Live data from Hacker News

"General Orders for Sentries" as an operations document

sebastianmarshall.com

31–40 of 48 posts

Re: "General Orders for Sentries" as an operations document

#31
post #23

This is drilled into you when you join the Navy. Then you get to an aircraft carrier. You're the in port officer of the deck. You know the rules. You make sure every sentry is checking ID's. Then someone tries to get through with a piece of laminated red paper with their name on it. You turn them away. They say, "Hey, I'm a contractor, I'm supposed to be here." You call the Command Duty Officer. He says, "Oh, if it's…

Every contractor really is a massive security risk. If it was wartime and there was any threat to the navy, all the work would be done by navy technicians. It really shows the extent to which bureaucracy has taken over the American military.

Re: "General Orders for Sentries" as an operations document

#32
post #30

Some other military practices of interest: The five paragraph order format: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administrative and Logistics, Command and Signals. Execution always includes the commander's intent, even if it's one sentence. The situation may change, and the lower ranks need to know the goal, not just what to do. If you like the way the military thinks, read Gen. Krulak's brief memos from when he was Comman…

"Commander's intent" and the idea of familiarization courses were two ideas I found in the Army that I think apply to Development/operations.

Re: "General Orders for Sentries" as an operations document

#35
post #31
post #23

This is drilled into you when you join the Navy. Then you get to an aircraft carrier. You're the in port officer of the deck. You know the rules. You make sure every sentry is checking ID's. Then someone tries to get through with a piece of laminated red paper with their name on it. You turn them away. They say, "Hey, I'm a contractor, I'm supposed to be here." You call the Command Duty Officer. He says, "Oh, if it's…

Every contractor really is a massive security risk. If it was wartime and there was any threat to the navy, all the work would be done by navy technicians. It really shows the extent to which bureaucracy has taken over the American military.

[deleted]

Re: "General Orders for Sentries" as an operations document

#36
post #30

Some other military practices of interest: The five paragraph order format: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administrative and Logistics, Command and Signals. Execution always includes the commander's intent, even if it's one sentence. The situation may change, and the lower ranks need to know the goal, not just what to do. If you like the way the military thinks, read Gen. Krulak's brief memos from when he was Comman…

They teach 'SMEAC' to remember this, the military is full of these kinds of mnemonics:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_paragraph_order

Though it's generally a bit lame to act all military outside of the military, especially if you've never served, and especially in front of serving or ex-serving members.

Seb would last about 10 seconds at USMC officer school before he learned he needs to stop being so mouthy.

Re: "General Orders for Sentries" as an operations document

#37
post #30

Some other military practices of interest: The five paragraph order format: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administrative and Logistics, Command and Signals. Execution always includes the commander's intent, even if it's one sentence. The situation may change, and the lower ranks need to know the goal, not just what to do. If you like the way the military thinks, read Gen. Krulak's brief memos from when he was Comman…

"Commander's intent" and the idea of familiarization courses were two ideas I found in the Army that I think apply to Development/operations.

Another useful concept is the 1/3 rule. If something has to be done, a level of command can use only 1/3 of the time available - 2/3 of the time belongs to the lower levels. This repeats downward.

That doesn't leave much lead time at the bottom, but the military also uses warning orders - "We're going to move out tomorrow, details to follow" - to get units ready.

Re: "General Orders for Sentries" as an operations document

#38
post #30

Some other military practices of interest: The five paragraph order format: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administrative and Logistics, Command and Signals. Execution always includes the commander's intent, even if it's one sentence. The situation may change, and the lower ranks need to know the goal, not just what to do. If you like the way the military thinks, read Gen. Krulak's brief memos from when he was Comman…

I've just gone through Warfighting, the USMC's military doctrine pamphlet. Well worth a read, and surprisingly applicable.

Re: "General Orders for Sentries" as an operations document

#39
post #31
post #23

This is drilled into you when you join the Navy. Then you get to an aircraft carrier. You're the in port officer of the deck. You know the rules. You make sure every sentry is checking ID's. Then someone tries to get through with a piece of laminated red paper with their name on it. You turn them away. They say, "Hey, I'm a contractor, I'm supposed to be here." You call the Command Duty Officer. He says, "Oh, if it's…

Every contractor really is a massive security risk. If it was wartime and there was any threat to the navy, all the work would be done by navy technicians. It really shows the extent to which bureaucracy has taken over the American military.

>Every contractor really is a massive security risk.

Exhibit A: Snowden. (while he didn't disclose any really secret information, the NSA/etc. treated the information he disclosed as secret and expected others to treat it that way too)

Post reply on HN