I was at a conference with the graduating class at the Naval Academy in 2004. The Chief of Naval Operations was speaking, and my bosses, the Superintendent and

I was at a conference with the graduating class at the Naval Academy in 2004. The Chief of Naval Operations was speaking, and my bosses, the Superintendent and the Commandant were with him on stage. He walked into the crowd and started asking people why they thought sailors got out of the Navy. To a T, every soon-to-be Ensign said it was the money, to murmurs of agreement from the crowd of 1000. Then he saw me. "Let's ask this Lieutenant, back from the fleet, what he thinks. Tell me, Lieutenant Olson, why are sailors getting out of the Navy?" "They're unhappy people who haven't achieved their goals." You could hear a pin drop. He quietly, slowly, walked back to the stage and waited a bit. I thought I might be fired. He started talking about the value "division officer records", which is basically Ensigns keeping track of the progress their sailors are making toward their goals.