#captain&lieutenant

[hms-nonsense]

After a certain time spent on a single commission, lieutenants may start resource guarding their captains. This typical trait can, to an extent, be leveraged for strategic advantage. However, note that aggressive resource guarding can become a serious problem and render captains unable to host guests.

[hms-nonsense]

What do we think about putting leashes on lieutenants? Also, can lieutenants be trained to follow simple commands such as ‘down,’ ‘stay,’ etc?

And I’ve heard that it promotes poor discipline to allow one’s lieutenants to sleep at the foot of one’s bed, but could it be allowable occasionally?

Leashes: Generally, a lieutenant should be excellently behaved and not require a leash. Aboard a frigate, leashes can inadvertedly become dangerous hazards, so they should be used very sparingly and definitely not on deck. On land, leashes may be used for example for lieutenants with an anxious attachment style. After long months aboard a vessel with only familiar faces, navigating social events may be overwhelming and disorienting, and a leash can be used as a means of reassurance. Lieutenants who are well behaved aboard ship but tend to go rogue when landing in Kingston may also be leashed for their own protection. Some captains and/or lieutenants may also favour the leash as a visual indicator of belonging.

Commands like "down" and "stay" are certainly possible. Overall though, lieutenants need more complex tasks to ensure enrichment. Try: "Cut out these French vessels" or "Take this shore battery" instead.

But simple commands can be good practice to set or reaffirm the foundations of obedience. Some lieutenants who tend towards forgetfulness or distraction or who are recovering from injury or illness may also benefit from the psycholoigal relief of only following basic commands for a time. Practicing prompt obedience certainly cannot hurt. An instant reaction to "DOWN!" has saved many an officer in battle! However, exclusively blind obedience should not be cultivated, as lieutenants need to be able to solve complex tasks.

Sleeping Arrangements are a matter of nuance. The issue of poor discipline mainly comes up because, if regular, certain arrangements could read as a kind of favouritism depending on how they are framed. But as long as there are measures in place to make sure discipline does not deteriorate, and all watches are covered, it should not be a problem.