Sunday, November 4, 2012

The U.S. Navy And A Port Of Call In Russia Do Not Mix

Cmdr. Joseph R. Darlak, left, and Cmdr. Ivan Jimenez were relieved of duty on Friday.

CO, 3 Officers Sacked After Russian Port Visit -- Navy Times

SAN DIEGO — The commanding officer of the frigate Vandegrift was fired and three key officers were removed from the ship after an investigation found drunken behavior and inappropriate misconduct during a September port visit in Russia, the Navy announced late Friday.

Cmdr. Joseph R. Darlak, who has commanded the San Diego-based frigate since July 27, was relieved of command Friday by Capt. John L. Schultz “due to a loss of confidence after displaying poor leadership and failure to ensure the conduct of his wardroom officers” while visiting the Russian port of Vladivostok, said Cmdr. Tamsen Reese, a Naval Surface Force-Pacific spokeswoman in Coronado, Calif.

Read more ....

More News On US Navy Officers Fired For Drunken Behavior At Russian Port Visit

Drunken sailors: US frigate commander fired over crew's Russian bender
-- RT
U.S. Navy removes officers after boozy port visit -- AP
U.S. Navy skipper fired over drunken misconduct in Russia -- Reuters
Drunken port call means ouster for Navy skipper -- UT San Diego

My Comment: Here is a sad (and personal) fact about Russia .... every-time I visit Russia to see my relatives .... sighhhh .... I leave totally hungover and less than sober. This is the Russian cultural tradition of treating visitors .... and they are not going to change it. If you send a US Navy ship filled with sailors to a Russian port .... if they do not leave drunk it will be perceived as an insult. Unfortunately for these US officers .... they should have watched their limit. On a side note .... from my readings of the Russian press, they do not understand why they have been fired.

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