Chapter 19 - Sarah versus command leadership The commanding officer accepted most findings.
Not all.
Captain Laura Hensley had run the training installation for eleven months.
She was not indifferent.
She had requested the outside assessment herself after complaints arrived.
But she disagreed with one sentence in my draft:
Informal instructor tolerance materially contributed to escalation of trainee misconduct.
She said:
“That implies command causation.”
I answered:
“It says contributed.”
“Jake chose his behavior.”
“Yes.”
“Cole did not order him.”
“No.”
“Then be precise.”
“I am.”
She stared at me.
I understood her concern.
Accountability can become unfair if leadership is blamed for every choice beneath it.
But leadership also cannot demand credit for good culture while claiming bad culture is always individual.
We revised the sentence.
Not softened.
Clarified.
Repeated failure to document and correct known low-level harassment reduced deterrence and signaled that similar behavior would be treated as informal conflict rather than misconduct.
Captain Hensley read it.
Then nodded.
May you like
“Better.”
Precision again.
Related Stories
