Submarine Crews

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The problem:

Sub Force is called the "silent service" for good reason. However, this mindset can lead to cultural norms that inhibit the flow of information:

• "Make-it-happen" isn't just an expression, it's a professional mantra
• "No whining" is a term frequently, but unofficially, heard in some circles
• in a tight-knit organization, no one wants to be perceived as the "weak link"
• in a no-room-for-error world, not all comms paths are "non-jeopardy" in nature

Our solution:

An anonymous and voluntary reporting system is just one of several process-improvement tools available to a command. Our system:

• collects information that might not be reported any other way
• is fielded in a manner that resonates with today's "Millenniums"
• provides a CO, XO, COB with a direct link to the deckplates
• identifies "Beyond-the-Boat" issues that need off-hull resources to fix

High-level results:

In working with multiple fast-attack hulls, we have collected otherwise unreported information related to a variety of topics. A partial list:

• on-hull and off-hull workflow, planning and coordination
• leadership, supervision and teamwork
• motivation, morale and retention
• procedures, policy and safety 

Examples of information collected:

End-user comments: 

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Commanding Officer:

 "Useful crew inputs from [the program]."

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Commanding Officer:

"Convenient way to receive continuous honest feedback from [the] crew on various issues. Needless to say, the raw data requires some filtering, but overall I have found it very useful."

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COB:

"Great program for a boat that is coming out of the shipyard to... [info removed]."