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CO, 3 officers sacked after Russian port visit
Looks like party time in Vladivostok!SAN DIEGO The commanding officer of the frigate USS 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. Schultz, who commands Destroyer Squadron 15, also fired the ships executive officer, Cmdr. Ivan Jimenez, and he also detached the ships operations officer and chief engineer for personal conduct and use of alcohol, Reese said. During the visit, Vandegrift sailors visited a local childrens rehabilitation center, where they brought puzzles, toys and balloons, according to a news release by the U.S. consulate in Vladivostok. Sailors hosted children the following day in a tour of the frigate, where they dined on cake and snacks. But some officers got out of hand while in Vladivostok. The investigation, which is completed but not yet adjudicated, found misconduct happened during that port visit, including some officers being drunk, disorderly and not adhering to established liberty policies, Reese said. Posted by: tu3031 2012-11-05 |
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