Admiral McFadden tells sailors to keep their mouths quiet on navy name change

Althia Raj, once again on top of things:

For your immediate distribution:

IAW Ref and Comd MARCOM direction, the following message is to be disseminated immediately and as widely as possible by whatever means you deem appropriate to every member within your respective Commands. A MARGEN will also be released today with the same message. Commanding Officers are encouraged to explain this issue and the underlying principles of QR&O Chapter 19 to their sailors.

“I have been made aware of email traffic within the DWAN of military personnel expressing their opinions as to the potential re-naming of Maritime Command directly in response to specific email addresses established for that purpose. It is neither appropriate nor helpful for any individual member of the command to respond to solicitation for your opinion. This is not the means that the Naval Institution chooses to determine the sentiment of service personnel and formulate the service’s opinion, from which advice to government flows.

We use the Chain of Command and in particular the critical role of the senior NCMs to gauge the opinions of service personnel. As a private individual, you can have any opinion you wish; as members of the service you neither advocate for a personal view nor encourage your compatriots to do so. I have been apprised by Formation Commanders, by the Command Chief Petty Officer, and by Formation Chief Petty Officers as to the extent and depth of opinion on the matter of re-naming Maritime Command. My advice has accordingly been further passed through the Chain of Command.

The decision is now a matter for government deliberation and for policy articulation. If that occurs, orders will be crafted and the decision implemented. As is the tradition of our service, personal opinions, regardless of how strongly held, will then be subsumed by the loyal and vigorous implementation of orders.

I have no doubt that government is aware of the naval advice that I have expressed on the matter of re-naming Maritime Command.

Further action on the part of service members to express personal opinions is not appropriate.”

Vice Admiral P. Dean McFadden Sends David G. Bliss MMM, CDChief Petty Officer First Class | Premier Maître de Premier ClasseFleet Chief Canadian Fleet Pacific | Premier-maitre de la Flotte Canadienne du PacificqueChief of Maritime Staff