Despite no public proof that Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith ever uttered such an edict, "lower your standards" has become an online rallying cry in recent weeks for those disillusioned with Navy life.
One probe will look for commonalities and trigger points among three GW sailor suicides last month, while another will look at how the Navy can do better by sailors in the shipyard environment.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith's visit to Newport News Friday comes in the wake of three sailor suicides among the crew in the past two weeks.