[shawnz]

> they don't even understand this is a mortal sin in the Navy. You don't go outside your chain of command.

When the captain made the decision to send the letter, wasn't he at that time superior to you in rank? But it's no problem for you to second guess his actions?

I guess I don't understand this chain of command business very well.

[jki275]

I don't work for the Captain. I've been retired for several years. He's not my superior and his rank doesn't matter. He made it a news item, and I'll second guess whatever I want to.

The Captain sent the letter to many people not in his chain of command, including someone who sent it to the newspaper (as he most likely expected would happen). That's not done in the Navy. Sending a letter like that to his superiors was perfectly acceptable. Getting it on the front cover of Navy Enquirer is not.

Yes, you are correct. You don't under this chain of command business at all.