US Navy to charge Destroyer Captains over recent collisions

7th Fleet back in the news this week, as it comes out that the Navy is filing charges for negligent homicide and dereliction of duty against two Commanders who were captaining Destroyers involved in collisions last year. The two collisions resulted in 17 deaths.

(Note for the non-naval minded members of ATS: in this case, "Captain" is the Captain of the ship, not the servicemember's rank, which is Commander in both cases. Confusing at first, but the guy running the ship is the ship's Captain, regardless of what his rank is)

Commanders Bryce Jensen and Jessie Sanchez are looking at a range of charges, from negligent homicide and dereliction of duty down to hazarding a vessel. The term "total incompetence" has been attached to not only the two Commanders, but several junior officers and senior enlisted as well. The Admiral in charge of the Pacific Fleet has been "allowed" to retire, effective this week. The resignation doesn't cost much, though, as the Admiral was scheduled to retire next month anyway. His retirement was initially announced back in September, and was likely in response to the collisions but since that time the 7th Fleet has taken a lot of PR hits for operations.

Announcement of charges

NY Post with embedded links

Recap of the blistering report issued on the two collisions, detailing the level of incompetence prevalent.

a reply to: Shamrock6

Color me shocked.

a reply to: Zaphod58

The negligent homicide charges surprised me, at least.

What didn't surprise me was the guy with stars on his shoulder boards slides off in to retirement.

a reply to: Shamrock6

Of course he did. Hell if these two had been slightly higher rank they probably would have skated too and they would have nailed the OOD or a lowly watch stander.

Well good maybe it will make it safer for our guys out there serving.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Yep! As it stands, it sounds like several other lower-ranking officers are getting charged, but they're not catching the big ones that these two did.

Not that I expect these two to really catch convictions for those charges.

Just imagine what it would look like if they were USNA grads, eh?

#ringknockers

a reply to: SkeptiSchism

No, it really won't. Because the people above them, that created the environment that pushed them to skip training and cut corners were all protected and allowed to retire with their full pensions. Again.

a reply to: Shamrock6

They'll probably end up with NJPs, resulting in a reduction in rank and forfeiture of pay or something along those lines. At worst a dishonorable, but I doubt even that much.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Oh wow bummer.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Yep. My money is that they'll probably never get a significant command again and will quietly limp along to a retirement ceremony, but by god they'll get that retirement anyhow. Sanchez hits 20 years this year, Bensen gets there next year.

a reply to: Shamrock6

I want to know more about the insurance implications of this (currently teaching about Ocean Marine, Maritime Laws and this very type of thing!).

Thanks for sharing the news.

a reply to: Shamrock6

Either that, or the proceedings will be dragged out until they both have their 20.

well maybe a general discharge under honorable conditions......

By my count they've nabbed three admirals in this so far, more than they have managed to do in the Fat Albert scandal after YEARS of deliberations. They've obviously got a couple of O-5s in the net, and their careers are over. By the law of the sea they are accountable, regardless that they were caught in an untenable situation of NON-SUPPORT by their command. Sanchez, for example, was asleep in his bunk and nearly killed. So was the Captain of the Exxon Valdez. But, hey! We'll GET 'EM and TAKE THEIR PENSIONS, by GOD! And yet, the CNO still rules.

as a civilian looking at this case i just cant wrap my head around what was going on with that ship. the way i imagine it is that this was essentialy a booze cruise with the crew partying while the ship just cruised on autopilot.

a reply to: schuyler

They nabbed three admirals that get to retire with their full retirement and pensions, while the lower ranked guys will get hammered.

Disgusting.. no fan of American navy. But this is cruel. My heart gos for the poor men and thier families.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Shamrock6

Of course he did. Hell if these two had been slightly higher rank they probably would have skated too and they would have nailed the OOD or a lowly watch stander.

Yep, somebody has to be the whipping boy.

It really sucks that servicemen died due to stupidity and negligence.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: schuyler

They nabbed three admirals that get to retire with their full retirement and pensions, while the lower ranked guys will get hammered.

The first part is true. The second part is speculation.

a reply to: schuyler

It's informed speculation. I've seen it before. They'll either go through a full court martial, or get a deal that results in them getting nothing. Watch and see. It's all about protecting the upper ranks, but they need a scapegoat, which inevitably ends up being the lower ranks. I've seen it happen far too many times.