Commanders the problem

Re: ‘Culture officers’ part of new plan to fight misconduct, July 13

The commander of the armed forces says the military’s new plan to fight misconduct will include posting “culture officers” on warships. I suppose he is following the lead of Russia and Nazi Germany, which had commissar or political officers on ships. He should remember that there is a navy system that is working well, and it is called the divisional system. The Divisional System is the backbone of naval personnel management and has both upward and downward influence. The system, which is unique to the Navy, provides a framework for sound leadership for supervisors, be they officers or Non-commissioned Members (NCMS), of the regular and reserve Forces. It is a good system that has been instrumental in sustained moral amongst sailors. The problem is not the rank and file but the commanders. The commanders are the ones being investigated for misconduct, and no so-called culture officer, commissar, or political officer will do anything against the commanders.

Roger Cyr, retired naval commander, Victoria, B.C.