Naval Academy grads, like mids, face conduct scrutiny

[Luigi59]

Annapolis Capital Gazette
Dec 30, 2012
By Alex Jackson

Scrutiny for misconduct isn’t something that ends when midshipmen finish their four years at the Naval Academy.

Of 23 commanding officers relieved from Navy posts this year, eight were former midshipmen. The majority were found to have conducted themselves inappropriately.

More commanding officers, or COs, were relieved this year, for reasons ranging from lackluster leadership to misconduct including hazing and sexual harassment, than in any year since 2009. This year’s tally approached the record of 26, set in 2003.

While that’s still a small percentage of the approximately 1,500 COs in the Navy, the number worries some Navy leaders. In November, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert said he didn’t understand why so many COs were misbehaving and said he was “concerned.”

Rest of the article here: Naval Academy grads, like mids, face conduct scrutiny

In three of the eight cases involving academy graduates, COs lost their jobs when the Navy said it lost confidence in their ability to command. But five cases involved former mids getting the boot for misconduct.

One discharged CO, Cmdr. Derick Armstrong of the USS The Sullivans, was relieved after at least 10 crew members said they saw Armstrong “check out” women on the ship, according to a report obtained by the Associated Press. Armstrong, a member of the academy’s Class of 1995, was booted May 8.

One female crew member claimed Armstrong said, “Now that I’m taking over soon, what are my chances?” between five and 10 times before becoming CO, and that he said something similar at least twice after he started his new job.

Cmdr. Joseph Darlak, a 1990 Naval Academy grad, was relieved Nov. 2 along with three members of his crew on the USS Vandegrift. The Navy Times said officers on the ship were found to be “drunk, disorderly and not adhering to established liberty policies.”

Another member of the academy’s class of 1990 was relieved after the Navy started investigating allegations of an “unduly familiar relationship between (her) and a sailor formerly under her command.” Cmdr. Sheryl Tannahill was relieved from her position at Navy Operational Support Center in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 14.

Two other former mids were relieved for allegations of personal misconduct, but details of their cases have not become available. Cmdr. Jeffrey Wissel, a 1994 academy graduate, was relieved in February. Capt. Ted Williams, of the academy’s Class of 1987, was added to the list of those relieved on Nov. 19.

 

[AF6872]

BS. It happens everywhere.