Date: April 4, 2008

Contact: Ninth Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office
(216) 902-6020 office
(216) 310-2608 cell

USCGC MOBILE BAY COMMANDING OFFICER
TEMPORARILY RELIEVED OF COMMAND

CLEVELAND - Rear Adm. John E. Crowley, Jr., commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, has temporarily relieved Lt. Cmdr. Matthew J. Smith of command of the Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay.

Mobile Bay (WTGB 103) is a 140-foot ice breaking tug, based in Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., whose missions also include law enforcement, maintenance of navigational aids, and search-and-rescue.

"After a series of discussions with Lt. Cmdr. Smith, I have decided a change in leadership is necessary to ensure Mobile Bay is able to effectively meet future mission requirements," said Rear Adm. Crowley.

For additional media inquiries, contact the Ninth Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (216) 902-6020.

What's this, about the 5 already since Jan 1, 2008?

Whats interesting about this one is how it occured after a "series of discussions" with the CO. I guess the note to take home there is that you shouldnt discuss ANYTHING with a District Commander if you want to keep your job.

I wish you could inbed music into your post. Seems like a good point for a little Queen. And.... another one bites....another one bites...

T

When did the Coast Guard get so PC?

quote:

When did the Coast Guard get so PC?

Probably around 1991 or 1992 ??, just after the US Navy " Tailhook Scandal" hit the headlines. If you dig into it a bit, you'll probably find that damned near all the changes in management of this agency and the other services have a common timeframe. The business experiment in TQM probably didn't hurt in transforming an armed service into a government maritime agency.

The old CPO Initiation all of a sudden become a degrading experience and inappropriate. Crossing the Equator or International Dateline became "hazing" , not a traditional part of the seamans life.

I'd bet you could find a big change in attitude imposed on the other armed forces about the same timeframe, by the forces of good. It's their service culture now, and as the Commandant stated a couple of times now, it is not his fathers Coast Guard, and other than the name, doesn't have very much in common with a Coast Guard of 20 or 30 years ago.

A personal observation only.

quote:

"After a series of discussions with Lt. Cmdr. Smith, I have decided a change in leadership is necessary to ensure Mobile Bay is able to effectively meet future mission requirements," said Rear Adm. Crowley.

Sounds to me like the District Commander wants to run the cutter from his desk. Personality conflicts create these type of problems.... It will be interesting to know what the "discussions" were about.. if we ever do....

What a shame...

Wray....

I'm glad I retired when I did. I saw the handwriting on the wall and didn't like what I saw. It went from a "Can Do" attitude to a CYA/PC mentality.

quote:

Originally posted by CDRTed:
I'm glad I retired when I did. I saw the handwriting on the wall and didn't like what I saw. It went from a "Can Do" attitude to a CYA/PC mentality.

No doubt some truth to this.

T

Happens everywhere.

Chicago PD got a new Superintendent (former FBI) who, within just weeks of taking over, made changes that resulted in several high ranking officers (deputy Chiefs and Commanders) retiring or being demoted, and changing around 21 of the 25 District and Support Department Commanders.

The next edict requires these new District Commanders to be on the street Friday and Saturday nights. So much for RHIP.

He also brought in another former FBI guy to head up the new Internal Affairs department that was formed.

This is the first non-CPD Superintendent in decades. They are usually promoted from within.

Many officers are offended that he said he'd restrict wearing a CPD uniform to just special occasions (since he never graduated from the CPD Academy), yet has worn it to almost all of the press conferences since he took over.

We'll have to wait and see if these changes are really for the better.

Back on topic, the MOBILE BAY just came out of dry dock in Portsmouth last fall before going back up to Sturgeon Bay, so she hasn't been all that active last summer.

quote:

Originally posted by stormer73:
When did the Coast Guard get so PC?

Didn't you hear? We have different "themes" with every COMDT. But not that Adm Allen is behind this one...
We use to have TQM
Then we went to Worklife
Now, it seems relieving a CO for one reason or another is in fashion.

Good morning, Gentlemen;

I am the former CO of MOBILE BAY discussed in that press release.

The "series of discussions" part might sound as though there were some heated arguments or personality conflicts between the Admiral and me, but nothing could be farther from the truth.

What it means is that MOBILE BAY faced a lot of challenges during my almost 2 years onboard, and the Admiral personally helped me work through them. In the end he decided that the ship needed a change. I believe the wording of the press release was chosen to reflect the fact that it was a performance issue on my part and not a Core Values/misconduct deal.

MOBILE BAY is a great ship with a great crew, and personally it kills me to leave them, you have no idea. But in the end I am sure they will do well with a new CO...like changing coaches sometimes that's what the team needs. I'm taking a much needed vacation with the family and then we'll see what's next!

v/r LCDR Matt Smith

Commander

Great post. Every unit has its challenges, some good, some bad. Some ideas work, some dont, and I like the comparision to a coach because to a unit, thats exactly what the CO is. Glad to see it wasnt misconduct related and I hope this has no adverse effect on your future. Lots of luck, and enjoy that much needed vacation.

T

Matt-

You have an e-mail on the way through the mil.com system. If we are lucky, you may actually get it.

AtoNCOP

Late edit-

I just set up a Military.com e-mail acct:
atoncop@military.com

Matt,

Welcome to Military.com and the Coast Guard Forums; thank you for posting the response that you posted.

Hopefully after the smoke clears you'll stick around the forums.

Tim Hecht

Commander,

Enjoy your vacation and time with your Family! They are what is most important in the long run.

Some day, the good will remain in your memory and the rest will be forgotten or good fodder for sea stories!

Good Luck!

V/R

YN102

Classy post, and a sign of good leadership. I like the coaching change analogy.

LCDR Smith;
Great to see someone putting humility ahead of vanity and crew ahead of self. Wish the the best and hope to serve along side of you!

BZ

MC

Commander,

I salute you on your candid and honest reply. I just don't understand why on earth did public affairs put out the story in the first place. It was a stupid move.

Take good care of yourself.

CDR (I'll add 'wheels' to that too as an extra sign of respect )
It seems like a relevant news story that was tastefully presented. Unlike others, when I read it, I pictured a situation fairly close to what the good LCDR said happened. The fact that an RFC happened and the general basis of it should be public information. The details would almost always fall under privelaged personall or legal cover, but not those general facts.
R
MC

Mightyz90_93

I guess I'm just from the old Guard. I'm not as bad as Cheney with secrecy, but I don't understand the public's "need to know" everything. When you print this type of story it automatically stirs the pot and encourages more in-depth reporting especially on a slow news day.

It was made a story because people would read it. The details are nothing to worry about, but we all had in the back of our minds something was wrong. Congrats to the LCDR ... hope vacation treats you well.