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Master Chief Hassle Eliminator (MCHE) Leadership Lessons

Guiding spirits somehow appear when you're least expecting them such as these 1967 "lessons learned" while enroute to the off-shore Vietnam War :: 

My takeaway as a #USNavy Veteran is to honor all humanity's inner voices thanks to a spirit who shared WIZdom from the Korean War trenches serving wounded Marines... Bravo Zulu USMC Hospital Corpsmen :: 

Leadership traits result in empowering and inspiring others when the situation is seasoned with "attitude, aptitude and abilities" plus a dash of UNODIR (Unless Otherwise Directed) ...

A large camo-painted ship on the water.

The U.S. Navy fleet oiler USS Cimarron (AO-22), off Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia (USA), on 6 February 1942. Copyright unknown.

I got my *most memorable leadership lesson* from a Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (MCHC) while I was an Ensign in transit via a USAF MAC flight to join USS Cimarron (AO-22) at Subic Bay, PI (in April, 1967)

Over an ice-cold San Miguel beer at off-base quarters near Clarke AFB, this savvy MCHC convinced me RHIP (Rank Has Its Privileges) hampers leadership!

Guiding spirits somehow appear when you're least expecting them.

His advice for more effective leadership passed the O-1/KISS Test. [Keep It Simple Stupid]... 

1 - Always listen to your senior petty officers.
2 - TRUST your crew to perform their assigned tasks. 
3 - Eliminate "hassles" for crew whenever possible!

My operational experience generated these guidelines: 

4 - Avoid recycling prior "lessons learned"
5 - Be PREPARED for unexpected contingencies!
6 - Become a Master Chief Hassle Eliminator (MCHE) 

Mentorship Vision 2005:

What are the critical common connections between sustainable environmental protection & community-based emergency preparedness efforts for coping with abnormal situations?

"Leaders don't force people to follow, they invite them on a journey."

~ Charles S. Lauer

Biographical Details

Primary Location During Vietnam: Subic Bay, Philippines Vietnam location marker

Story Subject: Military Service

Military Branch: U.S. Navy

Dates of Service: 1967 - 1967

Veteran Organization: VFW-Kansas

Unit: USS Cimarron (AO-22)

Specialty: UNREP-CDSO

Story Themes: 1967, Advice, Bob Burkhart, Charles Lauer, Clark Air Force Base, Eagan, Kansas, Navy, Philippines, Read, RJ Burkart, Subic Bay, USS Cimarron, VFW

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