US Carrier Captain Fired for asking for COVID-19 Help
US Carrier Captain Fired for asking for COVID-19 Help
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Trevatanus

Original Poster:

11,349 posts

174 months

Friday 3rd April 2020
quotequote all
The Captain of the Theodore Roosevelt appealed for help following an outbreak on his boat.
The Navy responded by ordering the ship to a port which had had zero cases and firing him.


https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2020/04/0...

Nickyboy

6,799 posts

258 months

Friday 3rd April 2020
quotequote all
So not for asking for help but for leaking the request to 30 extra people presumably to ensure he got the help required via a news outlet or similar

Trevatanus

Original Poster:

11,349 posts

174 months

Friday 3rd April 2020
quotequote all
Nickyboy said:
So not for asking for help but for leaking the request to 30 extra people presumably to ensure he got the help required via a news outlet or similar
I can see your point, but I cannot help feel that even he had not of done so, there would be a reason for him to be fired.

768

19,163 posts

120 months

Friday 3rd April 2020
quotequote all
Nickyboy said:
So not for asking for help but for leaking the request to 30 extra people presumably to ensure he got the help required via a news outlet or similar
Does sound like it gave them an easy excuse. Playing with politics is a precarious thing to do in the military.

Is he stuck on the boat wink now having been fired? Must be a bit awkward.

greygoose

9,399 posts

219 months

Friday 3rd April 2020
quotequote all
768 said:
Nickyboy said:
So not for asking for help but for leaking the request to 30 extra people presumably to ensure he got the help required via a news outlet or similar
Does sound like it gave them an easy excuse. Playing with politics is a precarious thing to do in the military.

Is he stuck on the boat wink now having been fired? Must be a bit awkward.
I would imagine the crew would appreciate him looking out for them and trying to get help for them.

Cold

16,432 posts

114 months

Friday 3rd April 2020
quotequote all
Captain Crozier has now left the ship. He walked ashore to tumultuous cheers and support from his crew.

There was no evidence that it was him who leaked the letter. However, he sent it to more than one of his superiors and as such didn't ensure that it couldn't be leaked.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/us/politics/cor...

Psycho Warren

3,087 posts

137 months

Sunday 5th April 2020
quotequote all
this is what happens if you dont follow protocol. there are very strict chains of command for communication.

also impact on personnel and hence fighting capability of a major warship is likely to be classified information so security breach as well.

i seriously doubt the us navy would abandon a ship and its crew and offer no help if it was available. i would expect most major warships have similar issues. medical resources will be tied up helping civilians.

also remember that military personnel are generally young, physicaly fit and in good health so relatively low risk in terms of seriousness and fatalities compared to general population.


has falling on his sword actually got them more help? doubt it.

CS Garth

2,873 posts

129 months

Sunday 5th April 2020
quotequote all
Quite - def con Flap.

“Sailors do not need to die” was what he wrote. Not one of them was even in hospital, nor has anyone on the ship died.

Teddy Lop

8,301 posts

91 months

Sunday 5th April 2020
quotequote all
Cold said:
Captain Crozier has now left the ship. He walked ashore to tumultuous cheers and support from his crew.

There was no evidence that it was him who leaked the letter. However, he sent it to more than one of his superiors and as such didn't ensure that it couldn't be leaked.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/us/politics/cor...
seems an over reaction at a glance, but i suppose any compromise in readiness of your primary war assets is near the top of your most guarded important secrets list.

DavieBNL

307 posts

87 months

Eric Mc

124,906 posts

289 months

Wednesday 8th April 2020
quotequote all
The Acting Secretary of State for the Navy has resigned.

Yet another disgraceful episode in a long list of disgraceful episodes from the Trump administration.

It looks like the USS Nimitz has an infection on board as well.

Will that Captain get sacked too?

Trevatanus

Original Poster:

11,349 posts

174 months

Wednesday 8th April 2020
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
The Acting Secretary of State for the Navy has resigned.

