A crew member of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise left an unattended gun onboard the ship this week, prompting an investigation and concerns
at Newport News Shipbuilding, where the nuclear-powered ship is being decommissioned.
at Newport News Shipbuilding, where the nuclear-powered ship is being decommissioned.
Matt Mulherin, shipyard president, disclosed the incident Friday in a letter to his 23,700 employees, saying "we are taking this matter very seriously."
to his 23,700 employees, saying "we are taking this matter very seriously."
He said the owner of the gun was found, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service is investigating the matter. However, NCIS determined charges were not warranted and turned the matter over to Enterprise command staff for possible disciplinary action, according to a Navy source who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the case publicly. Neither the Navy nor the shipyard would identify the sailor by name or rank. They also did not disclose why the weapon was left unattended.
the gun was found, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service is investigating the matter. However, NCIS determined charges were not warranted and turned the matter over to Enterprise command staff for possible disciplinary action, according to a Navy source who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the case publicly. Neither the Navy nor the shipyard would identify the sailor by name or rank. They also did not disclose why the weapon was left unattended.
A shipyard employee found the gun, and Mulherin termed it "an isolated incident."
the gun, and Mulherin termed it "an isolated incident."
"However, NCIS determined charges were not warranted and turned the matter over to Enterprise command staff for possible disciplinary action, according to a Navy source who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the case publicly. "
ReplyDeleteSo that means it isn't a felony level offence. It then gets handled by either nonjudicial punishment or I believe that the shop's Captain can also do a summary Court Martial. However I'm also guessing that the carrier Battle Group Commander would get involved also.
I'm betting that this guy will be feeling some pain as anyone who has done time in the military will understand.
Yeah, he'll probably be restricted to base for a few weeks and maybe pay a small fine. Then he'll be back to his usual irresponsible behavior.
DeleteMost likely not. The Captain and/or the Commander is responsible for everything that happens in his command. This kind of national media attention is not something conducive to a good fitness evaluation.
DeleteHe will likely get a formal letter of reprimand in his official file, minimum. The only question will be whether its from the Captain or the Carrier Group Commander. Not sure how they are doing things in the Navy, but in the Army with the cuts planned for the drawdown, having one of those in your record sends you right to the front of the line to be shown the door.
That would be in addition to the fine and restriction, and possibly a stripe.
Maybe he'll end up a civilian irresponsible gun owner out of the incident.
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