Posted on 04/30/2019 11:51:06 AM PDT by robowombat
1. 27 years is not "early retirement"
2. I have conducted scores of investigations for my different commands and have served on many court-martial boards. The guilty got punished.
We Marines are in the Department of the Navy, but we're in the Men's Department.
During you 27 year watch, how many senior officers were convicted - or even charged - with CRIMINAL negligence?
I can easily check the number.
As you should. I was Lieutenant Colonel - so I wouldn't have served on a court-martial board on a General Officer/Flag Officer. Generally, I would investigate criminal activities and if the evidence pointed to a General Officer as engaged in a criminal activity, the investigation results would be briefed to the Commandant and he would take action - or not.
In the few case I knew about, the General was forced to retire, though most of the offenses I saw were of the fraternization/stupid mistake variety. The General Courts I took part in involved theft, corruption, and one rape case. All of the accused were junior to me.
Until I just researched it, I did not realize that the Marines and Navy have separate courts martial.
By the way, in the last 15 months, out of more than 200 cases, just four Marine officers were prosecuted, and two of them were acquitted.
None of them were prosecuted for command decisions.
Bottom Line....
If ship commanders actually believed that every death at sea might result in a CRIMINAL inquiry or prosecution, no one would apply for the job.
Now, to continue your education, There are 163,000 enlisted Marines and 21,300 commissioned officers - which means that there are about 7.6 times more enlisted folks than officers. Enlisted personnel are also generally younger, so they get into trouble with greater frequency. Officers also have college degrees, are selected based on a certain minimum intelligence score, are older, and are well trained in leadership, military justice, combat skills and other studies - and tested rigorously - before they are given a commission.
Therefore, it stands to reason that there will be fewer courts-martial for officers.
When they do fail and someone is killed or injured, they can be court-martialed if those deaths or injuries are a direct result of negligence. It doesn't happen often but it is clearly available.
As for nobody wanting to join because they are afraid of getting burned - this ain't the Boy Scouts. We all know that there's a better-than-average chance of getting killed or maimed in combat or even in training - or being held responsible if we fail. We're used to win wars, right?
That's why the Marines have been successful over our country's history - folks join because they understand and accept the risks and go for it anyway: the country needs us.
I never got in trouble because I didn't screw up - simple, right?
That Captain should be court-martialed because his negligence resulted in seven deaths.
I am not military and I know jack about driving a warship. I do know if I had a bunch of idiots under my command I would have been on the bridge myself not sleeping in my bunk.
I took one look at that lady who was on duty that night and said to myself, she's worse than the worst officer I have ever seen - and I have seen some lousy ones.
My mistake.
That being said, he was responsible for everything because he was in command. So his ship had a collision, his career is over, the military is not fair. It’s a loose loose situation, the Navy has to hold the CO accountable, but they don’t want to convene a courts martial to have the Fleet CDR asked “Did you accept combat risk to deploy the Fitzgerald knowing the ship’s repairs were not complete nor had its full crew compliment? and what did you do to mitigate that risk?”
I think we agree on that.
Reminds me of the Marine Corps story. (with my additional two lines to suit the subject of this story)
Marine: “We have done so much for so long with so little, we are now prepared to do anything with nothing at all.”
Fleet CDR: “How about we put some women in your squad?”
Marine: “We’d rather have nothing at all, Sir.”
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