USNI: Getting It Right
The ongoing furor over the Board of Director’s attempt at a mid-watch hijacking of the Institute’s mission can, unfortunately, overshadow the very good work being done down in the trenches by the editorial board and legion of ink-stained wretches (and I use that term affectionately) in the trenches. Before re-directing to the BoD’s hi-jinks, I’d planned to post the following as but one example of their unheralded efforts.
Recall sometime back that a consortium of businesses and “interested parties” got together for the purpose of highlighting the 100th Anniversary of U.S. Naval Aviation. Part and parcel with this effort was the obligatory website and a timeline highlighting the accomplishments of Naval Aviation.
It was an epic fail.
Over a very short course (a couple of days), the blogmeisters over at USNI, under Head Mistress Mary Ripely (USNI Blog), aided and abetted by a roster of willing and able volunteers — professional historians and aviation enthusiasts (and bloggers), pulled together a signature website and timeline for Naval Aviation.
This, for those stumbling around in the dark, is what *should* have been rolled out first. Rich in content (checkout the section on WWII for example), wide ranging in scope it is an experience that provides the serious student and casual browser alike a meaningful opportunity to explore our heritage, tradition and sacrifices that constitute the powerful, unmatched capability we enjoy today.
Expository – not lobbying, the way it should be done. Well done all.
When this thing is over and if the changed mission statement should pass, competence and dedication will depart the Institute. There’ll be only wage slaves working there and they’ll be led by a new CEO faced with the impossible task of reassembling a masterpiece handcrafted by generations of naval officers over fourteen decades from the pile of rubble that will remain.
The least good future for the United States Naval Institute is the one six rogue Board members dream of bringing about.
Minor quibble since this is the anniversary of “Naval Aviation” not just Navy aviation. I found no mention of the Coast Guard other than in a group photo of the NC-4 crew. The Marines also seem to be underrepresented.
Chuck:
Still developing/unfolding over the course of the year as more is added. I know, for example, that the story of the first helo rescue (USCG pilot) will be going up in the near future…of course (ahem) if someone would like to pass something along, I’m sure we could find a way to get it up… 😉
w/r, SJS
I’ll see what I can do.