Posted on 08/28/2017 10:21:40 PM PDT by Ace's Dad
I highly doubt that our COs are "poor and inexperienced mariners," but the job of the CO is to train and ensure that officers within their command are trained and qualified to drive the ship while the CO is not on the bridge. This requires some prerequisite knowledge and experience on the part of the junior officer.
As to your suggestion that COs aren't being called to the bridge because they're not qualified--that's simply absurd. Who would determine that the CO isn't qualified? Such an assessment would be considered mutinous, and grounds for severe punishment.
If I'm reading through your comments correctly, the CO of the Fitzgerald was most certainly in his cabin at the time of the collision. As a matter of fact, sailors had to break into his cabin because he was trapped in the wreckage. If anything, he should've been called to the bridge sooner, but apparently was not.
Why are you spreading information that is specious and inaccurate?
Based on the article, I doubt our Navy ship drivers could meet Coast Guard mariner standards. Do they even teach ‘maneuvering (mo) board’ any more?
We were out to sea 75 percent of the time in the early 70s. We frequently had drills and the captain would observe the crew in person during those drills. He stood right behind me as I did my general quarters duty (typing out flash enemy sighting reports as fast as I could without making any typos). After a couple of times, the leading radioman took the captain aside and said, “This isn’t helping.” The captain said, “I just want to see how this is done.” He never came back during drills. Maybe captains aren’t becoming as personally involved as they used to. Or maybe they aren’t drilling as often as they should. At least it gives you something to do while you’re “floatin’ around.”
What a mess.
And it won't go away quickly or inexpensively!
Combat readiness just might be the only thing the Navy can do! With emphasis on the "just might."
0bama and the Republican Congress fault.
5.56mm
“”As a matter of fact, sailors had to break into his cabin because he was trapped in the wreckage.””
I specifically wrote the CO was NOT in his ‘atsea’ cabin.
Captain Eyer made the allegation: “”It is possible that we have arrived at a place where our COs are poor and inexperienced mariners, and that this situation was authored by none other than their own, the surface community’s leadership.””
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