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It was considered an important national security mission, and the only other ship capable of doing it had a critical equipment problem that made it nondeployable. The Fitz was assigned to that mission late because the other ship couldn't do it.

I'm not in favor of commanders refusing to execute missions because they don't believe their people are as ready as they should be. It's not a risk-free profession.

Yes, but that judgment call was wrong and men died. That isn't fate, it isn't "the luck of the draw", it was his call and therefore it's his fault.

When I had command, I had the guts to call them as I saw them and stood by my decisions. I inspected, I monitored training, I submitted my Combat Readiness reports accurately and I didn't lose anyone.

I didn't have to call any of my men's parents and tell them that they had lost them forever.

“I’m not in favor of commanders refusing to execute missions because they don’t believe their people are as ready as they should be. It’s not a risk-free profession. “

The order was correctly given and executed.

Of note: How long do you have to ride with ding bat LtJG before you know she can’t drive?

No competent captain turns over a $2bil warship to somebody they haven’t seen operate it...several times and in all conditions. It’s a very complex system with hundreds of variables, not for the simple or inattentive.

And he knew those on watch that night were simple and inattentive. And he knew there were SOME on the ship who were qualified and competent. Those who take their job as serious as it is. They were not on watch that night.

Even if he and the XO were the only competent persons to man the bridge. they don’t call it “Port and Starboard” for nothing!

And that’s wholly the captain’s fault.

Even after a month.