Navy guy gets yelled at for wearing kilt into work!

[BLAZN]

This pic, if it posts, is from the Alexis Malcolm military tartan site.

http://www.alexismalcolmkilts.bigste...generic14.html

Should be enough to give your COB the fits.



Navy tartan kilts at a Navy ball somewhere...

Ron

I did some research on that photo. I've not been able to actually ask Alexis Malcolm where she obtained the phot, but word has it that the quintet is a group of intel officers from some Navy base in Florida (though, I question the Florida part, as they're wearing blue coats vice white).

[BLAZN]

I'm a former Boomer squid myself. I couldn't imagine climbing down the L.E.T. in a kilt.
Maybe that's why the Cob is pissed. He saw something he didn't want to when your friend was coming down the ladder.

Well... the subs in DMP right now. We have a living barge and the eng. dept. has a barge of office spaces for each division. He never went down to the boat while kilted at all.

Boy the Navy sure has change since I was in. File a grievance? When did the Navy go union? This must be part of the kinder and gentler military. When I was in you did what you were told untill you attained the rank to do the telling.

You can't tell me they didn't have formal grievance procedures way back when. I've been in for just shy of 13 years, and we've always had them. They basically come into play when one's command refuses to listen to reason.
I'd likely never need to file one... Charlie Oscar is a pretty laid back guy.

Have a talk with the CO? I guess there is no such thing as a chain of command anymore. Oh well at least we still have the Marines.

Umm... yeah. Except... when you need to go to the next step above the bull enlisted guy, you go to the CO.

I'm retired from the USN..but when I came in over 30 yrs ago Navy Regs provided for sailors to have direct communication with the commanding officer. A sailor may request to see the CO. His request will go up the chain of command and he may or may not disclose why he wants to see the CO. In my experience, when a sailor has a problem and has requested this, when he has disclosed why he needs to talk to the CO, the problem was resolved at a lower level.

The possibility exists that that would work in this case. Given the attitude of our COB, though, I'd doubt it.
Our CO has a very laid back open door policy. Anyone in the crew can talk to him at anytime. He doesn't mind.

Even though it's been over 10 years, the Navy is still "feeling the pain" from Tailhook. Any incidents of discrimination, or harassment whether it is sexual, racial, religious or cultural is dealt with swiftly.

In all techincality, the guy who was yelled at could make this both a racial and cultural thing. I don't think he would, but the possibility exists.

[navycb]

You can't tell me they didn't have formal grievance procedures way back when. I've been in for just shy of 13 years, and we've always had them. They basically come into play when one's command refuses to listen to reason.

Yes we did have similar procedures way back then, but they were reserved for much more serious matters than the COB not approving of the civilian attire worn on board a Naval Vessel. I took an early retirement about the time that you were in basic training. Part of the reason I left the Navy early was due to the ridiculous political correctness that was going on. Too many new recruits that thought that the military was a country club and if they got yelled at would go crying to their mommy and congressman.

"Umm... yeah. Except... when you need to go to the next step above the bull enlisted guy, you go to the CO"

I thought the step above the "bull enlisted guy" was the division officer (or in my case the company commander)? How would you feel if one of your subordinates went over your head? Way over your head, I doubt you would be very happy about it.

Now I am in no way questioning your military service or dedication, lord knows I could never be locked up in one of those tin cans but the fact of the matter is that while you and me and everyone else on this board love the kilt lifestyle it just doesn't fit in to mainstream military lifestyle. When I was in earrings were authorized in civillian clothes off base, but heaven help you if your platoon commander or chief caught you with one. And I can guarrentee you that those officers in that photo had to get special permission to wear the kilt with dinner dress uniforms.

[BLAZN]

Too many new recruits that thought that the military was a country club and if they got yelled at would go crying to their mommy and congressman.

Oh, it's worse, trust me. You think I'm soft... I'm hard edged by todays standards.

I thought the step above the "bull enlisted guy" was the division officer (or in my case the company commander)? How would you feel if one of your subordinates went over your head? Way over your head, I doubt you would be very happy about it.

