Sell Baby Sell

ADM Harvey is easily the most accessible Admiral in the Navy, and in my mind may be the best Admiral in the fleet today. Leads from the front with purpose and conviction, and ducks nothing. As I privately told Bryan after a previous discussion on the blog involving ADM Harvey, he really should be next CNO in my opinion.

This time, he wants your ideas for Operation Unified Response.

My advice is simple. This is a teaching moment.

Communication is important. Explain your operations generally with selective detail. Start with a simple explanation why Haiti is important strategically to the United States, but transition quickly to discussing operations - maybe even a bit of tactics. Help the audience watching the Navy today, which happens to be a lot more American people than usual, understand the way Naval power brings capacity and capability to an overseas operational theater. Explain the value to the country in broad context, but don't dwell on that or people will lose interest. The folks already understand reasons of compassion why the Navy is in Haiti, so explain what and how naval power is such a difference maker in Haiti. Use maps, Icons of ships and planes, but K.I.S.S.

How do the pieces of the fleet deployed to Haiti fit together? It isn't hard for folks to figure out why the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is so useful, but they may not understand the value of a ship like USS Normandy (CG 60). Explain the tools and unique capabilities of the sailors who will open up a destroyed port. What is the value of Blue/Green teams?

I've never met a Navy officer who couldn't use PPT, unfortunately. The Navy should give a briefing with huge pictures and maps of Haiti operations that outline the work being done by every ship in theater taking place off Port-au-Prince, how it ties into what the UN and NGOs are doing, and when the briefing is over - post an enhanced video of the briefing on YouTube.

Right now there is an audience; sell baby sell. As a political strategist would say, never miss opportunity in crisis. A Military Strategist would say it different, and his words apply to right now because right now detailed information would be a service instead of a sales pitch.