golfer he wrecked his career with bad judgment. He did the video to improve moral? was it so low for him to try to be a comedian? he showed bad judgment which is not really good for a co.
semp
Got news for you. Just because morale isn't in the ****-er doesn't mean a few good activities now and then aren't a good measure.
Two things to keep in mind:
1) He was NOT the captain at the time, he was the XO.
2) This was dealt with at the time through NJP, and his behavior ceased.
As a Naval officer in training, this is the kind of thing we do case-studies on constantly. Our Lt likes to break up the monotony of what is essentially the Bluejackets Handbook verbatum with funny videos. We've had a couple that make fun of Marines, and accuse them of being brainless "modo-yuts". Guess who laughs the loudest at these? The Marine options and the Marine Corps. Major (A mustang at that). A sense of humor is well valued in leaders, IMHO. A CONSTANT lack of professionalism will kill men. The ability to lighten up when it's appropriate and entertain your personnel may well save lives. This man should NOT lose his career over videos which received wide-spread support from his men, especially when they also testified to his professionalism when the time came.
This is the media sticking it's ugly nose into areas it does NOT belong. Is this behavior expected of an XO? Not necessarily. Is it truly conduct unbecoming? I don't think so.
Our XO here is one of the funniest men I have ever met in my life. He always has a joke when he walks in the door and everyone loves hearing from him. And yet even the slightest hint that you've screwed up around him is enough to make a hardened soldier wet himself, because we all know this guy can get tough and get the job done. He laughs and jokes because it's appropriate, and if we all spent all day running from his shadow, we'd get nowhere. But it is still possible (and he manages it) to be the most professional, upright man around.
