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SEATTLE - Rear Adm. David Kriete, Commander, Submarine Group Nine, spoke at the University of Washington’s Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) fall commissioning ceremony, Dec. 18.
The fall 2015 University of Washington commissioning class included Ensign Justin Jachetta, from San Diego and 2nd Lt. Stephen Gentry, from Seattle. Adm. Kriete addressed the crowd of families, friends, and shipmates before administering the Oath of Office.
In his speech, Kriete discussed the Chief of Naval Operations’ new Guiding Principles; traits that the CNO believes are imperative to individual and team success within the Navy.
“Two weeks ago, our Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. John Richardson, spoke to all of the flag officers and senior executives in the Navy,” said Kriete. “He asked us to help him reinforce four behaviors that are keys to our success individually and our success as a Navy, and I would like to pass them along to you.”
First, he spoke about integrity, and the implicit trust within a military unit between Sailors, Marines and their officers.
“This unspoken trust has been developed over the course of more than two centuries and simply doesn’t exist in most other areas of society. Embrace it but be conscious to never abrogate it.”
In the CNO’s second principle, initiative, Admiral Kriete discussed Naval and Marine Corps heroes like John Paul Jones and Chesty Puller, and their initiative to pursue challenging missions.
“Personal and unit level initiative in pursuit of challenging missions has been the catalyst for great victories by our Navy and Marine Corps team throughout history,” explained Kriete.
The third principle discussed was accountability. He emphasized not confusing the behavior with punishment, and instead focused on self-accountability.
“Accountability – this means exactly what the word says: at all times being prepared to give an account or explanation of what you did and why,” said Kriete. “It demands that your decisions be well thought out and the rationale articulated because a lot is at stake.”
Last, the Admiral reinforced the principle of toughness by stressing physical, mental and emotional strength. He discussed resilience and directed the graduates to instill toughness in their men and women when they are placed in their first leadership roles.
“But I would like to add something that we don’t hear much about; you also need to be a good follower,” Kriete added. “After many years as a Naval Officer, I still try my best to be a good follower every day and to let the Sailors at my command see that.”
He explains that it takes understanding the environment, paying attention to leaders, and enabling, supporting and collaborating with shipmates to be a good follower.
“This is what it means to be an officer in today’s Navy and Marine Corps. Congratulations Ensign Jachetta and Lieutenant Gentry. I know that you are both up to the task. I will be keeping an eye out for you soon out in the fleet.”
Jachetta joined the Nuclear Surface Warfare community, and will be reporting to the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58). Gentry will be joining the United States Marine Corps Aviation community.
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.22.2015 14:52 |
| Story ID: | 185173 |
| Location: | SEATTLE, WA, US |
| Hometown: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 86 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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