Posted on 04/21/2005 11:13:37 AM PDT by pabianice
--------------------------------------------- From:
To: Fleet Friends
Subj: Latest PC Bull***
Hey, You all will love this one off the Net. A CO about to retire is relieved of command because some visiting female officer is "offended" by something she sees at the squadron. Sheesh.
George B.
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Command climate gets CO booted
Capt. Wade Tallman was two weeks away from a retirement ceremony filled with pomp and circumstance when the ax fell on his high-flying 27-year Navy career. Tallman was relieved of command of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 9 by Vice Adm. James Zortman, commander, Naval Air Forces.
So instead of a Navy band and a cake cutting at a tradition-filled change of command, Tallman’s departure and the installation of his successor were accomplished by a decidedly less extravagant procedure called a “change of office” on April 5.
Details of why Tallman was relieved are sketchy.
Cmdr. Ed Buclatin, a spokesman for Commander, Naval Air Forces, said Zortman lost confidence in Tallman’s ability to command, based on his observations of the “overall tone and culture within VX-9 as set by the CO.”
A statement released by Buclatin said Zortman lost confidence in Tallman’s ability to establish a positive command climate within his squadron “based on his failure to recognize and take appropriate and timely actions to correct several inappropriate actions.”
“When an instance of inappropriate behavior arises, it’s expected that the commanding officer recognize and take appropriate action to address it. There were several incidents at VX-9 where that didn’t occur,” the statement said.
Buclatin said a sexual harassment complaint was filed against squadron personnel for an incident that occurred at the squadron Nov. 14, 2004, at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif.
The complaint was made by someone from outside the squadron visiting to give a briefing, who complained about what she described as an offensive movie clip shown during the class, Buclatin said.
The complaint, investigated by staff from Commander, Naval Air Forces, was substantiated, he said.
“In November 2004, it became apparent to Zortman that an inappropriate culture existed at VX-9. Zortman counseled Tallman and detailed his expectations that he needed to effect change within his command. Tallman’s actions were ineffective, ultimately leading to his relief,” a statement said.
Besides being relieved of command, no other action is being taken against Tallman, Buclatin said.
One example of the command climate that might have concerned Zortman involved a June 2004 visit of squadron personnel to the Playboy Mansion, home of Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner.
The sailors — members of an F-14 Tomcat-flying VX-9 detachment that operated at Point Mugu, Calif. — had an hour-long visit with Hefner, touring the media mogul’s six-acre estate and posing for souvenir photographs.
The visit was made because of the detachment’s prior use of the rabbit-head design associated with Playboy Enterprises, said Bill Farley, vice president for marketing events.
The black-and-white silhouette of a bowtie-wearing, big-eared rabbit was used on the tail of the F-14 Tomcat once flown by the detachment.
A photo of 10 squadron personnel in their flight suits posing with Hefner ran in the November 2004 edition of Playboy.
In the photo, the pajama-clad Hefner is flanked by two squadron members, while a pair of Playboy bunnies hold up a framed photo of two of the squadron’s rabbit-decorated F-14s flying in formation.
Lots of military units and personnel request visits to the mansion, and Farley said he always advises them to get permission from their CO before they come.
Hefner declined to comment about the visit, but feels bad if it had anything to do with Tallman’s relief, Farley said. “He feels like this is a very unfortunate episode.”
Buclatin said the squadron’s use of the Playboy bunny logo has been stopped.
Tallman was relieved by Capt. Bruce Fecht, the squadron’s executive officer. VX-9 is under the operational control of Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force. The squadron’s mission includes the operational evaluation of attack, fighter and electronic warfare aircraft, weapons systems and equipment, and developing tactical procedures for their employment.
Buclatin emphasized that the command climate issues that concerned Zortman did not affect the squadron’s performance of its mission. Tallman, a Class of 1978 Naval Academy graduate, earned his gold wings in May 1980, flying the A-7 Corsair. His career includes tours as executive officer, then commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 22 from March 1994 to August 1996, after refresher training with the F/A-18 Hornet.
After attending Nuclear Power School, Tallman was XO of the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis, then CO of the command ship Coronado. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and numerous Navy Commendation and Achievement medals.
A telephone message left at Tallman’s home April 6 seeking comment was not returned.
OMG! Truly horrific!
Good thing they never heard what went on at my squadron in Las Vegas.
Trying to make our "fighting men" just like our congressmen. Wusses.
Nothing so corrosive as this kind of PC sewage.
Skraggy looking, homely, bitter women should always be avoided, especially you know when. They have no sense of humor and seem to go looking for things to bitch about. They love to attack from behind macho guys with whom they would stand no chance under ANY circumstances (thus, the source of the "I wouldn't do her with your foot" classification).
I always take this kind of thing with a grain of salt when the source is email. 9 times out of 10, there's more to the story than what's being presented, and 1 time out of 10, it's just a complete fabrication. Not saying it didn't happen, just that I'd personally like a little meat on these bones.
But the smell of political correctness seems overpowering in this case.
Just like Rusty says, "we are turning into a nation of candy asses" God help us all.
China Lake Naval officer to be relieved of duty
CHINA LAKE, Calif. - A captain at the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station will be relieved of his command Tuesday after superior officers claimed they lost confidence in his leadership, according to a Navy statement.
The Navy cited a "loss of confidence in Capt. (Wade C.) Tallman's ability to establish a positive command climate within his squadron, based on his failure to recognize and take appropriate and timely actions to correct several inappropriate actions," according to the statement.
Tallman is the commanding officer of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 9. The group develops tactics for attack, fighter and electronic aircraft and weapons.
The Navy was not more specific about the alleged "inappropriate actions."
However, Navy spokeswoman Peggy Shoaf said problems surfaced when someone filed a sexual harassment complaint based on an alleged incident from November 2004.
"Good order and discipline within the command, that's really important," Shoaf said.
Vice Adm. James Zortman, the commander of Naval Air Forces, informed Tallman last week that he would be relieved of command.
Lotta details in the original still not confirmed, but that's helpful. Thanks.
Bring back the Capt and fire that Admiral!
Red6
I remember the day he came home from work and was mad as hell about having to spend a bunch of money out of his budget to build restrooms for women sailors at the squadron hanger.
*sigh*
All of which can be undermined by a single complaint from some stupid bitch.
If you were the President, or Rumsfeld and heard about this...what would YOU do?
Jeff Cooper refers to this sad state of affairs as "The Age of the Wimp".
/jasper
The fastest way in the world to be charged with sexual harrassment is to piss off the office lesbian.
girliemen, you got that right.
Hard to believe that conservatives have both houses and the Executive branch.
If it wasn't for sex, drugs and rap I am sure the voter base of the leftist Dims who didn't sleep in on election day, would know who to vote for and the GOP would be a permanent minority party.
As you can probable guess there is much more to this story. With the Playboy Bunny symbol on the aircraft as the main reason for the early COC. PC was certainly the issue...knowing all the details of this evolution certainly makes this a total PC BS evolution.
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