New Navy Ethos

Ecce:

 

UNCLASSIFIED//

NAVADMIN 318/08

MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N00/NOV//

SUBJ/NAVY ETHOS//

1. IN THE 2007-2008 CNO GUIDANCE, I DIRECTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NAVY ETHOS THAT WOULD REFLECT THE VALUES INTEGRAL TO MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR ACTIVE AND RESERVE SAILORS AND NAVY CIVILIANS, NO MATTER THE ASSIGNED UNIT, COMMAND, OR COMMUNITY.

2. AFTER GATHERING INPUT ACROSS THE NAVY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE NAVY ETHOS HAS BEEN APPROVED. THE FINAL PRODUCT IS THE RESULT OF COMMENTS FROM THOUSANDS OF ACTIVE AND RESERVE SAILORS AND NAVY CIVILIANS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE ON THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND VALUES THE NAVY EMPLOYS DAILY TO WIN WARS AND BUILD AND MAINTAIN SECURITY AND STABILITY.

3. AN ETHOS IDENTIFIES DISTINGUISHING CHARACTER, CULTURE, OR BELIEFS OF A GROUP OR INSTITUTION. NAVY ETHOS IS DESIGNED TO COMMUNICATE A SET OF BELIEFS APPROPRIATE AND IMPORTANT TO THE MORE THAN 400,000 MILITARY AND 180,000 CIVILIAN PERSONNEL WHO SHARE A COMMON BOND OF SERVICE IN THE NAVY, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, OR POSITION.

4. THE NAVY ETHOS:

— WE ARE THE UNITED STATES NAVY, OUR NATION’S SEA POWER – READY GUARDIANS OF PEACE, VICTORIOUS IN WAR.

— WE ARE PROFESSIONAL SAILORS AND CIVILIANS – A DIVERSE AND AGILE FORCE EXEMPLIFYING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SERVICE TO OUR NATION, AT HOME AND ABROAD, AT SEA AND ASHORE.

— INTEGRITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR CONDUCT; RESPECT FOR OTHERS IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR CHARACTER; DECISIVE LEADERSHIP IS CRUCIAL TO OUR SUCCESS.

— WE ARE A TEAM, DISCIPLINED AND WELL-PREPARED, COMMITTED TO MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE DO NOT WAVER IN OUR DEDICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO OUR SHIPMATES AND FAMILIES.

— WE ARE PATRIOTS, FORGED BY THE NAVY’S CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT. IN TIMES OF WAR AND PEACE, OUR ACTIONS REFLECT OUR PROUD HERITAGE AND TRADITION.

— WE DEFEND OUR NATION AND PREVAIL IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY WITH STRENGTH, DETERMINATION, AND DIGNITY.

— WE ARE THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

5. RELEASED BY ADMIRAL G. ROUGHEAD, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.//

For the record, we prefer the shorter, more direct distillation as put forth by John Paul Jones in an era devoid of polls, public opinion surveys, and warfighting by committee:

“I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm’s way.”

Your thoughts?  Am especially interested in the Fleet’s thoughts as, well, you know we sometimes get tarred with that curmudgeon brush – bitter retirees clinging to ancient beliefs and all… ;-)  (cf. Our earlier thoughts re. Ethos and A Navy At War…)