Posted on 04/21/2004 8:57:47 AM PDT by MindBender26
John Kerry has just released his "Officer's Fitness Report" from his service in Vietnam. Kerry officials, with no knowledge of military operations, think the report is laudatory. In reality, it is disasterous.
Back in the Vietnam days, officers’ ratings were vastly inflated. To even be considered for promotion or a better assignment, an officer needed top grades in all categories. For example, in his book Colin Powell described how a dispute between his wife and his division commander’s wife led to one mark in one category out of 14 being less than perfect, and how, until it was corrected by a general further up the chain of command, it would have stopped Powell at one star.
Back then, the verbal descriptions of an officer’s service were always laudatory, and virtually meaningless. Many raters used standard paragraphs to describe every subordinate from a future member of the Joint Chiefs to “Beatle Bailey with gold bars” in glowing terms.
The actual rating was effectively “coded” into the comparative section. There a Navy officer was rated in 16 categories such as “Loyalty,” Judgment,” “Courage,” Personal Behavior,” etc. Each officer would receive one of nine rankings, ranging from “Exceptional” to “One of the Top Few,” “Above the Majority,” down to “Unsatisfactory” in each of those 16 categories. Anything less than perfect in any of the 16 categories was a clear indication of an undesirable officer.
Remember, these rankings were highly inflated, with at least 60% of the officers having perfect rankings in all 16 categories. Most of the others would receive one ranking less than perfect in one category…. and their careers were effectively over.
Lt. Kerry received only 6 of 16 rankings in the highest category. The remaining marks for “Judgment” was one step down and 9 of the 16 other marks were two steps down. When ranking these Efficiency Reports arithmetically, when one “down point” could end a career, Kerry had 19 “down points.”
Is there any wonder why the Navy had no objection to his early return from Vietnam and his subsequent early removal from the service. They wanted him away from the guns, where he couldn’t hurt Americans.
The Kerry Clowns tell us their man is fit to run the military and protect us. They are proven wrong for at least three reasons:
1. Kerry’s prior anti-US statements shown to be lies.
2. Kerry’s poor military performance, as shown in this report released today.
3. The lack of the senior staff’s knowledge as to what this report really means, and how it further diminishes his campaign…. and his stature, such as it is.
"The body count reference is included in a glowing 1969 Navy report that noted Kerry, a 25-year-old junior grade lieutenant"
Only a few places like here can you get the reality of the ratings and comments. Others will just read the comments and deem it "glowing".
This is so true. My spouse and I are retired enlisted AF, and it worked the same way with us. If you didn't get almost all perfect scores of 9 (and then later, under the new system, perfect scores of 5), you were a goner.
You could survive one or two 8's if you were very young, but if you got more than a couple 8's, a single score of 7 or below, or the kiss of certain death, THE OVERALL 8, then you better pack your bags.
But to the uninitiated, those reports might look quite decent. Sevens and eights on paper looked good. I'll dig out one from the late 70's and see what the catagories were rated.
My first principal was an office principal. As a middle management worker, he always wanted to play it safe. He told me to never give my students any grade lower than S (Satisfactory). It did not matter that the 4th grade student could not read, refused to do his homework, or his deportment was horrible. He told me, Just give the kid all S's. After all it's satisfactory for him.
One time I saw a student's report cards and permanent records from a neighboring school district, before actually meeting him. Every single subject area was carefully marked S. I thought it strange. When I showed the report cards to an older teacher she said, Oh, oh - you must be getting a real doozy. She was right, he was a real doozy. He was so out-of-control he was assigned his own private lunch table, and he was not allowed to use the boys' bathroom (he used the one in the office). By the way, his father was a professor, in the early childhood development department and his mother was a sex therapist.
Would this be the SAME John Lehman, 9-11 Commissioner?
Did they try to get you with that "BT punch" bravo sierra?
From one of the uninitiated, why would the following remarks be written on Kerry's records if he was not fit for the job? I have to admit I have no understanding of military grading.
From post # 124 copy of official record:
LTJG Kerry was assigned to this divison for only a shor period of time but during that time he exhibited all the traits desired of an officer in a combat environment. He frequently exhibited a high sense of imagination and judgement in planning operations against the enemy in the Makong Delta. Involved in several enemy initiated fire fights, including an ambush during the Christmas truce, he effectively suppresed enemy fire and is unofficially credited with 20 enemy killed in action. Though relative new to the PCF he is thoroughly knowledgable of all aspects of his boat and PCF operations. He was instrumental in planning of highly successful Sea Lords Operation. He was cited for his performance during action against the enemy by Commander Task Force in his message 0808072 Jan 69.
The new Captain (Queeg) is appalled, knowing that "outstanding" means an officer is adequate and an "above average" officer is a disaster.
When I worked for UPS, they rated the shipping hubs with the most work accidents “Least Best” in safety.
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