On Leadership Be All In
By RDML Amy "B12" Bauernschmidt, USN
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) maneuvers through a turn while underway in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by CAPT Lee Apsley, USN
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moke was engulfing the passageways on the second deck near the aft mess decks. Five minutes later, smoke was reported filling the O3 level. This was not a drill. Fire spreads rapidly onboard ships quickly consuming spaces and options. Sailors rushed to their gear, DCA mobilized the response and XO and CHENG guided efforts at the scene while I coordinated external communication. The response was automatic. It had to be – we were being tested on all our training. That morning I was on the bridge discussing the underway and missions in front of us with the team. Over the 1MC, the first call of smoke near the aft mess scullery was made, then came the second call of smoke. XO and I both ordered GQ to be called away almost simultaneously. My heart sank, besides thinking about USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Sailors, the question entered my mind - would we face a similar situation as USS George Washington (CVN 77) did in 2008? Never pass up an opportunity to get better. What we do matters. Our hard work makes the difference, mobilizing to complete the mission against the enemy, whatever or whomever the enemy may be. On this day, our adversary was a fire, but tomorrow it could be another country. Whether we serve on ships, in squadrons, turn wrenches, man consoles in combat, stand lookout, do the laundry, or support vital functions in other ways, we are all warriors. As warriors, we
Rotor Review #162 Fall '23
must own our part of the mission, seizing ways to have the maximum impact each day in those moments where training, initiative, and courage make the difference. One of my favorite quotes is from JJ Watt. It goes something like this: “Success isn’t owned - it’s leased and rent is due everyday." Every single day. Someone is coming for your greatness, and if you’re not constantly improving your game, just know someone else is improving theirs.” On game day, if and when we need to head into the fight, you are only as good as the daily training opportunities you methodically and meticulously capitalized on and used to your advantage. Every single day. We have to do the work, owning what we do each day forges how we will operate when it matters. In Lincoln’s case it was damage control, but equally important are daily communication checks, brushing up on NATOPS, practicing search and rescue, or methodically rehearsing and refining tactics to be ready for the day we face a different enemy. In seizing training opportunities, we aid ourselves and our teammates in accomplishing the mission more effectively. However, reflect on a time when we didn’t own our training, when we didn’t take advantage of an opportunity presented to make ourselves, our crew, our squadron and our Navy better. What is the impact of missed opportunities? We can’t afford to waste them. We all have countless examples of someone who owned the mission, we also know within ourselves, the 14
