Military OLQ – Are Senior Officers Losing “Moral High Ground”…?

Moral Ascendancy – The Most Important Military OLQ (Officer Like Quality) 

Link to my original post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve:  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/12/moral-ascendancy-most-important.html

Are Senior Officers Losing Moral High Ground…?

Recently – I heard a few young officers expressing their frank and honest opinions about senior officers.

Their comments were far from flattering – it seemed that senior officers had lost respect in the eyes of their junior officers.

These candid remarks reminded me of a small article I had posted a few years ago on the importance of officers having “Moral Ascendancy”.

So – I am posting the article on “moral ascendancy” once more for you to read…

Military Officer Like Qualities (OLQ) = MORAL ASCENDANCY

Ramblings of a Retired Navy Veteran By Vikram Karve

As a young officer in the Navy – I used to ask myself:

“If I remove my badges of rank – then why should a sailor willingly obey me…?”

The answer I gave to myself was:

“A sailor will obey me – if he “respects” me…”

And – to respect me – the sailor should feel that I am “better” than the sailor.

Yes – an officer will be respected by his men – only if the men under his command believe – that their officer is “better” than them.

Those days – I could not exactly define what the term “better” meant.

Now – I realize that – the term “better” means “moral ascendancy”.

Yes –  “better” means “moral ascendancy”.

“Moral Ascendancy” means “Moral High Ground” or “Moral Authority”.

(The opposite of “Moral Ascendancy” is “Moral Degradation”)

Being Ethical and Righteous in your conduct gives you “Moral Ascendancy” – whereas being unethical, immoral and corrupt causes “Moral Degradation” – which will earn you the disrespect of your juniors and peers.

“Moral Ascendancy” will win you the respect and confidence of your subordinates and peers.

Your juniors will “Respect” you if you have moral “Moral Ascendancy” over them.

And – Your juniors will willingly “Obey” you if they “Respect” you.

So – as an officer – you must have “moral ascendancy” over your subordinates in order to gain their “respect”.

Thus – “moral ascendancy” in officers – especially senior officers – is an essential prerequisite for discipline in the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Moral Ascendancy is the most important Officer Like Quality (OLQ) for a Defence Officer.

You have to attain moral ascendancy before you demand respect.

Genuine respect does not come from Legal Authority.

Genuine respect comes from “Moral Ascendancy”.

A bad officer will have to use his legal authority (power of rank) to enforce obedience.

A good officer never has to use the power of his rank to command his men.

His men will willingly obey him because of his “moral ascendancy”.

Moral Authority is far superior to Legal Authority.

And – Moral Authority comes from “Moral Ascendancy”.

That is why the most important aspect of selection and training of officers is to ensure that they have “moral ascendancy” over the men they are going to command.

If you talk to young military officers – you will realize that senior officers have lost “moral ascendancy”.

The effect of this is visible in the increasing indiscipline in the defence services – and this loss of “moral ascendancy” – and consequent loss of respect for senior officers can have serious ramifications in war – as it happened in the 1962 India-China War.

Senior officers need to introspect as to why they have lost “moral ascendancy” over their juniors – as a consequence of which – senior officers seem to have lost the “respect” which their high rank ought to command.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

Link to my original post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve:  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/12/moral-ascendancy-most-important.html

Extracted and Developed from my article CORRUPTION IN DISCIPLINE OUT Ealier Posted by me Vikram Karve in my blog academic and creative writing journal at 10/05/2014 02:17:00 PM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/10/why-corruption-in-military-is-most.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/12/military-officer-like-qualities-olq.html and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/09/are-senior-officers-respected-by-their.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/05/military-musings-have-officers-lost.html and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/08/is-military-leadership-losing-moral.html

Humor in Uniform – Navy Food Memories

HUMOR IN UNIFORM 

NAVY FOOD MEMORIES

THE “WORST” FOOD IN THE FLEET and THE “ACR” DINNER

Hilarious Memories of my Delightful Navy Life

A Fictional Spoof By Vikram Karve 

Link to my original post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/03/foodie-memories-from-navy-life-worst.html

Part 1 – THE WORST FOOD IN THE FLEET

One thing I found good about the Navy was that – the Food served in Wardrooms was excellent – both afloat and ashore.

