Commanding one ship differs from drawing the best performance from a fleet, task force, or expeditionary force. Most trained officers may become adequate captains, but senior command and staff work demand a rarer combination of judgment and leadership. Early command results can guide decisions about who should receive later staff experience alongside senior officers. Those assignments then test who can organize operations or keep headquarters functioning when an admiral or commodore is occupied elsewhere. Discovering those strengths and limitations in peacetime is far safer than learning them during a war when lives depend on the answer.
Notable Point · 18:37-19:54
Testing future fleet and staff leaders before wartime
Junior command helps a navy distinguish competent captains from the rarer officers capable of leading staffs, task forces, and expeditions.