I’m strange. I think that if the top guy is unhappy, he has a right to yell at people, swear, and make threats.
Motivation through fear is certainly not the best course of action. But it should not be taken off the table entirely. Sometimes, yelling at people is effective. If you’re pissed, show it.
Or else we can gather in a group hug, give everyone a trophy and talk about our feelings.
The military is about breaking things and killing people. Sometimes, passion comes in handy.
Consider that it has been in the News lately that the Intel is being manipulated by the White House and that there are people at Centcom complaining about it.
Hypothesis: Adm McRaven has been the SPECOM leader for a while now. Being a 4-star his career is effectively over and so HE can’t be intimidated politically. However, a deputy 3-star looking for that last star?
It doesn't matter if he hurt anyone's feelings, or humiliated anyone before their peers, or anything politically incorrect of that nature.
This is the military, not a social worker's weekend retreat.
It is looking possibly unhinged and unfit for command in front of ranking Allied brass that is the problem.
Typically someone who has to shout and say crazy stuff to get the attention he wants from his subordinates is over his head, and might do better in another role.