Career Limiting Move for the CO of the Roosevelt? (Navy Peeps will Understand)

March 31, 2020, 11:12 AM

LS1 GTO

https://www.independent.co.uk/...r-guam-a9438446.html

quote:

‘Sailors do not need to die’: Captain of nuclear aircraft carrier asks US government for help as coronavirus infects more than 100 on board

The captain of a US nuclear aircraft carrier has pleaded for help from the Navy, amid a growing coronavirus outbreak on the vessel, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Theodore Roosevelt nuclear aircraft carrier, which is currently docked in Guam in order to quarantine the personnel, has more than 100 cases of the virus on board and its captain has asked the Navy for support in order to provide adequate isolation facilities.

Brett Crozier, the captain of the ship sent a letter to the Navy asking for the crew of 5000 to be isolated completely in order to try and stop the spread of the outbreak.

The letter obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle outlines that the health and safety of the sailors onboard should be the priority right now.

“This will require a political solution but it is the right thing to do,” Mr Crozier wrote. “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset -- our Sailors.”

Mr Crozier asked for the personnel to be removed from the ship, saying that the risk involved is necessary to protect them.

“Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure...This is a necessary risk,” he wrote.

“Keeping over 4,000 young men and women on board the TR is an unnecessary risk and breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted to our care.”

The captain admitted that if the US was at war then the sailors would have to remain, but added that “we are not at war, and therefore cannot allow a single Sailor to perish as a result of this pandemic unnecessarily,” Mr Crozier wrote.

“Decisive action is required now in order to comply with CDC and (Navy) guidance and prevent tragic outcomes.”

The "Mr." part is very accurate (instead of "Captain") when the CO of a carrier just told the world he was incapable of keeping his mouth shut with regards to deployment capability and projection of force.

March 31, 2020, 11:16 AM

braillediver

quote:
we You are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset -- our Sailors.

The Carrier should be ready for Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare. And he's say He can't do anything to defend against this Virus?

He should be unemployed or peeling potatoes.

Thread Drift- I'd be paying attention to North Korea, China and Iran. NK and Iran especially- as they collapse from the burden they might lash out and attack someone.

March 31, 2020, 11:18 AM

Shaql

I highly doubt the CO "sent a letter to the Navy".

He more likely sent a message through channels that someone decided to leak.

March 31, 2020, 11:20 AM

rat2306

I think I'd sail the TR about twelve miles out, quarantine in place while placing everyone with symptoms on the appropriate meds. Maybe fly several specialists out to Guam, helo out to the ship with any equipment needed.

Yes, he may be steering a desk the rest of his career.

March 31, 2020, 11:27 AM

pulicords

quote:
Originally posted by Shaql:
I highly doubt the CO "sent a letter to the Navy".

He more likely sent a message through channels that someone decided to leak.

This /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\! If someone in fact did leak this information, it should be treated as a serious offense, that greatly endangered the security of our country. As an officer, the CO had a duty to report the outbreak to his superiors. Especially since it could effect the ability of his ship to be utilized in an emergency (time of war). Is the outbreak itself an emergency? I believe it is, and if containment is possible through quarantine, it should be considered as a possible/necessary option.

March 31, 2020, 12:11 PM

corsair

quote:
Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
The "Mr." part is very accurate (instead of "Captain") when the CO of a carrier just told the world he was incapable of keeping his mouth shut with regards to deployment capability and projection of force.

The 'Mr' was inserted by the British paper and not the primary source.

It's an internal letter, think he 'leaked it' or, somebody with an axe to grind within USN or, DoD? There's only 11-guys like him around (CO of a CVN), he's on-track to O-7, these guys are pretty bright (career aviation and accelerated nuke school) and don't normally F-up their careers by 'leaking' things. Dumber things have happened to Navy CO's so

He's not wrong, containing a contagion on a ship is impossible, considering the fatality rate for this virus is relatively low, they'd be better off letting it burn through the crew, and off-load those who have symptoms that need more care.

March 31, 2020, 12:24 PM

Ronin101

I don't know why the sick cant be evaced to the nearest military hospital. I don't know the exact capabilities are for the sick bay on a carrier. But if you have 20 people that need a ventolator and only have 10. that is a problem. It seems to me that those decisions need to be made sooner than later!!!

March 31, 2020, 12:30 PM

MikeinNC

They should have stayed underway. Then send a message to whatever group commander he belongs to and awaited direction.

And none of this should have been released.

March 31, 2020, 12:36 PM

jljones

I agree with many here that think someone else leaked the communique. IF the skipper did leak this, yeah, his career is likely over. I just don't see a CO of a nuclear aircraft carrier like the Teddy Ruxpin leaking a letter to the media.