(Wardroom is Navy Parlance for Officers Mess)

But – there were some exceptions.

Like this frontline warship – on which I was serving many years ago.

This ship was reputed to have the worst food in the fleet – perhaps the worst food in the entire Navy.

That is what everyone else said.

However – I found the food to be quite okay.

In fact – at times – I found the food to be quite tasty.

There was a “suggestion book” in the wardroom – in which everyone gave vent to their anger – by writing all sorts of disparaging complaints about the food.

I was the only officer who wrote positive comments about the food – lavishly praising a dish whenever I liked one – and generously praising and complimenting the cooks and stewards for their efforts.

My favourable comments about the food had many ramifications.

The wardroom stewards would pay particular attention to me – and they would give me special service – including choicest helpings of both non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes (which the cook would send up for me from the pantry) – and they would also make sure I got plenty of dessert – since they knew I had a sweet tooth.

After I had finished my meal – the Chief Steward would place the “suggestion book” in front of me – and he would look on eagerly – as I profusely recorded my generous appreciation with lavish praise for the food and service – in the most prolix and flowery language.

The “suggestion book” would then be rushed to the PMC – the next Senior Officer to the Captain – who on this ship – at that point of time – happened to be the Supply Officer (now called Logistics Officer).

After around 3 months – there was the customary Wardroom Mess Meeting.

Each and every Officer bitterly complained about the standard of food.

“This ship has the worst food in the fleet…” complained all the officers, most vociferously.

“Yes – if they institute a trophy for “THE WORST FOOD IN THE FLEET” – our ship is sure to win the trophy hands down…” someone said.

The Captain looked at the PMC.

In response – the PMC thrust the “suggestion book” in front of the Captain.

And – the PMC pointed to my glowing comments full of praise for the food – which the PMC had highlighted.

With a wry smile on his face – the Captain started going through my appreciative comments of fulsome praise for the food.

The Captain seemed to be enjoying reading all my comments – page by page.

After some time – the Captain looked at me – and – he looked at all the officers.

Then – the Captain said:

“Well – at least one officer feels that the food in our ship’s wardroom isn’t all that bad. In fact – he has lavish praise for the food served in our wardroom.”

The Captain pointed towards me and said:

“Look at him – he loves the food in this wardroom – see how prosperous, happy and healthy he looks – I would rather believe him – rather than all you thin skinny emaciated guys – yes – if he says the food is good – then it must be good…”

(I was probably the “healthiest” officer on board – nice and chubby – just short of the “10% above the ideal weight” upper limit required to maintain my S1A1 medical category)

Then – the Captain looked at everyone – and – pointing at me – he said:

“Look at him prospering – you guys learn from him how to enjoy your food. From now on – all you cynical and pessimistic guys better stop complaining… ”

The Captain and PMC then gave “sermons” to the assembled officers to stop complaining and give constructive suggestions instead.

With that – the wardroom mess meeting ended – to be followed by the customary Beer-Guzzling Elbow-Bending Pre-Lunch Drinks (PLD).

My wardroom shipmates were furious with me.

“How can you say that this horrible food is good…?” they all said to me in unison.

“I really like the wardroom food – I find it quite tasty…” I said honestly.

“What…? You find this wardroom food tasty…? There seems to be something wrong with you – how can anyone actually like this terrible food…?” all the officers said to me, in disgust.

A few days later – when we were in harbour – I invited my Captain and all my wardroom shipmates to my home for dinner.

After “relishing” the inimitable “delicious” food lovingly prepared by my “Better Half” at my home – no officer ever asked me again why I liked the food in the ship’s wardroom.

