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| Submarine C.O. Relieved Because Of Hazing Incident |
| 2006-06-15 |
| The commanding officer of the submarine USS Columbus has been replaced because his commanding officer lost confidence in his leadership in the wake of a hazing scandal, the Navy said. The Navy on Tuesday announced the dismissal of Cmdr. Charles Marquez from his Columbus job. Capt. Brian McIlvaine, former commander of the Trident submarine USS Ohio, will replace Marquez temporarily, the Navy said. A Navy statement said Capt. Scott Bawden decided to relieve Marquez of his duties on the Columbus because of concerns about his "ability to establish and maintain appropriate standards of professional conduct, provide the crew a safe, positive, professional environment in which to work, and maintain good order and discipline." A report completed on May 30 by an independent officer at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard here led to Marquez's dismissal. Bawden oversees Submarine Squadron 17 at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. The Columbus has been assigned to the base since September 2004 while undergoing an overhaul at the shipyard. Marquez may contest the decision in a written statement. Rear Adm. Frank Drennan, commander of Submarine Group 9 at Bangor, already has endorsed the administrative punishment. According to Navy personnel guidelines, it "has a serious affect on the officer's future naval career." In March, a sailor on the Columbus alleged he was the victim of hazing and assault, which led to an inquiry by Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Seven Columbus sailors were charged on April 14 in connection with the investigation. The victim reported to base security that he had rubbing alcohol poured on his clothes and then had them set on fire. He said he was hit on the head with a wrench and another sailor pointed a loaded gun at him more than once. The first criminal trials in the hazing case are scheduled to begin next week. Six sailors facing special courts-martial could receive a maximum penalty of one year in confinement, forfeiture of two-thirds pay for a year, reduction to the lowest pay grade and a bad-conduct discharge. A seventh sailor would see lesser penalties if convicted at summary court-martial, the least serious form of military trial. Marquez was commander of the Columbus since February 2005. The alleged abuse dates back to January 2005, according to Navy court documents. Lt. Cmdr. Shawn Nisbett, Columbus' second in command, was transferred off the sub after an April 21 arrest by Poulsbo police for driving under the influence. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #9 The effect is similar to a FAE explosion. There ain't much left. |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-06-15 16:11 |
| #8 Understatement of the Year nomination, and winner: "...it has a serious affect on the officer's future naval career." Ya think???? |
| Posted by: USN, ret. 2006-06-15 14:19 |
| #7 Marquez was commander of the Columbus since February 2005. The alleged abuse dates back to January 2005, . . . Sounds like the boat had major discipline issues, and the new guy did nothing about them. Certainly grounds for removing him from command. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-06-15 12:52 |
| #6 If the Associate Press doesn't like the news, they make up their own version of the news. |
| Posted by: JohnQ 2006-06-15 12:25 |
| #5 good catch grom. Also it looks as if the ship was in drydock since September 2004 while undergoing an overhaul at the shipyard. |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-06-15 12:03 |
| #4 Marquez was commander of the Columbus since February 2005. The alleged abuse dates back to January 2005, according to Navy court documents. ?????? |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-06-15 11:32 |
| #3 I know the Navy has rough initiations but this sounds like above and beyond. Hard to believe that the sailors would start a fire on a sub. I think that is the MOST feared incident because it eats oxygen, they have a limited ability to generate, and they are under water. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-06-15 11:29 |
| #2 The victim reported to base security that he had rubbing alcohol poured on his clothes and then had them set on fire. He said he was hit on the head with a wrench and another sailor pointed a loaded gun at him more than once. That's not hazing, that's assault, or hazing russian army style. |
| Posted by: anonymous5089 2006-06-15 11:19 |
| #1 Lt. Cmdr. Shawn Nisbett, Columbus' second in command, was transferred off the sub after an April 21 arrest by Poulsbo police for driving under the influence. I've hard of "running a tight ship" before, but I don't think that's the kind of "tight" we're looking for here. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-06-15 11:14 |