DivO, though an officer, still falls below the COB on the chain of command. In fact... the COB is held in nearly equal status as the XO.
And the whole Navy has gone to the point where a first class has about the same power as a third. It's almost like the Navy mandates people go over my head.

Now I am in no way questioning your military service or dedication, lord knows I could never be locked up in one of those tin cans but the fact of the matter is that while you and me and everyone else on this board love the kilt lifestyle it just doesn't fit in to mainstream military lifestyle. When I was in earrings were authorized in civillian clothes off base, but heaven help you if your platoon commander or chief caught you with one. And I can guarrentee you that those officers in that photo had to get special permission to wear the kilt with dinner dress uniforms.

The thing that irks me as that the guy was coming to an area that's basically an office. NOT to the boat itself.
And the earring thing still applies.

[Freedomlover]

The way it works today, is that sailors park their car in the parking lot, walk up the pier to the ship, go down to their "at sea" living area and change into their uniform for the day. They stay in uniform all day during working hours. When the ship is in port, they change into their civilian clothes at the end of the day and go home to their apartment or house. Almost nobody stays in uniform for their off work time.

That sure is different from when I rode the boats back in the 60's and 70's. If you had private arrangements ashore, or lived in the sub barracks, you were required to commute in proper uniform, either blues or whites depending. You could, if you were qualified, commute to a locker club just outside the gate and change into uniform there. If you were a non-qual you lived on the boat. Period. No exceptions, and if you were allowed liberty (for being ahead on qualifications) it was in full uniform. And my boats were not the floating palaces they have today.

[Freedomlover]

I should mention also that all the COB's I served with were great men. They all had basically only one requirement: DO YOUR DUTY. If you did you had no problems. If you didn't you generally either got a new brown round installed, or got the bum's rush off the boat. And that is just as it should be.

[GatorUK]

I did some research on that photo. I've not been able to actually ask Alexis Malcolm where she obtained the phot, but word has it that the quintet is a group of intel officers from some Navy base in Florida (though, I question the Florida part, as they're wearing blue coats vice white).

I would venture to say its either a groupe of crypto officers at a function at NSGA Edzell Scotland. Navy Day Ball or perhaps the celebration of NSGA Edzell's 25th anniversary (when the tartan was originally made). Or it is function at NSGA Homestead, Florida and the officers had the kilts made by Alexis who lived in Homestead at the time. She has since moved to Clewiston, FL.

[Skipper1]

Well - COB's can be like that some times. They have to maintain discipline and sometimes mistake innovation for "flipping the bird". Perhaps he thought the sailor was trying to make a joke or being impudent rather than expressing an actual preference for kilts. I wear a kilt in to my ship every day as well and I took some razzing initially. Of course, as the Exec, I was somewhat immune to it. ALso, my Coxn (the Canadian equvilent to a COB) is named MacUisdin and he also wears a kilt every day so the sailors tend to keep their mouth shut.
I think a chat with his divisional PO or officer who can then go to the COB and set the record straight might be in order. I would hold off on the grievence for a bit to try the internal route. Might let the COB save some face when he is forced to back down. In the long run that might make for a better long term working relationship.

[sdc]

And my boats were not the floating palaces they have today.

(Channeling my father)
"Yeah, kids have it easy; in my day, we had to ROW whenever we wanted to get somewhere. And it was uphill both ways."

[Detroitpete]

Blazn,

Eight years of Crypto and SBU service here--with a few 'voluntary' ;-) excursions with bubble heads. I say, if you get to go to and from the boat in civies, then a kilt fits the definition. I've seen my share of COB's and Command Chiefs who decided that they would push an issue, regardless of fact, just because they felt they could. Just remember the important role these Bulls play. I had a Master Chief BM who HATED the fact that I was a Crypto, had and wore an ear ring (Golden Shellback) and he took every moment he could to bust my chops--MAN, did I learn from that guy--I still respect him.

This guy sounds like he's flexing. I found that for issues like this, talking to the Command Chief man-to-man usually worked things out.

As for the picture of the gussied-up Spooks, it looks like a certain 'place' in Florida most of us are familiar with. We switched from blues to whites as directed as UOD. I do think we lagged behind other commands in the switch however.