@sgt_zim , You are correct that in any large organization, bureaucracy, and so on, bad ideas flow down from the top. In the US military the top leadership or lack thereof are elected civilians and their political appointments such as the Secretary of Defense and assistant secretaries of this and that sub-departments.
Military leadership, those senior Flag officers and their senior enlisted must make the best of bad those bad ideas being forced on them. There is and will always be resistance at all levels to idiots in charge. But mostly that resistance is not made public. In the Marines we had a saying, “Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full (of shxt)”. That means okay, we will carry out that stupid order until you leave the area. Then, officers and/or NCOs had the unpleasant task of ensuring the commander’s orders were carried out.
Everyone, good Americans, and even our foreign friends judge the US military from a 1,000 foot above view. We military in turn, along with most others, judge other public organizations such as our police much the same. Is it fair? Probably not but it is human nature to observe and judge without full knowledge of the situation. Unless you are in the boots on the ground, or the constable on patrol, you do not fully know the situation! Even then, one doesn’t know the political aspects of the strategic environment. That is why a good commander must have a close (working, trusting) relationship with their senior enlisted. A stellar commander or Sergeant Major will gather their intelligence locally, i.e. If you want the real gouge (information, true story) ask a corporal (or patrol cop).
The U.S. military is at times a laboratory for social experiments. I remember when we started random urinalysis, and Don’t ask, don’t tell. The urinalyis kept good Marines good. Don't ask, well there were undoubtedly good Marines who were and stayed "in the closet". Politicians and bureaucrats use the military to force the stupid political, “woke”, flavor of the month ideas in mass. Change is inevitable. Get used to it.
Even good commanders can have a reputation for… CHAOS was at the time Colonel James Mattis’s nickname and I believe call sign. CHAOS is that case meant Colonel has another outstanding idea!
As for the canned ship driver, perhaps, just perhaps, a shipmate was screwing with the Skipper and reversed the scope on the rifle before handing it to the Skipper. The Old Man knowing it was a joke took aim through the backwards scope at the open ocean and touched off a few rounds. That’s what I would have done.
That reminds me of a time long ago… When I was a young corporal our C.O.’s formation was at 08:00 every Friday morning. After formation, a gaggle of Marines from our radar shop were walking back to the shop. Once, when passing a lieutenant or two our group of half a dozen would in unison snap a salute with our left hands to pull the LT’s chain. Most of those officers with less time in service than us NCOs just returned our backwards salutes with their proper right hand knowing we were teasing, but not disrespecting them. But one older LT, who had previously taught school before becoming a Marine officer, snapped a salute with his left hand and said, “Carry on”. He later matured into an outstanding leader! This horseplay was all good because we have a pretty tight unit and every Marine in every shop or sub-unit got the job done. Maybe, that ship driver played along wiht an innocent hoax but the photo snapped was taken way out of context? I think one had to be there...
P.S. I have no comment on the female officer who replaced the aforementioned skipper. The only female boss I had in the Marines was in fact one of my best! Also, reports from Marines and soldiers coming home from the sandbox were that female MRAP gunners were darn wicked! Nothing like a pissed off female "protecting her young" manning a .50 Browning M2.
