Joseph Decker, USS Oklahoma City’s chief of boat canned
Bobo sends us a link to the Navy Times which reports that Master Chief Machinist’s Mate (Weapons) Joseph Decker, Chief of Boat on the submarine USS Oklahoma City was fired “due to poor leadership”.
“He was relieved for a consistent pattern of ineffective leadership at the deckplate level,” Cmdr. Corey Barker, a Submarine Force Pacific spokesman, said Wednesday. “Master Chief Decker was not relieved for misconduct.”
Decker, who took over as COB in April 2015, is the seventh submarine leader fired from his post this year.
Barker characterized Decker’s relief as “administrative in nature” but also said he faces “further administrative actions,” though Barker was not at liberty to discuss what those actions could be.
Category: Navy
I’d like to know more. Where’s our own Master Chief?
Probably drinking beer.
Isn’t that what Master Chief’s do? Or is it Master’s Chief?
It’s Master Chiefs, no apostrophes.
Hmmm, too early for beer. He’ll check in later.
Thanks.
First, I would have relieved him for the portrait in summer whites.
Portraits are always in dress blues.
Second, pattern bad deck plate leadership issues … How did he screen for CMC in the first place?
Aye, I know his type, too young, too dumb and does not know his limitations.
The other admin issues are probably related to all the complaints about leadership style.
He will clear and retire.
Argh …
While my time on “water” is limited to; flounder, fluke, blue or striper fishing on the Great South Bay or Long Island Sound (Oyster Bay/Bayville area) I must be critical of an exchange of comments between, Ex-PH2 and Green Thumb at the top of this page….
“I’d like to know more. Where’s our own Master Chief?” – Ex-PH2
“Probably drinking beer. Isn’t that what Master Chief’s do?” – Green Thumb
“Hmmm, too early for beer.” – Ex-PH2
Obviously, you’ve never had a “Nitro” Milk Stout or a Leinenkugel Summer Shandy with eggs over easy, bacon and toast!!
In other words, Ex-PH2….it’s never too early for an ice-cold beer or stout! 😉
“top of the mornin to ye”
Out drinking with the boys in Olongapo? Paid too many bar fines?
You’re showing your age…unless they opened Subic Bay back up!
Pretty sure all the ladies have departed.
Had a few begging to marry me just before the base closed.
So, water people, if there was no misconduct and this fellow made the rank he did, what’s this “ineffective leadership” thing really about? Is that a euphemism for something else?
That’s what I’m waiting to find out.
When you reach MCPO level, you’re hardly a slacker.
Just read the comments over at Navy Times… quite a few stated that this clown was a shitbird in person, but probably looked good on paper/service record when he was up for advancement.
I had a few encounters with his type… most were “PC types” that never wanted to rock the boat in front of the Wardroom, but had a serious case of screaming skull syndrome in the CPO Mess or with the juniors.
Okay, that’s what I wanted to know. I’ve known a few like that, too, but they didn’t make it past CPO.
BTW – the mess usually addressed them by their “correct” titles
E-7
E-8
E-9
They’d screw over a brother/sister Chief to get ahead – and use any means to do it.
Ahh yes, Buddy is only half of the statement…
I thought submariners were tight or gone, that those who were assholes were unassed. Close quarters, cramped spaces, and all that. But if those comments regarding him are even half on the money, I am wrong or somebody had his back for a long time.
Oh, there are a few that get by.
Also keep in mind that OKC is a Squadron 15 (Guam) boat, meaning the Master Chief Mafia is small (and pretty tight knit.)
Senior Chief has it pretty much right from what I’ve heard. Kisses the CO/XO’s ass, shits all over pretty much everyone else.
That other administrative action is probably a board to determine whether he stays in or is forcibly retired.
I’ve known a few members of the Silent Service, and it’s a tight community that usually does a good job of policing their own. More than likely, E-9 Decker was a fair haired child for someone that looked out for him, but didn’t have the balls to actually “mentor” him. Decker got advanced and put into a position on a boat were he failed after almost 16 months.
