The old saying "always be training your replacement" has never been more important than in today's cash-strapped Navy, which is why the sea service's vast mentoring program is so vital to force readiness.

And after having been a mentor to at least a dozen junior Sailors over the past few years, I can tell you there's nothing more rewarding than taking an eager protégé (or "mentee") under your wing, passing your skills down to that Sailor, and then watching her go on to achieve great things.

But I've also found that you need to be cautious in those situations where you're not only mentoring a young Sailor but also having sex with her on a regular basis, because the line between mentor and fuck buddy can get blurred real fast.

Simply put, there are just some things that are appropriate to do — and have done to you — as a mentor that just wouldn't be appropriate as a fuck buddy, and vice versa.