Some friends and I had the occasion to go to a reception aboard the USS John F. Kennedy last night. JFK is a Navy aircraft carrier which happened to be in Boston for a port visit. Turns out I had spent a short bit of time aboard JFK during my flying days and have a dozen or so “traps” (carrier landings - see picture) aboard her (ships are always referred to in the feminine). 
Anyhow, we went up the flight deck which on this cold, and somewhat rainy Boston evening (redundant, I suppose), was quiet and calm with only a few airplanes there for tourist aesthetics. However, being up there again back memories of my hundreds of trips up to an active flight deck as I readied for a mission. Imagine dozens of airplanes, many with engines and propellers turning, hundreds of people, bombs, missiles, and jets launching and landing every 45 seconds. All of this on a space no more than the size of a standard par 3 hole at your local golf course.
To the casual observer, all this hustling and bustling presents the ultimately chaotic environment , with noise and danger like no place else on earth. However, every movement is choreographed, every person has a purpose and is specially trained for their role. Different color shirts denote various roles (red for ordnance, purple for fuel, yellow for the all powerful fight deck directors, and so on). Communication is mostly non-verbal, specific and everyone knows the drill. Years of training for the pilots and the sailors turns what would otherwise be dangerous chaos into a beautiful rhythm which allow the ship’s mission to be carried out 24/7 for months at a time with only minimal injuries and often no fatalities.
There is much to be learned from this;, the power of specificity of role, the importance of standard communications, and ultimately, how creating a true learning organization can turn the potential chaos of a high stress environment into the order that stems from a high performance Team executing on its common mission.
And finally, don’t forget to take any chance you have to thank the Sailors, Marines and Soldiers who dedicate their lives to making your lifestyle possible.
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