When the Naval Institute staff approached me to share a few thoughts on the COVID-19 virus and its impact to the Navy, at first I was hesitant since I am not in the trenches and cannot speak to the details. However, two things changed my mind. First, I have two family members in the “high risk“ category—on behalf of them I want to thank everyone (especially the sailors who normally feel invincible but are following Centers for Disease Control and Department of the Navy guidelines anyway) who are taking appropriate measures. Second, not being in the trenches allows a different perspective on the battlefield that I feel compelled to share. In the past, I have shared unsolicited advice in the areas of manpower, personnel, and training; this is not the time for that. What I would like to share is how overwhelmingly impressed I have been by the response from Navy leadership and deck plate Sailors.
The first “callout” is to the frontline sailors who are on ships and squadrons doing their jobs while their families are in lockdown or some degree of self-isolation. They understand the importance of their individual role in the Navy and that to best support the Navy and the nation, they need to reduce their exposure to others. Having observed and even studied sailor resilience for several years, what kept me in the Navy and has kept me engaged with sailors is their ability to rise to the occasion and do what is required. It cannot be easy to maintain social distancing on the bridge of a ship or during a damage control drill, and we all know from experience that personal hygiene on board a ship is always a challenge. In my day job, my team provides schoolhouse training to surface force sailors and have shifted to a virtual environment where, instead of sitting in a classroom, the students are at their homes. Our students take this unusual situation seriously and the transition has been nearly seamless. The Naval Academy superintendent, Vice Admiral Sean Buck, sent a clear message to the Brigade of Midshipmen: “Spring Break is over. Class is in session and your home is your place of duty.“ Sailors take change in stride, adapt and overcome; you enter the war with the Navy you have and start the next battle with the resilience that sailors have at this moment. Recent crew endurance and resilience-related policy changes and actions—and a culture of getting the job done—have prepared the service this moment. We must not underestimate the transmissibility of COVID-19, we must not underestimate the significant role that each sailor contributes to the readiness and success of the Navy.
My second “callout” is to Navy leadership. When I go down the list of names setting Navy policy, they are not just flag officers and command master chiefs, but a roster of people with whom I have stood watch, sailed in harm’s way, and spent numerous hours in SWOS and Navy War College classrooms. I am talking about people such as Admirals Mike Gilday, Chris Aquilino, and Chris Grady; Vice Admirals John Nowell, Ron Boxall, and Rich Brown; Rear Admirals Roy Kitchener and Gene Black—and senior enlisted leaders such as Fleet Master Chief Rick O’Rawe and Force Master chief Kevin Goodrich. At some point in my career each name on that list has personally earned my trust with their leadership and focus on sailors—I have seen them all in action as midshipmen, lieutenants, commanders, and captains. All I can do is offer my personal observation—for whatever it is worth—that the right hands are on the tiller in these trying times. The rapid series of NAVADMIN messages covering everything from the training and accession pipeline to medical policies and grooming standards represent a bold, comprehensive, and human-centered approach that truly embodies a term used by John Paul Jones to describe the best qualities of a naval officer: forehandedness. Especially noteworthy is the overall tone of leaders providing top-level guidelines without discouraging proactive tactical engagement by commanders.
Despite these proactive measures and precautions, there will be significant impacts on assessments, inspections, and training, many of which will not be realized for months or years. One of my friends who is in command sent me a note that said, “Nothing in my pipeline prepared me for this challenge.” I replied, “On the contrary shipmate—you may not realize it, but everything in your training pipeline and fleet experience gave you all the tools you need to deal with this.” When I left for the Navy at 18, my father, the late Lieutenant Commander J. T. Cordle, a 30-year limited duty officer, gave me this advice: “Son, the Navy is pretty simple. Figure out what you are supposed to do—and do it.” That is the beauty of the Navy; our true strength is not in rising to the challenge is that we expect, but proactively applying what we have learned to the face the unexpected.
COVID-19 will run its course and we all feel apprehension as to its effects on our economy, health, and families. While it is easy to look back and say that the government should have acted sooner in some areas, the military problems and solutions were much more complex than just “stay at home,” and I suspect lessons are being learned at all levels. One area where I have no apprehension or doubt is that the U.S. Navy’s sailors will serve honorably, its leaders will lead boldly, and its ships, submarines, and aircraft will continue to sail and fly safely and soundly around the world—so that the rest of us can sleep at night. I am reminded of that day in September 2001 with a friend of mine who was in command at the time got his ship underway from Norfolk without order and headed towards New York City. By the time his ship arrived he had orders to go there at best speed and reported himself “on station.” That is the kind of leadership we need now, and I believe the Navy has it. A friend shared a quote from Fleet Forces chaplain Captain Jerome Hinson: “Although Germs and fear are contagious . . . so are hope and courage.” To those sailors (from seaman to admiral) I say thank you for all that you do—and thank you for washing your hands!