Yet another disgraceful episode in a long list of disgraceful episodes from the Trump administration.

It looks like the USS Nimitz has an infection on board as well.

Will that Captain get sacked too?
Rightly so, the man is an idiot. To stand up in front of all those sailors and say what he did about the person who was acting in their best interests. What did he expect. Ironic that he probably went because his comments went public, which is exactly what he accused the captain of.

bitchstewie

64,412 posts

234 months

Wednesday 8th April 2020
quotequote all
yikes

Acting Navy Secretary blasts USS Theodore Roosevelt captain as ‘too naive or too stupid’ in leaked speech to ship’s crew

If he didn't think, in my opinion, that this information wasn't going to get out into the public, in this day and information age that we live in, then he was either A, too naive, or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this

Seems ironic hehe

Eric Mc

124,906 posts

289 months

Wednesday 8th April 2020
quotequote all
There was a pop song in the 1970s released by a group called "Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots".

I always think of them when I think of the Trump team.

Ayahuasca

27,560 posts

303 months

Thursday 9th April 2020
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Wasn’t a Royal Navy aircraft carrier captain fired for improper use of a company car not long ago? I think it was right that the USN skipper be fired. His decision to publicise his grievances displayed a lack of judgement inappropriate in the captain of warship.

Eric Mc

124,906 posts

289 months

Thursday 9th April 2020
quotequote all
Ayahuasca said:
Wasn’t a Royal Navy aircraft carrier captain fired for improper use of a company car not long ago? I think it was right that the USN skipper be fired. His decision to publicise his grievances displayed a lack of judgement inappropriate in the captain of warship.
His crew didn't think so.

And the guy who fired him is now also out of his job.

He should have been spoken to perhaps, but fired for doing his best for his crew?

stevesingo

5,023 posts

246 months

Thursday 9th April 2020
quotequote all
From what I understand Capt Crozie'rs actions were not just about the health and wellbeing of the crew. Operational effectiveness in the medium to long term was also a concern. If the crew sickness levels reach a point where they can no longer conduct operations, then what is the point of being at sea? Is it not better to put in to port for 2-3 weeks to isolate those infected and get back to work?

What is in the public domain is likely only part of the story. Consideration as to what may have been communicated through the official UN Navy chain could paint a different picture. Captain Crozier, I expect, raised his concerns officially, but was rebuffed by the US Navy CoC. He probably raised this with Acting (as in Trump appointed yes man with no oversight which would be applied to an officially appointed) Secretary of the Navy. Sec of Navy, Thomas Modly would likely have rebuffed this as it would make the numbers look bad for the orange window licker.

One doesn't get to be the Commander of a Nimitz Class carrier by being anything but exceptional in comparison to their peers: 10 positions in all of the Navy! If anyone were to think that speaking to the press was anything but a last resort which Captain Crozier knew would likely result in his dismissal would be a fool.

Captain Crozier threw himself on his sword to ensure the safety of those he serves (his crew) and the future operational effectiveness of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The choice was simple, dock and quarantine until all crew are virus free or stay at sea and have so many sick (and potentially dying) that the Theodore Roosevelt becomes combat ineffective.

He was sacked because he embarrassed the administration by highlighting their lack of moral compass and leadership, that is all.

Calling out Capt Crozier's actions as "poor judgment" is one thing.

Another example of poor judgment might be to go aboard a ship to address the crew over the sacking of their captain who took action to keep the ship operationally effective in the medium term and minimise the risk of loss of life.

Address the crew who cheered their revered captain as he left the ship after being sacked.

Now THAT would be poor judgement.

Steve_D

13,801 posts

282 months

Thursday 9th April 2020
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stevesingo said:
Said exactly what I have been thinking
Steve

Taita

7,955 posts

227 months

Thursday 9th April 2020
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768

19,163 posts

120 months

Thursday 9th April 2020
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Well played swear filter.

That's a great sight, I'm sure it means a lot to him.