Navy officer, seven sailors disciplined in hazing incidents

[rainbow4321]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SOU_NAVY_HAZING_VAOL-?SITE=WDUN&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Seven sailors and the executive officer aboard the frigate USS Kauffman have been punished in connection with hazing of six crew members over two years, a Navy spokesman said Wednesday.

Four of the sailors were ordered discharged from the Navy following a shipboard admiral's mast - a nonjudicial but binding proceeding - conducted May 6 in the Persian Gulf, Lt. Cmdr. Charles Owens said.

The ship's executive officer, Lt. Cmdr. Lawrence Wilson, was disciplined for knowing about the hazing and failing to report it to his commanding officer, Owens said. Wilson was reassigned temporarily, with a recommendation to the chief of naval personnel that he be removed from his position

The hazing incidents all took place while the frigate was in port and involved verbal and physical abuse, according to Owens. There was "some hitting," he said, and incidents such as taping sailors to chairs.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. boy this is serious

they are now sending sailors to support roles in theater these days... which means these boys really went over the line... but they are not bothering with a court martial... interesting

[rainbow4321]

3. Two YEARS of physical and verbal abuse...

and all they have to say is:

From the article:

Nowakowski flew out to the frigate to conduct the proceeding "to drive home the message that this is serious," Owens said.


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And the other 3 abusers are still on the boat (their "punishments" not being disclosed). "Drive the message home", my ass...they all need to have the book thrown at them.

[HEyHEY]

2. Canadian armed forces wannabees!

[DoNotRefill]

4. Hmmm...so is duct-taping people to the walls now hazing....

or not?

What if they are drunk and volunteer for it?

[Boomer]

5. What's the deal here?

As a clueless civilian, I have no criteria by which to judge why this was considered serious. I thought hazing and abuse were ignored unless someone was actually killed, in which case officers would (reluctantly) address the issue.

So am I misinformed? Or have the rules changed? Some insight into the context of this report and into military culture would be appreciated.

[Supersedeas]

6. get those reporters out of the goat's locker, this instant

the blue nose ceremony will not be televised.