XO comes before CO
So I just unintentionally made a huge ass of myself. I came down for lunch from DC Indoc and was asked to go to the Chiefs Mess and see Senior Chief. He handed me a message and said find the CO and XO. It was a message that had to be looked at and signed before it could be sent out. I searched for the XO first. I checked her stateroom, the ward room all of officer country and I could not find her so I headed to the bridge. I got up there and you could feel the stress lingering in the air because of where we currently are (it’s Top Secret). I was not trying to stick around longer then I had to. The CO was standing right in front of me so after a few minutes I said excuse me sir and he turned around and gave me a death stare and then took the message and looked it over and signed it. As soon as he did I knew I was screwed because the XO should have looked and signed first. I left the bridge knowing exactly what I would be told that I would have to do.
I came down and was told to go find the XO and get her chops even though the CO had already signed. At best it was going to be an uncomfortable situation. I ran back up to the bridge but neither the CO or XO was up there so I headed back down and as luck would have it I ran smack dab into the XO. I gave her the message and she asked what it was. I hadn’t looked at the message or been given any instructions as to what it contained. So I told the truth. She was not thrilled with my answer. She gave me the message back and told me to send my division officer up with the message and an explanation of what the message contained.
My division officer is a woman who looks like she is 12 and I felt bad breaking the news to her. She shook it off but I know it’s probably not going to be a very pleasant conversation for her.
So I learned a few valuable lessons today:
1) XO comes before CO
2) Ask questions about what the hell you are being asked to deliver
3) Read and understand all messages before heading off
Off to get some not very appetizing lunch and back to more fire fighting! Happy Saturday.
