" Torpedo Run"

[August]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I agree. But in the movie I think the character was in the navy for 15-20 years prior to WWII. I just did not know that "mavericks to Captain" happened in Submarines during WWII. The Navy has not always had a good feeling for Mavericks from what I understand.

I don't know if it actually happened in the pre WW2 US Navy but i'd say in general military terms a Maverick officers chance of reaching command rank would be significantly improved during wartime. Not only is there a huge increase in billets of every rank as the service gears up to it's wartime footing, but war also has a way of gutting out the old boy networks that seem to prevail in peacetime.

When the bullets start flying whose nephew an officer might be or what military academy he graduated from becomes not as nearly as important as whether or not they can accomplish their mission.