The Navy has relieved Captain Owen Honors from command aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise. He was at the center of a series of what are described as "raunchy" videos shown over the ship's television system. You can click on the story link to get full details.
My post here is just how surprised I was this ever happened and that Captain Honors was involved.
As a reporter I was embedded on three different aircraft carriers--the USS Kennedy, USS Constellation and USS Ranger. These huge ships are like huge floating cities with today's ships of the line carrying upwards of 6-thousand plus crew members. Like any city, the ships have post offices, recreation, education, hospitals and even television studios. Programming ranges from great camera shots from the flight deck to educational, entertainment and sports programming. A normal deployment is 6 months, and while the crew work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, there is some downtime and television is a great way to relax.
Life aboard a combat ship is highly regimented. Officers and enlisted crew members are essentially segregated from each other except while working. "Officer's County" lines are clearly marked. It has to be.
On the Kennedy for example, the Skipper used the television facilities to communicate with the crew and again using the city metaphor, reporting to the citizens of the ship. One of the chaplains aboard the Kennedy even had his own talk show!
I'm not sure what motivated Captain Honors to do what he did, but he clearly crossed a line of command and good taste. Honors is an Annapolis graduate and taught at Top Gun. A highly accomplished officer.
It's sad that some ill-advised videos will sink his career. Many may think, "What's the harm?" But when you are charged with leading thousands of crew members in an extremely dangerous work environment, there's a good reason for solid lines of discipline and conduct.
Ironically, while the men and women of our armed forces defend our right of free speech, it doesn't actually apply to them. It's part of the sacrifice they know they make when they swear the oath.
Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"
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