Navy SEAL Commander Advised to ‘Get the Hell Out of the Media’

[Streck-Fu]

Originally Posted by Richard

We'll know it's gotten out of hand when they start naming their Zodiac IBS's (Itty Bitty Ships) after congresscritters.

Actually that may be more appropriate....even more so would be to rename the ship after a member of Congress when they decommission the ship.

[Renegade]

Report: Top Spec Ops Officer Seeks New Powers

http://www.military.com/news/article...1075741&rank=2

[Frog]

Originally Posted by cbtengr

McRaven is an admiral, a sr. officer, you do not attain that pay grade without playing some politics in your career. In watching the video I have to believe that he has gone Hollywood and that he truly enjoys the attention. We have no one other than the POTUS to thank for this, Obama is feeding off of the heroics of the Navy SEALS and anyone else that he can, it props him up for the next election. He is just so courageous for having these men risk their lives for us, and the job Panetta is doing, great job, fine job, who the hell is Panetta and other than living off the govt. teat all these years what has he done? The Army has had its own share of these 3 & 4 star larger than life types. They degrade all of us who ever wore the uniform honorably. McRaven talks about John Wayne, maybe he fancies himself as a modern John Wayne but I will promise you this he is no John Wayne. John Wayne knew who he was. There is a danger here in our country and it scares the living hell out of me.

Wow, you make a lot of assumptions. First I have known ADM McRaven for 27 years and your accusations are completely false. He doesn't play politics, but he knows how to handle them. Second, he hates "Hollywood" and has zero desire to be in the media. Third, he doesn't "fancy" himself anything else than what he is and your John Wayne remark is uncalled for. Lastly, I was present when LTG Vaught spoke to the Admiral and later on over the next 2 days at the conference. The General seems to suffer from dementia as he had quite a few other outbursts over the 2 day conference. They were off topic and mostly absurd. At first they drew a little laughter, and then it was outright embarrassing. A large contingent of press was there and he didn't seem to care that he was getting himself in the news. He also asked a one star Admiral (Non SOF), Why don't we blow those bastards from Iran away in the Gulf of Hormuz?” He also yelled at Senator Reed, "Is Congress going to get anything done this year!?” Finally he asked a senior panel of SOF GO/FOs, “Why the hell are we still using the 40 year old budget system that McNamara gave us”? Answer: Because it works.

[alright4u]

Originally Posted by Frog

Wow, you make a lot of assumptions. First I have known ADM McRaven for 27 years and your accusations are completely false. He doesn't play politics, but he knows how to handle them. Second, he hates "Hollywood" and has zero desire to be in the media. Third, he doesn't "fancy" himself anything else than what he is and your John Wayne remark is uncalled for. Lastly, I was present when LTG Vaught spoke to the Admiral and later on over the next 2 days at the conference. The General seems to suffer from dementia as he had quite a few other outbursts over the 2 day conference. They were off topic and mostly absurd. At first they drew a little laughter, and then it was outright embarrassing. A large contingent of press was there and he didn't seem to care that he was getting himself in the news. He also asked a one star Admiral (Non SOF), Why don't we blow those bastards from Iran away in the Gulf of Hormuz?” He also yelled at Senator Reed, "Is Congress going to get anything done this year!?” Finally he asked a senior panel of SOF GO/FOs, “Why the hell are we still using the 40 year old budget system that McNamara gave us”? Answer: Because it works.

You seem to be the man in the know? Why the movie? Are any AD folks in it?

Thanks.

[Utah Bob]

Originally Posted by Frog

He doesn't play politics, but he knows how to handle them. .

I have no idea what that means.

[Frog]

Originally Posted by alright4u

You seem to be the man in the know? Why the movie? Are any AD folks in it?

Thanks.

The movie started out as a recruiting film (like the old "Men with Green Faces") and got bigger. It was fully supported by COMNAVSPECWARCOM and the US Navy. Yes, there are some AD guys in it and while I don't agree with it, they did it anyway. Other AD SEALs are in the press all the time, such as those on the Navy Parachute Team and documentaries you see all the time on Discovery. That probably led to the decision to screen guys for the Movie. I heard that some were out now, so that makes sense, i.e., their operating time was over.

[Frog]

Originally Posted by Utah Bob

I have no idea what that means.

That means he did a tour working for GEN (Ret) Downing at the Whitehouse in the CT shop. He has spent time around senior administration officials and understands politicians. That doesn't mean he IS a politician.

[PRB]

Hey Frog,
Your idea of not going Hollywood and the SF idea of that attitude are not the same for sure.
I'm not sure if the old Gen is senile or not, could be, but I hope the only stuff I blurt out when I go that way is job oriented.
Listen, the SF way of low profile is being wounded in a mash unit and NOT allowing CNN in to talk to anyone or who, what ,where.
It is, as the senile Gen said, doing the job and letting someone else get the credit.
It is not: making a Seal GQ Calendar with weapons and your shirts off after pumping up.
Making movies when on active duty regardless of the command influence.
Your services idea of low profile would be high profile elsewhere.

[alright4u]

Originally Posted by Frog

The movie started out as a recruiting film (like the old "Men with Green Faces") and got bigger. It was fully supported by COMNAVSPECWARCOM and the US Navy. Yes, there are some AD guys in it and while I don't agree with it, they did it anyway. Other AD SEALs are in the press all the time, such as those on the Navy Parachute Team and documentaries you see all the time on Discovery. That probably led to the decision to screen guys for the Movie. I heard that some were out now, so that makes sense, i.e., their operating time was over.

I question the wisdom of anyone from all branches of the military in SOCOM who post their mug shot on facebook or the likes of it. Sport parachute teams like the Golden Knights were not where operators wanted to be. Now, Navy and AF pilots on demo teams may be an exception.

Those on the way out- fine. I was impressed with CPT Larry Bailey as he and his folks had BUDS class INFO from day one. Damn hard to be a wannabe SEAL.

Thanks.

[Roguish Lawyer]

With Frog here now, only QPs or others with appropriate credentials should be posting in this thread. Thanks.

[alright4u]

http://www.commandposts.com/2011/11/...neptune-storm/

My gut feeling about McRaven is he has a serious lack of COMBAT experience in his career from an Ensign to Lt Commander. A Combat Action Ribbon and Bronze Stars are nothing more then I been there and did my job awards for officers in a combat zone. Equate the Bronze Star to a Good Conduct Medal for O4's to O-1's. Equate a BSM for an O-5 with a combat command as a bad frigging OER.

[Roguish Lawyer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=-ScX2LKYDPI

[mark46th]

The SEALS have Act of Valor, SF has Men Who Stare at Goats. Talk about inter-service inequality. Of course, that is better than the Taliban SOF movie- Men Who Have Sex with Goats.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by mark46th

The SEALS have Act of Valor, SF has Men Who Stare at Goats. Talk about inter-service inequality. Of course, that is better than the Taliban SOF movie- Men Who Have Sex with Goats.

I didn't see that one - I'm still trying to get over seeing "Taliban Who Act Valorous And Share Their Goats"...

Richard

[mark46th]