People are stupid sometimes; being in the military doesn't exempt them from being so... and the mind-numbing tedium certainly can be a contributing factor to twenty-something year-olds acting like they're still fourteen. I'd say it's easy (but incorrect) to draw the "entire military is overstretched" line given the data points; I think it's more coincidental timing rather than an indication of overall malaise. (This incident, with a Squadron CPO coming down for a routine monitor watch, isn't the first, and is actually pretty common - it's rare to never that a monitor watch doesn't produce at least a few comments. It's only news because it's the RADCON guys that were goofing off this time, instead of A-gang doing stupid things with their diesel logs.)
However, having said that, I happen to know pretty well how many requirements there are for radiological controls on a sub. "Mind-numbing" is the kindest way to put it. It's hard, exacting lab work, and there are *dozens* of logs, samples, requirements... all meant to legally document that our reactor plants are healthy and safe, and to continue our unbroken safety record. I was very nearly an ELT when I was enlisted; I'm rather thankful that I chose the path I did. I don't know that I could maintain the discipline required to keep to all of those requirements, particularly when they're in addition to all the other "fun" things the enlisted guys have to do in the course of a normal patrol/deployment.
Having said *that*... well, in my opinion, the sub force has been crushing itself under an ever-increasing administrative burden for a long time now, and it doesn't surprise me that some of the weaker links are starting to fail... when the solution to most problems involves increasing rules, requirements, reporting, and data collection, it just adds to the guys' already difficult job.. and some simply aren't capable of shouldering the load. There have been attempts to get rid of some of the more ridiculous data collecting and administrative burden, but none of the attempts I know of have significantly decreased the load... more original solutions are called for. For that, I blame the upper management of the force.
All my personal opinion, of course, and none of the Navy's ;)
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Date: 2007-11-06 09:06 pm (UTC)However, having said that, I happen to know pretty well how many requirements there are for radiological controls on a sub. "Mind-numbing" is the kindest way to put it. It's hard, exacting lab work, and there are *dozens* of logs, samples, requirements... all meant to legally document that our reactor plants are healthy and safe, and to continue our unbroken safety record. I was very nearly an ELT when I was enlisted; I'm rather thankful that I chose the path I did. I don't know that I could maintain the discipline required to keep to all of those requirements, particularly when they're in addition to all the other "fun" things the enlisted guys have to do in the course of a normal patrol/deployment.
Having said *that*... well, in my opinion, the sub force has been crushing itself under an ever-increasing administrative burden for a long time now, and it doesn't surprise me that some of the weaker links are starting to fail... when the solution to most problems involves increasing rules, requirements, reporting, and data collection, it just adds to the guys' already difficult job.. and some simply aren't capable of shouldering the load. There have been attempts to get rid of some of the more ridiculous data collecting and administrative burden, but none of the attempts I know of have significantly decreased the load... more original solutions are called for. For that, I blame the upper management of the force.
All my personal opinion, of course, and none of the Navy's ;)