Under The Angsana Tree: Navy fires commander of 7th Fleet after deadly USS McCain collision

25/08/2017

Navy fires commander of 7th Fleet after deadly USS McCain collision

The US Navy has fired one of its highest-ranking admirals because of a string of embarrassing and dangerous gaffes, the latest a collision near Singapore that left 10 sailors missing and increasingly presumed to be dead.

US Navy Adm. Scott Swift, the commander of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, decided to relieve Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin of his duties “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.” Aucoin has served in the navy since 1981.

Aucoin, who commands the Navy’s 7th Fleet, had been slated to retire in a month, so the move shows the Navy’s deep concern and fury about the recent spate of crashes.

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Commander Of Navy's 7th Fleet Dismissed After Series Of Ship Mishaps

Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, the three-star commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet was relieved of command on Wednesday. The fleet is based in Yokosuka, Japan.

A statement from the Navy explains why Aucoin was dismissed:

"Adm. Scott Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, today relieved the commander of Seventh Fleet, Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.
"Rear Adm. Phil Sawyer, who has already been nominated and confirmed for the position and promotion to Vice Adm., will assume command immediately."

Aucoin's removal follows four accidents involving Navy ships in the Pacific this year.

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7th Fleet commander sacked days after second deadly collision

The head of U.S. Navy forces in the Pacific fired the three-star commander of the Japan-based 7th Fleet Wednesday, two days after the second deadly collision between a U.S. destroyer and a commercial tanker in as many months.

Adm. Scott Swift relieved Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin after a rash of accidents have raised fundamental questions about the ships in 7th Fleet, including whether they are able to safely execute even the most basic functions expected of naval warships based in one of the most congested and volatile regions on earth.

“Adm. Scott Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, today relieved the commander of Seventh Fleet, Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command,” a release posted on PACFLT‘s website said.

related: Amid accidents and sailor deaths, US Navy's top officer questions readiness of Japan-based ships

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7th Fleet commander relieved due to loss of confidence

Adm. Scott Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, today relieved the commander of Seventh Fleet, Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.

Rear Adm. Phil Sawyer, who has already been nominated and confirmed for the position and promotion to Vice Adm., will assume command immediately.

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7 Navy Sailors Missing After U.S. Destroyer Collides With Merchant Vessel Off Japan

Seven Navy sailors were missing on Saturday after a United States destroyer collided with a Philippine merchant vessel off the coast of Japan, the Navy said.

Several crew members were injured, including the officer in command of the guided missile destroyer, the Fitzgerald. The officer, Cmdr. Bryce Benson, was evacuated from the ship by helicopter to a nearby United States naval base and was in stable condition, the United States Seventh Fleet said in a statement.

The Navy said two other sailors had been evacuated by helicopter and were being treated for lacerations and bruises

related: Sleeping Sailors on U.S.S. Fitzgerald Awoke to a Calamity at Sea

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NETIZEN WONDERS WHY SMRT CEO & TRANSPORT MINISTER NEVER HARAKIRI AFTER SO MANY TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

After news broke of the dismissal of the US 7th Fleet commander, Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin due to a "loss of confidence" in his ability to lead the fleet following several unfortunate accidents that led to the deaths of US sailors, Singaporean netizens have began asking similar questions about our public transportation.

One netizen sums up these sentiments with his Facebook post here.

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Simon Lim 23 hrs

I refer to page A7 of today's Straits Times, the story about the dismissal of the commander of the United States 7th Fleet, Vice-Admiral Joseph Aucoin due to "loss of confidence" in his ability to command, following a series of accidents at sea this year, two of which killed sailors.

Now, look at the so called self-proclaimed 3 times improvement of our MRT. After close to 30 years of operations, we are still grappling with signaling and track problems etc. Train disruptions and breakdowns etc have become an almost every few days problems. Even newer lines like the Circle line and the NE line are not spared. I have checked if we under pay Desmond Kuek or Khaw BW and the answer is No. I have also checked if fatalities also happened under their watch and the answer is Yes. So, the next question is why are they still comfortably in their jobs when Joseph Aucoin lost his due to the United States' government "loss of confidence" in him? Our national loss of productivity each time train services are affected is something that has not even been factored in yet, for crying out out. I am not sure if lhl, the prime minister, has been properly and thoroughly briefed about the sorry and unacceptable state of our MRT or his reports on them were sugar coated by his subordinates to at least make them look not as bad.

This maritime accident happened in our waters and the dismissal decision of the commander of the 7th Fleet came fast and decisive. I hope that lhl is not sleeping but takes a leaf and learn a thing or two from it and make those respective leaders in either SMRT or MOT etc truly accountable for the results or the lack of it and outcomes of the performances/duties under their watch count.

Loss of confidence in our people about the people running SMRT is a real thing although it is invisible, and if not managed properly, it can easily snowballed to become a loss of confidence in this alearly tattered pap government.

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