Posted on 11/09/2012 9:25:37 AM PST by RitchieAprile
Drunken behavior during a port visit has led to the dismissal of another Navy commander and three other top officers, days after the leader of the USS Stennis carrier group was sent back to Bremerton.
The Navy hasn't said much about why they've removed Rear Admiral Charles Gaouette from his command October 27. They are conducting an internal investigation involving his judgment.
The Navy is offering more explanation about the commander of the USS Vandegrift, which is a frigate based in San Diego that was built at the Todd Shipyards. This frigate was not with the Stennis carrier group.
Vandegrift Commander Joseph Darlak was relieved of duty one week ago due to "a loss of confidence after displaying poor leadership and failure to ensure the conduct of his officers" while visiting the Russian port of Vladivostok in September.
Translation, according to San Diego media reports - Darlak was part of a "rowdy, booze-fueled port visit."
The ship's executive officer, Commander Ivan Jimenez, was also removed from the ship along with the operations officer and chief engineer, "for personal conduct and use of alcohol."
A Navy release stated, "Inappropriate behavior and judgment in positions of authority are unacceptable."
That phrase "inappropriate judgment" was used to describe the Stennis Rear Admiral also.
A military analyst I talked with a week ago said the Navy is on track to fire a record number of commanders this year for bad behavior.
"The Navy this year has had a spike in firings of these kinds of officers. They've fired over a dozen so far with problems related to offenses about sexual misconduct, alcohol, or some other kind of personal misconduct," says Lyons.
Now 14 commanders have been relieved of duty, which essentially ends their careers.
By LINDA THOMAS
You mean to tell me there’s drinking in the Navy?? I’m shocked.
Finally, the open rule of Gays and an end to don’t ask don’t tell has been successful to altering the command stucture of the Navy and the quality of US swabbies/S
Its finally happened.
Zero tolerance...I would have most definitely been sent home today for some of my shenanigans as young Sailor (squid) on liberty. But I had a damn good time and no one got in trouble, my how times have changed.
I read somewhere that that Rear Admiral mentioned, was relieved of duty because he was going to send either a rescue team to Bengazi or a fighter plane strike force.
If that’s true then maybe the ship he was on got rowdy in their first port of call because of being upset at being prevented at trying to save our ambassador.
If I got stuck with Commander and Chief for 4 more years, I’d drink myself stoopid.
And their school - USNA - has been the source of some pretty raunchy stories in recent years. These guys probably think they are just carrying on the tradition. Bring on those female midshipmen - whoopee!!!
Obama wants to purge the military leadership, it’s basically Stalin 1938 without the executions.
Rum and the lash are no longer authorized. In their place, the practice of sodomy will be increased by 66%.
After this week I feel like going on a permanent binge. I’d probably be able to get SS disability for alchoholism amd then food stamps and medicaide so why bother working? Sheesh...now I really do need a drink!
He's probably got boy toys lined up to take their places.
I’ve got a friend who was on a Tin Can in the mid 70’s.
The tales he tells of his port calls would curl the hair of these modern day sailors.
More examples of men who have been promoted to senior leadership who never would have been back in the day. But when you have an administration who doesn’t know or care anything about military tradition or standards of performance, the wrong people can get promoted.
“......OH Rip the shirt. How cliche..........”
I suspect that’s one thing in play here.
Unexpected....
My grandfather lied about his young age to get enlisted in the Navy at the start of WWII. He served at sea for 20 years. That great man and the ‘real’ men of their time, would be rolling over in their graves if the could see what has happened to their Navy......... and the country they served.
This makes me think orders from the top are to downsize from top to bottom, and start by cherry picking disciplinary incidents to pare down:
"A military analyst I talked with a week ago said the Navy is on track to fire a record number of commanders this year for bad behavior."
LOL!!! "... I suppose you're going to have me walk the plank next..."
“Failure to control officers” seems like the key phrase here. Even in 2012, I don’t think the Navy expects enlisted sailors to be epitomes of clean living on shore leave ... but if LTs and LTjgs were getting into trouble and were being delivered quayside by local cops after a hard night on the town, that’s a pretty hard problem for their commanders to explain.
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