OPS beware

So this unit’s reading was on proposals, basically using the lessons we learned before and applying them to a proposal.  This proposal should be able to not only speak to the reader but be able to stand against doubts and questions the reader may have.  Proposals are something that isn’t new to me since I have to request parts, money, and time for training at least once a month.  However, my proposal at work usually goes like this, OPS my budget request for my shop is 25,000.00 for the following reasons a, b, and c.  The reply most commonly heard is, ET1 your budget is 9,000.00 because I have no money to give.   Reading this chapter I realize that I have been going about my request totally wrong.  I never related to her interests, never backed my requested with cost saving options, and basically gave her no reason to say “no, work with what I can give you.”

            I am going to look forward to seeing the email with the subject line: Division Officers and Lead Petty Officers Budget requests due.  Armed with the basics provided by this chapter, I will do more then bullet type responses.  Instead, I will develop a detailed report.  Starting with finding the audience’s presence, I will illustrate to OPS how much she loves her job and how the economy sucks for finding a new one, then switching it up and showing how much she depends on a operational radar to keep the ship safe in high transit areas but also locating targets of interest.  Finishing it up explaining how maintaining this operational radar costs money.  That leads me perfectly to the chapter’s next example of natural conservatism or “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  To change her view on this subject, I will show her slides and graphs detailing the preventive maintenance required on just one radio system and how I have to maintain 16 of them.  This will make it like an investment, the more you spend on preventive care, which is cheaper, the less we will spend in causality repair.  Next is the future, again, this chapter lines it up for me.  I will give her about a page or two detailing the consequences of operating on a very tight operational budget.  Long term cost analysis and graphs with pretty cool colors I think will be used to strengthen this part of my argument.  If all else fails I could use something with shock value.  Not going as far as the picture on page 321, but maybe like showing the ship running aground and sinking, underneath it saying “only you can prevent this from happening, give the ET shop money”   Since I’m in the military, she will probably most likely laugh and ask for a real request, but at least it will be good practice for me.