Yes – after experiencing the “outstanding” culinary skills of my “Better Half” – my shipmates understood why I liked the food in the ship’s wardroom – which everyone else thought was the “worst food in the fleet”.

Part 2 – “ACR” DINNER

Once – when I was posted to IAT Pune – my Boss – a Commodore – jokingly asked me: “When are you inviting us for Dinner…? You haven’t hosted your “ACR Dinner” so far…”

All Officers had already held their “ACR Dinners” and invited the boss and officers with families.

The “ACR Dinner” was a customary dinner in the ACR Season where your wife could impress the Boss and his wife with her culinary skills and earn you “Brownie Points” for your ACR.

Of course – I am sure you know that ACR means “Annual Confidential Report” – the “Be-All and End-All” Performance Appraisal Report – that can either boost – or doom – your military career.

“So – when are you calling us for your “ACR Dinner”…?” the Commodore asked me.

“Sir – it is safest for me if I do not give an “ACR Dinner”…” I said.

“Why is that…?” the Commodore asked, curious.

“Sir – if I do not give an “ACR Dinner” – there is a still a remote chance that you may give me a good ACR – but – once you taste my wife’s cooking – you are sure to “screw” my ACR – and – you may even give me an adverse report…” I said, matter-of-factly.

The Commodore burst out laughing.

We called the Commodre and all Officers with their wives for a dinner – well after my ACR was rendered.

And – I cooked the main dish – my signature  “Chicken Do Piaza”  – which was highly appreciated – as also the dessert I had prepared.

My “Better Half” played safe and made her typical Dal-Rice which could not go wrong.

Before we got married – my “Better Half” did tell me that she did not know how to cook.

But – I did not realise how honest she was being.

After more than 35 years of married life – it won’t be proper for me to say that my wife is a “terrible cook”.

So – I will be polite – and – I will say that – as far as my wife’s culinary skills are concerned – there is considerable “scope for improvement”.

The Navy taught me – that – instead of criticising someone/something – it is better to say:

“There is scope for improvement…”

You must always “motivate” people – never demoralise them.

So – even after more than 35 years of marriage – there is still “scope for improvement” in my wife’s cooking – and – I am patiently waiting for my wife to “improve” her culinary skills.

Part 3 – EPILOGUE : BYO – BYOB / BYOF

During my visits to New Zealand I saw signs outside many restaurants:

BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze) 

The BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze) restaurants in New Zealand reminded me of our Navy Bachelor Days when we carried our Booze with us in “Hip Flasks” – especially when we went out in the evenings in Mumbai (then called Bombay).

Of course – since there was no BYOB concept in India those days – there was no “corkage” either – and – we had to “swig” booze straight “down-the-hatch” from the Hip-Flask – or – we had to add a “slug” of booze to the glass of water served with food – as appropriate.

After I got married – my “hip flask” mysteriously vanished – and – instead of BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze) – I had to resort to BYOF (Bring Your Own Food).

Yes – in view of the “outstanding” culinary skills of my “Better Half” – whenever I invited friends over for dinner – I would tell them:

“My wife hates cooking – so – please BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) – I have plenty of Booze in the house – so there is no need to BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze) – but please BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) – since – you know my wife’s “excellent” culinary skills – you know how “superbly” my wife cooks…”

Now – after retirement – there is no Booze in my house.

So – if I invite you for dinner – you will have to do both the things:

BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze)

and

BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) 

Yes – if you come for dinner – please BYOB and BYOF…

So – Dear Reader:

You are cordially invited for dinner – but – remember – “BYOB” and “BYOF”…

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

Link to my original post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/03/foodie-memories-from-navy-life-worst.html

This is a revised consolidated re-post of my stories posted by me online earlier in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/02/humor-in-uniform-foodie-story.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/01/why-i-like-navy-food.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/01/byo-byob-byof.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/07/humor-in-uniform-worst-food-in-fleet.html