May 7, 2020: As the pandemic marched relentlessly onward, the inevitable happened. The media, because humans are flawed creatures, began to diverge and spread divergent messages. Society was fracturing from being united against disease. Medical and social differences in opinion were, fueled by misinformation and entrenched positions, transforming into schisms. Differences are healthy and essential in building, developing, and sustaining institutions. But only when those who embody those differences are treated with, and treat others with, respect. Bolstering unit morale amid burgeoning differences is difficult in the best of times. During a pandemic it can seem almost impossible.
Being in command is the most challenging and rewarding tour of a military career. My last US Coast Guard tour was as both Commander, Sector Columbia River and Commanding Officer, Air Station Astoria. I was in command from June 2018 to August 2021 and it was during this tour that the Covid-19 pandemic struck. As we all know it changed our lives in the most fundamental of ways.
While many companies were able to adopt a remote work strategy, the Armed Forces were required to continue to provide in-person response services while moving non-mission critical activities to a remote environment. While we continued to operate in siloed teams, the unit could no longer meet all together, in person. I recognized I would need to find another way to connect with my over 500 unit members.
I would need to find a new way to communicate. Leading without meeting, establishing a connection and creating a common bond with each of the over 500 members, was my new challenge. How was I going to lead without being able to meet in person? I took to the written word to not only communicate professional updates but also to connect with members on a personal level.
These thoughts were on my mind when I wrote the following to my unit.
May 7, 2020: Butter, Bread, and Pandemic
I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.
That reminds me of this other time butter was scraped over too much bread. As an Ensign, a newly qualified Inport OOD on USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) and yes that is the OG MACK, I was making the rounds and stopped by the galley to talk with the SS. Or maybe he was a FS by then I can’t recall when the rate name change took place. Either way, he certainly wasn’t a CS in name, spirit, mind, body, skill, or intent. He makes my daughter look like Rachael Ray. I still remember his name, but I’ll protect that PII in case someone served with him on an 82′ out of Ft. Lauderdale … FS3 was diligently following the USN recipe card for grilled cheese. I became concerned when he proceeded to place the sandwiches into the fryer. I asked, “FS3, shouldn’t those be cooked in a pan?” “No, sir. The recipe says to fry them and Chief told me to follow the recipe card exactly.” He did express some concern that when he pulled them out of the fry basket all the cheese was gone and only two slices of very soggy bread remained. I quickly called Chief and expressed MY concern and it went beyond soggy bread. I’ll never forget FSC’s reply, “Sir, he is making grilled cheese for lunch. He can’t mess it up.” Upon hearing how he was cooking the poor sandwiches he simply stated, “I’ll be there in 10 minutes.”
But to my point, we’re always receiving news and a lot can happen in 10 minutes. In today’s society news comes at us every minute of every day. No longer confined to the radio or the TV, we now get it on our phones and watches. It is hard to keep it at bay, to differentiate between the noise and the signal, to understand what is worth our time and what is just dribble. Whether news is good or bad can be entirely up to the receiver. Like the other day when my daughter was listening to music and I said, “Hey, we used to sing that song in church.” “No, Dad, we STILL sing that song in church. You just don’t go anymore.” It was like when Barbosa stuck Captain Jack Sparrow with his cutlass, and Jack expecting the death blow had just been delivered, stumbled backwards into the moonlight only to discover he was in fact now immortal. There is a lot of news in both those situations and whether it is good or bad depends on what kind of state of mind you’re in; whether, like Bilbo, you’re feeling thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread. I think Jack and I took the news well, all things considered, and we are both better off now.
We’ve been at this pandemic thing for quite some time now. The news cycle has been relentless. As we move towards Memorial Day and the weather keeps getting more summer-like, we’re all anticipating the news of easing restrictions. We’re all looking forward to getting back to normal, or getting to what will become normal. No doubt, along the journey, there will be more news. How it impacts us will heavily depend on our state of mind. What are you doing when you find your mind, body, or soul feeling thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread? Are you one of the many who have taken to baking? Are you exercising more? Or less? How do you help your family and friends manage when we’re constantly being bombarded by news?
In the next couple of months I expect there will be a lot of news. Whether it is good or bad depends on us. We have been challenged and found equal. We will continued to be challenged, and I am confident we will be found victorious
with admiration, gratitude, optimism, slightly more grey hair, and a renewed sense of well-being,
your Sector Commander
PS It is Mother’s Day weekend, don’t forget to call your Mom!