Posted on 01/16/2007 3:11:34 PM PST by SmithL
The Navy announced today that punitive letters of reprimand have been issued to the commanding and executive officers of a Norfolk-based submarine that lost two sailors in a fatal accident.
The sailors died Dec. 29 after the Minneapolis-St. Paul pulled away from its mooring at the Devonport Naval Base in southern England. They were among four men swept overboard in heavy seas while working on the deck as the boat headed for the English Channel.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas Higgins, 45, the chief of the boat, or “cob,” and Petty Officer 2nd class Michael Holtz, 30, perished in the water. The two others were rescued.
Rear Adm. Jeff Fowler ruled Tuesday that the commanding and executive officers deserved punitive letters of reprimand, said Lt. Chris Servello, a spokesman for the Navy’s Sixth Fleet.
The boat is commanded by Cmdr. Edwin Ruff. At the time of the incident, Lt. Cmdr. Peter Young was the executive officer.
Fowler considered but dismissed charges against three other sailors - two officers and a chief petty officer, Servello said.
“The facts of the investigation led the admiral to determine non-judicial punishment was warranted,” for the sub’s top two officers, Servello said in a phone interview from Naples.
Servello said Fowler, the commander of Submarine Group Eight, appointed a Navy captain with submarine experience to lead the preliminary investigation. Findings from a second, safety investigation - designed to avoid future risks, not determine blame for accidents or deaths - have not been released.
The Navy did not disclose what specific actions or lack of actions led to the reprimands.
“The team reviewed the incidents of the day, looked at the weather, interviewed crew members and witnesses in Plymouth harbor, then reported their findings to the admiral,” Servello said.
Fowler’s ruling now goes to the Sixth Fleet commanderr, then to the commander of the U.S. Navy’s submarine force in Norfolk. Either could uphold or disagree with the findings and punishments.
Though Ruff remains in command of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, now in port in Rota, Spain, a punitive letter of reprimand often signals the end of an officer’s advancement.
According to Navy promotion board records, Ruff was selected and approved for promotion to captain last year to take effect in late 2007.
The sub’s XO, or executive officer, was previously scheduled to rotate off the boat anyway to take a new assignment, Servello said. Citing privacy reasons, Servello would not release his name, but a Navy website listed the second-in-command as Young.
The Navy has parallel systems for dealing with sailors accused of crimes, cause accidents due to negligence or deliberate malfeasance, or disobey orders.
They can be charged with violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and tried through a court-martial. Or a commanding officer can choose to deal with the matter non-judicially, in what’s called a “captain’s mast” or “admiral’s mast.”
A punitive letter of reprimand is a fault-finding document. Non-punitive letters of reprimand note a deficiency, but are not considered punishment.
SOP
Submarine Ping
Info.
Their careers are over--In the Navy it's up or out, and there will be NO future advancement for these officers.
Yes,I assume that "up or out" is pretty much SOP in all the services these days.But if either of them are,for example,close to their 20 or 30 year marks could they continue in uniform until they reach that mark or are they expected (or required) to resign immediately?
ping
No, they can stay in and serve on active duty until they are denied promotion, at which time they can resign/retire, or be administratively separated from the Navy.
Wow. Who woulda thunk it?
Not anymore.
A career ender. Both officers will be transferred to a shore command and they will put their papers in for retirement and they will be processed with all deliberate speed. No one wants an officer around with a confidence problem and no chance for promotion. Creates a morale problem. The XO really gets screwed. He probably had 15 years in and wont make 20 to draw a pension. Ruff was commissioned in 1986 so he is just over the line.
I'd like to read the charges before drawing any conclusions. CSG-8 has no boats own and are notorious for trying to burn the ones that come under their OPCON. I used to keep a sign in my radio shack that said (in the style of "I heart NY") "I H8 CSG-8".
Not expected to resign, no.
From the Laws of the Navy, Rear Admiral Ronald A. Hopwood, Royal Navy 1896.
Count not upon certain promotion
But rather to gain it aspire;
Though the sightline may end on the target
There cometh perchance the miss-fire.
Uncharted the rocks that surround thee,
Take heed that the channels thou learn,
Lest thy name serve to buoy for another
That shoal, the Courts-Martial Return.
LCDR Peter Young, (BLUE) was designated "qualified for submarine command" last July. Looks he he was headed for his own boat. Not anymore. He will have spent 15 years in the Navy and will leave without a pension.
Based on your experiences, how likely is it that the punishments are not upheld?
And even if they aren't upheld, will either officer ever get another promotion?
And at that level, how many shots at a promotion does an officer get before being forced out?
My husband served with Thomas Higgins. They worked together in Connecticut about 9 years ago. What a hard way to go...for everyone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.