Surf When You Can: Lessons On Life And Leadership From A Career In The U.S. Navy

My son proudly served on the Theodore Roosevelt under captain Crozier. My Sailor not only got Covid during the time that this debacle was going on, he got it four times. When I asked my sailors opinion on what happened to his captain he became very quiet, put his head down, and with deep thought, looked up at me with tears in his eyes, and said mom, our. captain died on his sword, to save as many lives on that ship that he could.My ninth grader had to write a paper about Greek mythology, gods or heroes, and comparing them to a modern day, hero and writing why you chose the actors that you did. My 15 year old son, chose captain Brett Crozier as his modern-day hero. This was about two months after Captain Crozier had been unjustifiably fired. Captain Crozier ended up getting a copy of my sons paper to which he was given an A+ for the paper, and he wrote my son back on a hand written letter and spoke to him as a family member, or a father figure with speak to a 15-year-old kid. I was very impressed that he reached out to my 15-year-old. It has left a lasting imprint and impact on his life and he has even changed some of the things that he does, and some of his thinking because of what his brothers captain did for his brother and for the rest of his sailors. Captain Crozier also reached out to me and emailed me a couple times in regards to my two sons.Unfortunately, I believe that captain Crozier knew when he sent that email that his career was going to be inevitably over. As much as he wanted, and really prayed to be reinstated, I do not believe that the acting secretary Modly was ever gonna let that happen, nor was Esper. They were going to gleefully walk onto that carrier and degrade, one of the most beloved and kindest captains that have ever served on a US naval ship. When you read the book, you’ll begin to understand the way, Captain Crozier thinks, and why he made the choices he did, including sending the email. You’ll begin to understand this man, who had such a love for sailors, and true character, with a high standard for himself, and for his fleet, and with a very strong, moral compass. Captain Crozier lived what he believed, and he did it with conviction. A true testament to how loved he was, and is, was the last night on his carrier as he walked off and over 2000 sailors, ( my son, was quarantined in a hotel in Guam but he was watching it) we’re chanting his name over and over again, and then, when Modley had the nerve to set foot onto that carrier, and berate such a man of character and conviction, and a man who truly cared deeply for his sailors, and for the missions at hand, and berate him, and degrade him in front of the sailors, who loved him it ended his career as rightly so. And the sailors booed him during his speech, which was another testament to how they felt about their captain, and they took this very personal.As parents of these sailors who served under captain Crozier, not only were we concerned about our children’s health, and then getting Covid. We were also concerned about the morale. After captain Crozier was fired. And while they did replace Captain Crozier, with another wonderful Captain, it’s still stung in the morale of the sailors has never been back at a place to where it was when captain cruiser was the captain of the USS, Theodore Roosevelt. And I had the opportunity to talk to many sailors after this happened, and it changed the course of their naval career. 90% of the sailors that I talked to have decided that they were not going to reenlist because of what our political system did to captain Crozier. They felt as they told me that they had to follow by example and really live by captain Crozier’s teachings, and by not read and listing that they were also making a statement.My wish is to see this made into a movie. I think it would be a blockbuster hit. As Captain Crozier said to me in one of the emails that any time I’m in the San Diego area to look him up and I can come over for a barbecue, I just might do that one day with two of my boys in tow so that he can meet the 15-year-old young kid that I believe changed his life.This is a must read book. It also helps you understand stuff that was going on behind the scenes with the upper echelon of our government and the politics they play with peoples lives, including our own military. I can only hope that this will serve as a lesson, and that we don’t make these mistakes again by firing captains like captain Crozier, who was so loved and respected And trusted. Our nation lost a great captain when they fired him.

I’m a retired Navy captain and USNA classmate of Chopper’s (though I did not know him well at the Academy or in the fleet) and I’m here to say that this is an outstanding, humble, legit, and insightful book—one that I’d encourage any officer to read and a leadership philosophy to emulate. As insightful, clear and memorable are the lessons Chopper spools out through the book, equally remarkable and rare is the humility with which he does so. Imagine training for 8 years (after proving yourself in command and combat for almost two decades) in the most intense, elite training pipeline in the military—to command one of 11 aircraft carriers—much of that time being away from home and family, excelling every step of the way. Then imagine making a tough (and correct) call during an unprecedented global pandemic. And that call undoubtedly saved lives. Now imagine being fired for doing so just months into your command of that aircraft carrier—and bearing no rancor. Frankly, I’m in awe. For sure, Acting SECNAV, CNO and SECDEF made the wrong, and frankly disgraceful call in firing Chopper, yet no ill will comes across in this book. It’s an act of both grace and insight. We have a lot to learn from CAPT Brett Crozier, BZ!

This book was so inspiring on so many levels. It should be required reading in any leadership course as his message of leading by supporting those one leads is sadly not practiced by many in that role. Crozier's examples from his role as an officer training navy pilots, and as commander of an air craft carrier,are moving, in both his recounting of the relationships he builds with and among his crew, as well as his sharing the excitement risks, and dedication of those who live and work in the U.S. Navy.Crozier's guiding principal to "take care of your sailors" was evident in every decision he made, including the one that led to his removal as Commander of The USS Truman during COVID because of his efforts to get help for his sailors.Although he seems to hold no grudges, I hope that before long, the Navy admits it handled this event inappropriately, by ignoring a well thought out request for help for his soldiers, and instead letting bureaucracy and politics prevail over common sense.As well as wonderful lessons in leadership, there are also incredible descriptions of such heart stopping dangers as pilots are faced with night time landings on an aircraft carrier, in high seas, and dense fog compounded by technological malfunctions, while critically low on fuel. This will get your adrenalin pumping.Crozier reading his book on Audible just makes it that much more real and heartfelt.I have given this book as a gift and recommended it to many.

Pages 137-184 are upside down in my book. Anyone else have this issue?

“Surf When You Can” by CAPT Brett CrozierA collection of memorable life lessons and stories from over 30 years serving in the world’s greatest Navy…including the absolutely heart wrenching story of facing the global pandemic from the decks of the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT. As a naval officer myself, I remember hearing about CAPT Crozier’s plight pushing back against Big Navy during the COVID outbreak and being devastated that a leader like that was fired. Reading it from his perspective broke my heart all over again, but it also inspired me. He calls for us as leaders to be courageous and stick to our values no matter what. He tells stories that are relatable and applicable to everyday life and I think I will find myself recommending this book to my JO’s and my wardroom one day. It was entertaining, heartfelt, and I am truly jealous that I did not get an opportunity to serve under CAPT Crozier myself. Bravo