Bill Hamblet photo

From the Editor’s Desk

By Bill Hamblet
October 2020
The annual focus on the submarine force comes every October. As you read about competition at sea, it is clear no one doubts the value of submarines.
Through the Camera Lens

CEO Notes

October 2020
Nearly seven months after shifting to remote work, the Naval Institute continues to meet or exceed its mission goals for 2020.
The African American officers stationed on Oahu in the 1960s with the author—including Samuel Gravely (left), who commanded a destroyer and rose to the rank of vice admiral, and Frank Petersen (right), who rose to lieutenant general in the Marine Corps—had an unwritten code: Do not whine; perform.

Time for a Reckoning

By The Honorable Carlos C. Campbell
October 2020
Being a black officer is both an honor and a challenge, and it brings with it a responsibility to honor the service of those who came before.
Humility and selflessness are essential leadership characteristics for naval officers and can be as simple as pitching in on a work detail.

Put Your Sailors First

By Captain Douglas E. Stephens, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy
October 2020
Humility and selflessness are essential leadership characteristics for naval officers and can be as simple as pitching in on a work detail.
The USS Cheyenne (SSN-773) is shown here departing Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam for a regularly scheduled Indo-Pacific deployment.

First to the Fight

By Rear Admiral Blake Converse, U.S. Navy
October 2020
The U.S. submarine force’s ability to win the next conflict will depend on the commitment and training of its sailors.
the Loss of the Thresher

Reflections on the Loss of the Thresher

By James R. Geurts
October 2020
For a young submarine officer, the tragedy was magnified by the loss of two close friends and highlighted the danger when operational thinking does not keep pace with technology.
The commanding officer of the USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720) observes the officer of the deck and navigation control team as the submarine makes its 1,000th dive. A prospective OOD develops technical skills through years of training in high-tech classrooms, simulators, and prototype propulsion systems, but the interpersonal skills required to lead a watch team are not taught in any formal setting.

Leading a Submarine Watch Team

By Lieutenant Commander William Spears, U.S. Navy
October 2020
The interpersonal skills required to lead a watch team are not taught in any formal setting. These skills must be developed, honed through practice, and hardened by failure and reflection.
Fidelis Cover and Book Review

Book Reviews

October 2020
Experts review Teresa Fazio’s Fidelis, Captain Pierce’s Without Warning, and other new and noteworthy books.
Marines assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct a formation run at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Forgetting Victor Krulak

By PJ Neal
October 2020
Numerous scandals in recent years have tarnished the Marine Corps’ image. Failing to rebuild trust with the society it serves could threaten the Marine Corps’ existence as a separate service.
A scene from the 1980 movie Raise the Titanic, on which the author was a technical consultant.

A Navy Captain Behind the Camera

By Captain Don Walsh, U.S. Navy (Retired)
October 2020
The author recounts his experience living in Los Angeles and consulting on military themed movies in the 1970s and 1980s.
The crew of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) mans the rails as the carrier returns from a deployment in August.

A Fleet without a Rudder

By Lieutenant (junior grade) Artem Sherbinin, U.S. Navy
October 2020
The Navy’s optimized fleet response plan is failing. It is redeploying ships on short notice for no apparent strategic purpose.
Sailors assigned to the Navy’s Undersea Rescue Command observe as the U.S. Navy Pressurized Rescue Module (PRM) system deploys from the Royal Malaysian Submarine Rescue Ship, MV Mega Bakti, during Exercise Pacific Reach (PACREACH) in 2019.

Submarine Rescue

By Captain John P. Friedman and Lieutenant Commander Brian C. Juskiewicz, U.S. Navy
October 2020
The past, present, and future of deep submergence rescue.
In selecting battalion commanders, the Marine Corps still weighs the type of billets in which an officer has served more heavily than performance in billets.

The Accidental Marine Corps Commander

By Major Brian Kerg, U.S. Marine Corps
October 2020
The Marine Corps’ O-5 command selection statistics show a preference for a certain type of officer career path, contrary to the guidance officers receive and selection board precept language.

The U.S. Naval Institute is a private, self-supporting, not-for-profit professional society that publishes Proceedings as part of the open forum it maintains for the Sea Services. The Naval Institute is not an agency of the U.S. government; the opinions expressed in these pages are the personal views of the authors.