March 31, 2020, 12:58 PM

Patriot

"We are not at war..."

But could be tomorrow...

March 31, 2020, 01:03 PM

LS1 GTO

quote:
Originally posted by MikeinNC:
They should have stayed underway. Then send a message to whatever group commander he belongs to and awaited direction.

And none of this should have been released.

This is my viewpoint also, especially after 23 years active, 9 years sea time, and 7 cruises with 5 of them on the flightdeck of carriers (Including WW Desert Storm).

March 31, 2020, 01:26 PM

feersum dreadnaught

I'd like to read the CASREP he submitted...

I'd say lack of healthy crew is mission critical.

March 31, 2020, 01:46 PM

Scooter123

IMo this isn't just a leak, I believe that this "leak" has been embellished to make the Captain appear like a total idiot. If I am correct this will have zero effect on the Captains career but the person who did this may quite likely spend a good number of years breaking rocks into smaller rocks. I also suspect that we won't ever hear about the Perp or his trial.

March 31, 2020, 01:51 PM

Patriot

quote:
Originally posted by feersum dreadnaught:
I'd like to read the CASREP he submitted...

I'd say lack of healthy crew is mission critical.

At only 2% down????

Most at sea commands can lose upwards of 30% and still function efficiently.

Port-and-starboard duty as opposed to three section.

March 31, 2020, 02:06 PM

jimmy123x

quote:
Originally posted by Shaql:
I highly doubt the CO "sent a letter to the Navy".

He more likely sent a message through channels that someone decided to leak.

THIS, I doubt he sent a letter to the media, someone leaked it. That being said, have you ever seen the bunk rooms on an aircraft carrier??? I could see the Corona Virus spreading like wildfire on a ship like that, that would make the cruise ship version a footnote. The good news, is most all of the enlisted are of an age where the virus isn't deadly to most all of them.

How ready can a ship be if 5% of it's workforce are super Ill with more getting ill.

Why they even leaked that the ship is in Guam to begin with, is beyond me. I don't think the CO decided to take the ship to Guam to quarantine, I believe that decision would have come from above.

March 31, 2020, 02:10 PM

stoic-one

quote:
How ready can a ship be if 5% of it's workforce are super Ill.

It depends on which ratings(jobs) are hit the hardest, but pretty damn ready, actually.

March 31, 2020, 02:41 PM

RHINOWSO

Not really surprised that he wanted this done - because while carriers are prepped for CBR attacks (Chem, Bio, Nuke), it's not prepared to be a hospital ship for 50% of it's crew. I doubt he leaked it, but you never know these days.

On all Navy ships, it is tight quarters and social distancing space just doesn't exist. People touch ladderwells, walls, spaces that everyone else uses all the time. Getting the 'cruise-hack' is normal as it spreads rapidly in the tight spaces, so it's not an easy thing to stop.

And the medical department, while robust for a ship, isn't prepped to deal with 50 people on ventilators, much less 200 or 2000. Navy medical care pretty much sucks unless it involves slapping a bandage on it and giving you an aspirin.

And we aren't "at war", nor have we been "at war" since WW2. We've been fighting wars we choose to fight, that is all. Carriers are big fun chess pieces for CINCs to play with, but if one is sidelined for 2-4 week because of the virus, who cares? They have been late before because they have been over work, under maintained, or just plain broke down.

March 31, 2020, 03:19 PM

LS1 GTO

WE had a food poisoning type virus go through the forward wardroom. Needless to say, after the third plane (in a row) did a cat-shot and come right back to land, the Boss shutdown flight ops.

A lot of the ship thought it was funny pilots were shatting themselves until it was realized, we had NO air cover.

Only thing worse than a carrier not having air cover is a carrier tied up to the pier and unable to get underway.

In this situation, both officers and crew would / could come together for an all-hands scrub-ex of the ship to minimize spread and, blocking off a berthing or two for those who are sick.

The new twist comes in with the ship being co-ed and needing multiple berthings when a single one could've sufficed.

Either way, a classified SITREP and remaining 20 miles of the coast of Guam is likely a better place to be. But then again, the ship didn't tie up before AIRPAC, CINCPAC, CNO, and CinC (who likely gave the direction) all knew. knew what was happening

March 31, 2020, 03:31 PM

jhe888

quote:
Originally posted by Shaql:
I highly doubt the CO "sent a letter to the Navy".

He more likely sent a message through channels that someone decided to leak.

Agreed. He is probably asking for help through the chain of command. That is acceptable. Anyone smart enough to be in command of a fleet carrier is unlikely to be that stupid.

I wonder if he could put the sick sailors ashore until they recover since the ship is currently docked. Maybe there is no place for them. On the other hand, surely someone has tents, or an empty barracks. Something.