"Haley's Comet"

How many of you old Salts remember this one?!? I think they taught it in every level of Leadership from the time you made PO3 to pinning on the fouled anchors!! Please … Enjoy!!!

As in all military services, the links between chains of command are being tested constantly. Sometimes two-way communications end up being interpreted slightly differently from the initial transmission.

A hypothetical admiral issued the following order to the ship’s company:

“Tomorrow evening, at approximately 2000, Halley’s Comet will be visible in this area, an event which occurs only once every 75 years. Have the men fall out on the flight deck in dungarees, and I will explain this rare phenomenon to them. In case of rain, we will not be able to see anything, so assemble the men in the hangar bay theater area and I will show them films of it.”

The CO relayed the order to the XO:

“By order of the admiral, tomorrow at 2000 Halley’s Comet will appear above the operating area. If it rains, fall the men out in dungarees, then march them to the hangar bay theater where this rare phenomenon will take place.

something which occurs only once every 75 years.”

The X 0 relayed the order to the department heads:

“By order of the admiral, in dungarees at 2000 tomorrow evening, the phenomenal Halley’s Comet will appear in the hangar bay theater. In case of rain in the operating area, the admiral will give another order, something which occurs once every 75 years.”

One Department Head passed the directive on to his division officer:

“Tomorrow at 2000, the admiral will appear in the hangar bay theater with Halley’s Comet, something which, happens every 75 years. If it rains, the admiral will order the comet into the operating area.”

The Division Officer made his announcement in the formation the next morning:

“When it rains tomorrow at 2000 hours, the phenomenal 75-year-old Admiral Halley, accompanied by the captain, will drive his Comet through the hangar bay in dungarees.”

Regardless of who’s giving the order or who’s receiving it, to be effective, the communication must be properly transmitted. Just something to keep in mind… a lesson in leadership!!!