“Well, yes, that happens in the movies. Maybe the new Navy is more capable, but the “man overboard” drills in which I participated aboard the old U.S.S. Ranger were not confidence-producing.”
As with so many things, a drill is one thing, and the real thing quite another.
We had a man go overboard off the stern of an AE on the way out of Subic Bay, almost to open water. We had to put the motor whale boat in the water and launch a helo, but we picked him up.
I think the bigger take away is that we don’t jeopardize the mission over the life of one soldier/sailor/airman/marine. Lots of warriors died to capture those five men and even more died looking for him.
I think it’s illogical to expend men when you’ll give up any gains over the life of one deserter.