Something else – the CO of the OKC was relieved in January… Deckers’ relief was probably fallout from that (I’ve seen it twice before when the CO and CMC/COB were canned if a command had some serious issues).
Also true. In the event of a CO relief for cause, the rest of the command team (XO, Department Heads, COB as a minimum) are on notice and are watched very closely.
If the boat doesn’t come around, more heads can and do roll.
And there have been several shitty COBs in the last few years. Dirty Dave stands out. So too does a former COB who was beating on his wife in the Groton CPO club.
sounds more like an obama military bashing and lightening up the supervisors at ALL levels!
He was a shitty leader, no one wanted to follow him, he did not take care of his people and he did not find common ground in the CPO Mess.
On a ship or boat, it is figurative leadership suicide.
Who’d he piss off?
Everybody, apparently.
Exactly.
Or better – how many stupid accidents was he responsible for? How many times did he chew Buckman out for putting extra lard in the reefer instead of extra coffee?
https://youtu.be/fqts74xfyvc
I’m waiting for the other anchor to drop….
LMFAO!!!
Okay my Navy brothers and sisters. What does “at the deckplate level” mean and imply?
It is supposed to signify hands on leadership, out on the deckplates vs. leading from behind a desk in an office or from behind the door of the Chiefs Mess. Who knows what Cdr. Barker meant by it, it is an euphemism to use when you don’t want to disclose your actual reasons I guess.
As a career Marine who has spent a great deal of time deployed both at sea and ashore with our Navy brethren, this is my cut on Navy leadership “at the deck plate level”:
Direct, day-to-day leadership and interaction with Sailors on a personal level in their respective working environments. Know and understand your Sailors, and also know and understand what they are doing and why. Get down on the deckplates with them, set the example, and provide Sailors with sound personal leadership; don’t just sit in the office pontificating via e-mail.
AKA “Know your troops and look out for their welfare”.
It is nice to see that sometimes a jerk gets bashed for being a leader-in-name-only.
Always know your troops and look out for their welfare.
Or “First Line Leadership” in Army vernacular.
AKA “Servant Leadership”
That is Navy leadership 101, The problem is like HMCS (FMF) stated above most are out for themselves, when they should be looking out for the troops and training the young JO’s. The Navy is losing that concept. If you have a BA then that is one plus up MA then your on top, that is some of the problem. I would ask if you have a MA, how much time did you spend leading troops and training them.
Thanks to all of you for your answers. I understand it now from my Army perspective.
It means being a technical and leadership expert and supporting your people all the way, including a Sailor’s family and leading from the deck plate up to and through the ranks, in the CPO Mess and having great influence in the Ward Room.
What in the actual fuck is a Machinist Mate (Weapons)?
I thought Weapons were an Aviation (AO) or Deck rating (GM).
Here you go, direct from the seahorse’s mouth: The MM-WEP is a Machinist Mate (MM), assigned aboard a Navy submarine, who specializes in maintenance and repair of submarine weapon systems. MM-WEPs are responsible for the shipping, unloading, loading and storage of missiles, weapons and torpedoes of all different types. Theyl work to coordinate and operate a variety of underwater weapons and weapons launch systems, up to and including hydraulic and compressed air launch systems. You cannot get a guarantee for this rating. You can volunteer to become a Submarine Machinist Mate, and you are assigned to either MM-AUX (Machinist Mate for submarine auxilary equipment), or MM-WEP during the training pipeline. There are also nuclear-trained Machinist Mates aboard Navy submarines. Typical duties include: checking weapons storage, security and alarm systems; maintaining equipment work logs and torpedo record books; identifying torpedo components, tools and test equipment as well as ordering replacements; corrective maintenance on hydraulic and pneumatic systems and components associated with launching systems; serving as team members performing inspections and final close-out checks on weapons; testing equipment using voltmeters, ammeters, meggers and ohmmeters; testing and replacing portable cable, self-contained relays, lamps and fuses; locating and identifying components and assemblies of electronic equipment; using and caring for common hand tools, special tools and soldering equipment; tracing mechanical/electrical circuits on schematics and drawings. Working Environment Machinist’s Mates (Submarines) work within, and external to, the hull of a submarine in engine rooms or shops that are sometimes hot, noisy and dirty. Their work is sometimes physical, and they must be able to work closely with others as well as alone with limited supervision. A-School (Job School) Information Groton, CT — 4 weeks (Basic Enlisted Submarine School) Groton, CT –4 weeks (Sub MM A School) Note: Following MM A School, students go on to either the Auxilery Pipline, or follow-on Weapons courses. ASVAB Score Requirement: VE+AR+MK+MC=210 Security Clearance Requirement: Top Secret Other Requirements Must be U.S. Citizen Most have normal color perception Must have normal hearing. Must volunteer for submarine duty Must have no record of conviction by civil court for any offense other than… Read more »
Thanks EX-PH2…I figured we had missile techs for that.
