The commanders who oversaw the training where nine Marines died in a tank were “burned by the pandemic”

0


[ad_1]

The military commander, who oversaw a training exercise that killed nine soldiers, has been burned to the ground by a pandemic and overwhelmed by the prospect of war. Iran When Donald trumpAccording to a new report, the militarization of the southern border.

Eight Marines aged 18 to 23 and one sailor as of July 30, 2020, amphibious vehicle California..

The armored aircraft carrier took on water and sank off the coast of San Clemente Island while returning to the USS Somerset.

On Wednesday, the results of two investigations into the crash, one by the Marine Corps and one by the Navy, were announced.

While they cannot tolerate leadership failure, they found the commander stressed out and struggling to cope with many competing demands.

An amphibious vehicle like the one in the photo sank in July 2020, killing eight Marines and one sailor. The maritime inventory counts around 800 AAVs capable of carrying up to 21 people, each weighing 26 tons.

The amphibious vehicle returned to the USS Somerset (pictured) when it sank in July 2020.

The amphibious vehicle returned to the USS Somerset (pictured) when it sank in July 2020.

General Karl Mandy, who led the Marine Corps investigation, said it was a mistake to underestimate or neglect the demands placed on the military, which caused many errors.

Lt. Gen. Karl Mandy III led the Marine Corps investigation, reporting that many commanders expressed concern about their onerous and competing demands for their time when tragedy struck.

Lt. Gen. Karl Mandy III led the Marine Corps investigation, signaling that many commanders expressed concern about their onerous and competing demands for their time when tragedy struck.

“Their claims about time and attention were revealed in numerous interviews with several senior officers who described the situation during this period as the second after the combat experience,” Mandy wrote.

He said the “related response” to the coronavirus outbreak on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt provided a “compressed and complex available training opportunity” for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The Marines were also tasked with ensuring the safety of the USNS Mercy, a hospital ship deployed off California to assist COVID-19 patients at the height of the pandemic.

Mandy also said the Marines had many other “non-standard” missions at the time, including sending to the US-Mexico border for Trump’s immigrant patrols.

Finally, he said, “We are planning a major combat operation due to heightened tensions with Iran in January 2020.”

Pfc Brian J. Baltiera, 19, Corona, Calif.

Corporal Gillermo S. Perez of New Braunfels, Texas, 20 years old.

The body of Pfc Brian J. Baltiera (left), 19, in Corona, Calif., Was sent to Delaware. Corporal Reims Gillermo S. Perez (right), 20, was found at the scene in New Braunfels, Texas. His body was airlifted to the Dover base on August 5.

Corporal Marco A. Baranco of Montebello, Calif., 21

Pfc Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, Bend, Ore., 21

Other victims include Corporal Marco A. Baranco of Montebello, Calif. (Left), 21, Pfc Jack Ryan Ostrovsky of Bend, Ore. (Right), 21.

Pfc Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, died in an accident last year.

Pfc Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, died in an accident last year.

Christopher Gnem, 22, a US Navy non-commissioned officer in Stockton, Calif., Was one of the victims.  After his death, Gnem was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class and qualified as a Fleet Marine Corps War Specialist.

Christopher Gnem, 22, a US Navy non-commissioned officer in Stockton, Calif., Was one of the victims. After his death, Gnem was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class and qualified as a Fleet Marine Corps War Specialist.

In March, Marine Corps investigators realized the death was “preventable” and said complacency, inadequate maintenance and inspection, and inadequate training were all causes of the tragedy.

Amphibious tank disaster victims

  • Pfc.Brian J. Baltiera, 18, Corona, Calif.
  • Corporal Reims Marco A in Montebello, California. Barranco, 21
  • Pfc. Evan A in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Bain, 19
  • Christopher Gunem, Naval NCO, Stockton, Calif., 22
  • Pfc.Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, Bend, Ore., 21
  • Corporal Reims Gillermo S. Perez, New Braunfels, Texas, 20
  • Cpl Wesley A. Rod, Harris, Texas, 23
  • Corporal Reims Chase D in Portland, Oregon. Sweetwood, 18
  • Cpl. Caesar A in Riverside, California. Villanueva, 21

Seven Marines in the vehicle, including the commander, survived.

Rescue operations were chaotic, they found, and pumps designed to keep the ship from sinking were not working fast enough.

They found that a “series of mechanical failures” had caused the tragedy rather than a factor.

In May, it was announced that Major-General Robert Castellvi, then commander of the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, had been suspended.

A month later, he was fired. He is the most senior officer disciplined following a disaster.

His firing followed in October 2020 after Captain Michael J. Legner, commander of the landing team of the 1st Battalion 4th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Captain Christopher Bronzi, commander of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. I was broken. His command in March 2021.

A spokesperson for the Marine Corps, Captain Ryan Bruce, confirmed that a total of 12 Marines were or would be punished for their role in the crash. Military.com..

The Navy did not fire its commanders, but Vice-Admiral Roy Kitchener said some were facing administrative measures. He did not say who was reprimanded or how he was reprimanded.

“This tragedy should never have happened,” Kitchener said.

“We will not waste our lives. We will learn from this and continuously improve the way we plan and conduct amphibious operations.

He said the Navy “has reworked procedures and doctrines, clarified aspects of amphibious operations and established new training requirements to prevent future tragedies.”

Aerial view of the coast near San Clemente Island where the incident occurred

Aerial view of the coast near San Clemente Island where the incident occurred

Photo: Map showing the location of San Clemente Island off San Diego

Photo: Map showing the location of San Clemente Island off San Diego

According to a Navy investigation by Major General Christopher Sweeney, Navy Captain Dave Kurtz, then commanding officer of USS Somerset, “fully understands the communication path between the vessels involved in the operation and the vehicles of Marine. I did not do it. ”

Major General Christopher Sweeney, who led the Navy investigation, discovered that there was something published in the correspondence, but that did not cause the accident per se.

Major General Christopher Sweeney, who led the Navy investigation, discovered that there was something published in the correspondence, but that did not cause the accident per se.

However, Navy officials found Somerset, which was heading towards the amphibious vehicle when it sank, reacted quickly when the gravity of the situation became apparent and the communication problems did not cause a disaster. . Made.

Mandy and Sweeney made a series of recommendations. This includes that a safety boat equipped to deal with the boat in distress should be available.

At the time of the accident, Navy safety craft were under maintenance and other armored landing craft were being used instead.

During a rescue attempt, he collided with a sunk vehicle, capsized, and prompted it to sink rapidly.

Christiana Sweetwood, who was among the Marines whose son was killed, said Washington Post She was not impressed with the explanation given.

“It feels like a lot has been thrown at us at this point,” she said.

“It’s like everyone is pointing fingers at each other.”

She said she was relieved by the Navy’s promise to demand a security vessel in the future.

“I try to find my blessing wherever I am,” she said.

“Their safety boats are fast.

The commanders who oversaw the training where nine Marines died in a tank were “burned by the pandemic” The commanders who oversaw the training where nine Marines died in a tank were “burned by the pandemic”

[ad_2]

Share.

Leave A Reply