Kerry Sandbagged Into Releasing Bad Performance Report From Navy Service In Vietnam.

The Smoking Gun ^ | U.S. Navy

[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.

[Howlin]

You mean Kerry wanted him, even if he WAS scum, as long as he was winning?

[Endeavor]

I'm thinking that's correcto. He hired him, didn't he and only ditched him when Kerry looked ready for burial.

[Boxsford]

I'm just relying on others who are familiar with the writing process and the inflated ratings. Just thinking that perhaps this might work out in Bush's favor afterall though I think something better than this will have to come up. Most folks aren't going to take the time to figure out military ratings.

[MACVSOG68]

I think that if there is a smoking gun that it lies in his tax records. Chris Lahane tried to make a stink about Kerry not releasing them once Lehane left to join Clark's campaign. When your former campaign manager, who now is working against you, starts asking for something, it's a pretty good indication of a black mark...

Good point. How do have (or participate in having) $700 million in assets, several million dollar homes, etc, and not have a significant tax bill?

[pabianice]

LMAO! I had 28 years in the Navy (including two tours in Vietnam). Kerry's record is one of "entirely satisfactory in present grade" (LTJG). Had he not had mentors who wanted to suck-up to this future member of Congress, he would have been passed over for O-3 and properly dumped out of the Navy. That they allowed him to award himself purple hearts and combat medals for scratches and then early-out of Vietnam for a cushy staff job is to the Navy's shame.

[xzins]

Thanks for the specifics on Navy ratings. They're a little different from service to service. Good info.

[MindBender26]

Best to read entire postings. Many were written by officers who have been raters and reviewers. This will give you a better idea on why this was simply boilerplate for a marginal officer.

Also, since the Navy needed a QUANTITATIVE system for keeping/promoting officers, the X marks shown on top of page two were much more important that the verbal gymnastic skills of the rater.

[Cuttnhorse]

I don't know, I wasn't an officer, but was on Swift Boats in Nam, 1965-66, and this doesn't seem so bad to me.

The language is vague enough so that the Kerry nuts will wave it around everywhere, and those of us who know better will continue screaming the guy's a first class Clymer. (which he is)

[Mr Rogers]

Don't have my notes, but I noticed in schools he was ranked 17 of 33? and 7 of 22?...not bad, but not good either.

I also like the parts where they stress he is a 'brilliant conversationalist'. Was it a requirement to discuss an officer's conversational skills, or was that a way to say "he's all talk" and, "I can't fill a single paragraph with meat"?

[Cuttnhorse]

Bump

[Mr. K]

Geez, is everyone here a novice?

The media will report how Kerry got PERFECT marks in the 6 categories, and 'near perfect' in ALL the others totally spinning the fact that this was a disaster into a 'great report'

Come on guys, this one was easy too...

[John Lenin]

You got that right AP has an article on Yahoo boasting how high Kerrys marks were. What did we expect ? But the good thing about it all is that everytime Kerry brings up Nam he also brings up his biggest flaw and that flaw is that most military Vets hate the guy.

[Ethyl]

...well, Brit Hume will, and maybe Rush, but not many more than that.
No big deal :) This is the age of the internet. Who needs the lamestream media anymore


What do you mean?? Brit Hume and Rush are not part of the lamestream media. They are the new media.

[bitt]

"To: kabar
Kohn Lehman (no date provided) who was Secretary of the Navy 5 Feb 1981 - 10 Apr 1987.
Would this be the SAME John Lehman, 9-11 Commissioner?


144 posted on 04/21/2004 11:17:01 AM PDT by kcvl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies ]

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To: kcvl
Yes... same guy.

145 posted on 04/21/2004 11:22:18 AM PDT by So Cal Rocket

Sweet Mother of G*d, there are no such things as "coincidences"....

[HRoarke]

He was actually a really good guy. He ran the whole show. I've often wondered if he made Chief or not. His last name is Smith though, so it was tough to check...

GREAT Westpac stories...old school.

[HRoarke]

I've always said that two anchors are better than one...
A-6's?

[Conspiracy Guy]

I'm a Viet Nam Era Vet, USAF SAC 72-76, but I'd hate him even if I wasn't.

[Glenn]

That's huge! Great catch!

[bvw]

"Brother" Lehman, to use "Brother" Jamie Gorelick's term when she spoke to him. And Kerry's a "Brother", too. Quite a Broderbund.