But hey, I was just a dumb Airdale fixing aircraft so they went off the pointy end and drop freedom on our enemy.
MT’s are only for the really big boom missiles, not the regular ones.
I think TM was blended into MM-WEP, if I understand the definition correctly, just as JO, DM, LI, and PH were blended into one rate: MCS, which could be misconstrued to mean Mess Call Supervisor.
In other words, it’s the rate that used to be Torpedoman (TM), this is submarine specific. This happened a few years back when they combined ratings, but kept separate jobs. Similar to how Radiomen (old RMs) and Quartermasters (old QMs) are now all just Electronic Technicians (ET).
I guess I was just wondering if it has to do with weapons why is the rating not Gunners Mate or Bosun’s Mate? But then again I don’t pretend to understand Navy ratings. 😀
Guns are on the weather decks.
Torpedoes and missiles are in the ship’s hold.
Bosun’s Mates chip paint and mend sails. (No offense meant to any real Bosuns.)
Do not for get the knots
Of course not.
Bosun’s Mates invented macrame, the art of decorative knot-tying so popular in the 1970s.
So how does that rotation thingy actually work anyway? No shit AT SEA for 4.5 years first tour? Or does that include a return to homeport occasionally? Must be able to take leave sometime. Help me, my little jar-head is splodin’
I’m assuming that the 54 months “at sea” means in a billet that goes to sea on rotations. I don’t think any vessel actually “goes to sea” longer than a year or so since they have to rotate back to their base for periodic maintenance.
IIRC even the “boomers” (missile subs) only go on 6 month rotations at a time (with the “blue and gold” crew rotations.)
In Army terms I would characterize it as “deployable” vs. “non-deployable.” “Deployable” doesn’t mean you’re actually deployed it just means you’re subject to being deployed.
Sailors feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. 😉
‘At Sea’ means a sea tour, assigned to a sea-going vessel. Otherwise it’s a ‘Shore Tour’ which generally lasts only 3 years.
A sea-going vessel can be at sea anywhere from a few days (my shortest ‘mission’ was literally 24 hours pier-to-pier), a few weeks for training or work-ups, 3 months for a deterrent patrol (with an additional 3 months in port as off-crew) for SSBNs, all the way up to deployment (6+ months) with potential periodic overseas port calls.
I have a nephew on a submarine. They go out for a few weeks/months, then back to dock for a while. So I suspect that the first 4.5 years will normally be that type of rotation, then 36 months shore-duty-only, rinse, repeat.
My first sea tour lasted 4.5 years and was almost exactly 50% time at sea away from home port.
My second sea tour began with a six month Med deployment and then the next year and a half in the shipyard for overhaul.
So let me axe another question: When the ship is undergoing an overhaul like that, what are the sailors doing? Are they assisting in the overhaul? Because I figure most of the work is being done by civilian contractors, right?
What if the sailor’s job only exists when the ship is underway (let’s say a radio tech or something.) Do they get assigned to other duties or maybe even to another ship that’s short handed? Or are they just an extra “duty body” doing grunt work?
