Posted on 04/02/2020 9:43:01 PM PDT by Helicondelta
The US Navy fired the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier stuck in port and dealing with a severe coronavirus outbreak, Navy leaders said Thursday afternoon.
"Today, at my direction, the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Capt. Brett Crozier, was relieved of command," Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly told reporters at the Pentagon Thursday. "I did not come to this decision lightly."
Modly said he lost confidence in the commanding officer.
The Navy's decision to relieve Crozier came after he wrote a letter to Navy leadership begging the military branch to take decisive action to counter the spread of the virus on the carrier by getting sailors off the ship as soon as possible.
The letter was leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle, the captain's hometown newspaper, which published it on Tuesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
"there's absolutely no reason for this kind of information to be publicized..."
Not even to save his crew's lives? Glad you're not commanding anything.
MY POINT was he failed to insure the release of his memo was internal, so the command could deal with it before his memo became public. How to deal with official communications is part of the command protocols commanders must work with. He had a right to inform the command, which he did. But he got the public notice of that involved before his command could respond to him. That was his error, not his notice to his commanders.
Clearly the commander panicked:
He pretended that only 100% evacuation of ship was called for - to where, how, when - he didn’t know, care or have any plan of his own for.
The Navy did have other ideas, which was not to leave everyone on ship, as the commander was implying.
""We've identified all the folks they've had contact with, and we're quarantining them as well," Modly said at a Pentagon news conference today, where he appeared with Navy Adm. Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations. "This is an example of how we are able to keep our ships deployed at seas and underway, even with active COVID-19 cases. Our force remains on watch throughout the world [during] this crisis, and they're continuing to execute their primary mission under the National Defense Strategy." Navy ships are sailing, Navy planes are flying, and training is still happening to safeguard U.S. national interests and those of the nation's allies and partners around the world."
In other words, they decided to 1. ignore the situation on the Roosevelt - maybe thinking that it would just go away and 2. Made a public statement to that effect.
That was almost two weeks ago. The Captain could just watch the disease spread through the ship - or he could do what he did to save his men and women.
He did the right thing and there should be a Navy IG investigation to follow, to include the CNO and SecNav.
How old were these Naval crewmen? Late teens to late 20's for vast majority?. Did these crewmen have underlying health conditions making China virus deadly? No because you do not remain in the military with any serious health problems, you are given a medical discharge. Was there ANY risk here? Sure but military people understand the MISSION COMES FIRST;
"The navy doesn't assign just anybody to command a Nimitz-Class nuclear carrier - this Captain was one of the best they had." Apparently not. By copying 30 others on his communication to higher command he violated his chain of command. What he should have done if he disagreed so strongly is resign his commission and go public..
He got exactly what he deserved and he's lucky he isn't facing a General Court Martial.
My guess is "none": you have a disease that spreads like wildfire in a closed environment, you have 7,000 souls that you are responsible for and you're in favor of "well, they're young and should survive"?
Thank heaven you were never put in any position of military responsibility.
By the way, I have been a member of three General Court Martial boards and have convened 3 Summary and one Special Court Martial - and brought charges that resulted in 24 courts martial in my military career - what the heck do you know about these things?
You obviously know not what you speak. MOdley was on Hewitt’s show and explained the whole thing.....along with the CO was great but he didn’t do the right thing in this case....and NO sailors are in dire straights.
“That’s what I’m not clear about. Did he give the chain of command time to respond. Did he leaked the letter to save lives or was seeking publicity?”
It makes no difference. His superior officer(s) reply in their own good time and certainly not at the behest of a lower grade officer. The military by design is not even close to the Republic you and I exist in. It is NOT fair and it is authoritarian to the max. Did you know for an officer to speak officially to a higher ranking officer it is necessary to first ask permission?
One of today’s snowflakes would last about 11 seconds before getting what used to be called a section 8 discharge. Section 8 was reserved for wackos but is no longer used.
And the term is "dire straits".
I know...spell check.
I listened to the HEAD CHEESE....you must be crozier,s wife.
Well, thanks for the update on your mental health.
And obama before Hillary.
BTW....been to more countries than you have!!
Sounds like he deserved it, panicked.
It makes no difference from the Navy discipline. But it makes a difference as to whether the guy did the right thing by his men or not.
If he sacrificed his career to save men’s lives, then he’s a hero, even if he is a fired hero.
If he did it for publicity then he is a goat, a fired goat.
That made you a tourist, not an expert in military affairs.
You have no idea.
Your responses give you away.
I have the experience of 16 yrs service working in investigations (AFOSI).
You need to lose your silly notion of compassion here and take a look at the regs governing communications within the military as contained in the UCMJ.
This moron of a Captain put the ship and it’s mission in danger by releasing information PUBLICLY on the possible readiness of his crew. He also violated the chain of command, a huge no-no known to anyone with military experience. He deserved what he got and more.
My guess is all these Court Martials which you convened ended in the charged being exonerated if you could make that possible. After all the Military are bullies and the poor EM need to be coddled.
The military is not a summer camp and like I said wimps usually never last too long. This Capt was probable a Liberal loon who thought his media friends would give him cover.
Oops!
He is a disgraced Naval Officer. His career is through. He will retire and be completely forgotten and any fond memories usually held by former members of the military will be overshadowed by his truly disgraceful behavior.
In the military the man NEVER comes before the Mission....not EVER!
I doubt you ever served. If you did you were like the guy Patton slapped.
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