[Criminal Number 18F]

It's possible that what we have here is one very screwed-up kid and a bunch of copycats.

It's also possible that we have some pretty ate-up leadership on that boat. The Navy has a couple hundred ships and most of the crews are not swan-diving into Davy Jones's Locker. But the ground rules under which the service publicised this make it impossible to evaluate the situation. (One hand-picked sailor talking by phone to the presstitute, while an officer sat in the room -- come on).

I have served my time in the Army, but in a position where I have gotten to see all the services in action and work with them closely. My own observation is that in the Navy, officer-enlisted relations remain feudal in nature and teamwork routinely goes unappreciated and unrewarded. I felt pity for the poor guys I saw on Navy ships; the accommodations and mutual respect (or lack of same) reminded me of the boat scenes in Ben Hur.

I would never recommend the Navy to any young man today. If he wants to be treated like a human being, the Air Force is the place to be. If he wants to be part of something special, the Marines. Unless one qualifies for special operations (paging PFC Tillman!) or something else out of the mainstream, the Army only makes sense as a three or four year experiment. Everything wrong with Special Forces is something that is wrong with the Army as a whole, but most things that are wrong about the Army are alright in SF. I have a friend who is a retired SEAL officer and he says they felt the same way (but were careful not to express it around boat drivers).

Anyway, my 2¢. I don't think that these suicidal (?) kids are alright but I don't think that their chain of command is blameless in this, and the Navy seems to have pulled out the PR stops to blacken the names of the kids and excuse the skipper.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[UCANSEE2]

There is another possibility that is not being discussed in this article.

That scenario is that the 'suicides' may be forced. In other words, someone gave somebody a little push.

Not only is there competition for rank, there are different clique groups on a ship. Many of these sailors are still not mature. They come from a high school or no school/hood environment where the toughest dominated the group. The weakest was routed (or killed). They carry on this attitude.

If someone doesn't like you, on board ship, or you are in somebody's way, then you are a problem easily solved.

One shove, late at night on the deck, and you are gone.
No witnesses, no one will know for several hours you are even gone.

Sure, suicide is very likely, with young men on a ship. If you are out at seak, it is usually very boring. Lack of contact with family, or other humans not stuck in the same environment (onboard at sea) can add to the depression.

But the 'oops, man overboard' shove is almost more likely.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

My own observation is that in the Navy, officer-enlisted relations remain feudal in nature and teamwork routinely goes unappreciated and unrewarded.

I've been in the Navy - and found that was only true for the shore navy.  The blue water navy was considerably better.