Oh, one final question: Where are the single sailors quartered while the ship is undergoing an overhaul? I assume they have barracks for them or do they live “on the economy” (i.e. off base)?
The crew remains with the ship during overhaul. Some assist in the work being performed. A lot of training is done. Some go to schools for new equipment. But it’s all hands when the time comes to undock and prepare for sea trials.
As for quarters, the single sailors lived in the barracks on base (literally hotel rooms except in name, turn down service and everything) while married sailors qualified for off-base Navy housing or could rent (using BAH).
Duty on a Sub undergoing overhaul varies with the progress of the overhaul. In the beginning of a shipyard period, there is a lot of schools and Liberty (happy times). Towards the end of the overhaul crew members are involved in 12 to 16 hour days doing QC checking on installed equipment, loading the boat back up with all the normal spare parts and doing a million and one details that need doing to get the boat back in service (NOT happy time). While we underwent overhaul at Newport News Shipyard in thee 80’s, the single guys were placed in apartments off base as if they were barracks. (The closest on base barracks was in Norfolk all the way across the river, so the Navy rented apartments in wholesale numbers.). They were subject to inspection just like a regular barracks.
I spent over 7 years on three sea-going commands before I got my “good deal” shore duty.
Then I was looking at 6-8 more years in Pearl, if I was lucky. No thanks.
I have a son who spent 26 years as a Submariner and thinking back on where he was, off and on shore, the times PH2 posted match right down to his career.
Back in the late 90s there was a lot of rate consolidation/shuffling going on.
TM (Torpedomen) and A-gang (forward MMs) all became MMs with the distinction.
He didn’t get the crew sufficiently motivated to do well in different inspections, and the difference departmental leading chiefs probably simply ignored him. Correct on the “looks good on paper” thought earlier. Not good for overall morale, crew picked up quickly that he had positional authority only, no true leadership skills. Not good for the Silent Service.
In a squeeze, he’d hide under his desk.
And TAH’ers everywhere keep refreshing their screens awaiting for the certain pithy weigh-in on this from our own MCPO. Maybe he’s polishing his fellow New Yorker’s remarks for this evening?
I know a retired Navy Lieutenant who came up through the ranks from enlisted. I know this guy is a Master Chief but my friend always joked with me that in the Navy they would say, “never trust an even numbered Chief”.
Master Chiefs are E-9s, Sparks.
Sorry for the confusion. I think my friend was saying that an E-7 was okay because they had made it, and E-9s were of course, on top but that E-8s were in the Mess but either always looking for advancement or to ride their laurels. But never having experienced it I truly do not know. Just a saying he told me.
Sparks – that was a saying that we use to tell CPO selects going though initiation (when the Navy still had CPO initiations). The Senior Chiefs (including me) were usually the ones that got the “slugs” into hot water with the Mess. That’s why you “never trust an even numbered Chief”
It is beware of even numbered Chiefs.
Initiation was the CMC’s. Most Chiefs are too Junior to truly participate, they are still learning. It was on the Senior Chiefs to run the Chief’s and the show. Guide it to it’s course, creating heavy rolls to gauge potential and crate lasting leaders.
CMC’s, COB’s are not fucking Deckplate leaders in the original sense. They are the direct rep of all Enlisted to the CO. Papa Bear, who is supposed to tear Officers to pieces if they unduly fuck with the Enlisted.
Chain of Command COB to Dept. MC Div-o SEL to Senior Chief’s to Chiefs to Troops.
Commented above. I was very busy today running cable between TAH server in Scotland to servers at DIA, NSA, CIA, DHS, FBI, EPA, GFY, AOL, PMS, IED, IUD, LOL and SSA.
Wrong:
E9 is a paygrade.
A Master Chief is much more.
I spent over 2/3 of my career as a Chief and over 1/3 as a Master Chief.
Do the math …
Thank you all for the info.
Once had a CMC right in the Mess tell us that his job was to make the Battalion CO look good first and foremost. Even at the cost of the Troops. After the wholesale riot settled down, the whole Mess pretty much told him to fuck off.
The rest just told him to shit in his hat.