A Cocky Navy Recruit Threw My Breakfast on the Floor—Then His Friend Recognized the Yellow-and-Black Patch on My Sleeve
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Chapter 25 / 27
Chapter 25 - Sarah’s Patch Comes Off
At the end of the evaluation rotation, I removed the yellow-and-black patch.
It belonged to that assignment.
Not my permanent identity.
One younger sailor asked:
“Do people behave differently when you wear it?”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t that ruin the observation?”
“Sometimes.”
“Then why make it visible?”
“Because we’re not spying.”
Evaluation should not depend on deception.
If a command can function only when inspectors are hidden, the command has a deeper problem.
The patch also gave sailors a visible person to approach.
Two recruits had done exactly that during the visit.
One complaint substantiated.
One not.
May you like
Both heard.
That was worth the tradeoff.
