I’m Guessing a Short Career
Not trying to pick on the Navy, but – damn. Just . . . damn.
Headline gives the short version:
Naval Naval Academy grad charged with injuring 3 Disney cast members
If you’re wondering if alcohol was involved – yeah, the guy was reportedly pretty well trashed at the time of the incident. Sheesh.
Unfortunately, it gets even “better” when you read the article. The guy was apparently Dean’s List at the Naval Academy, long-snapped for the football team, and was attending flight school. Obviously he wasn’t a complete idiot. But he still got trashed and pulled this dumbass stunt. All I can do is shake my head and mutter a famous 3-letter acronym beginning with “W”.
Maybe he’s salvageable. But given today’s military climate, Ensign – I’m guessing it just might be a good idea to start working on a resume.
Category: "Teh Stoopid", Navy
Ensign? I should hope not. PO3, tops, plus obligatory 6 years active duty to pay the Navy back for his free education.
Lookin’ good Ensign, lookin’ real good!!!
I was a senior enlisted advisor at the Naval Academy for three years and some of those youngsters are world class drinkers. Unfortunately, they also become world class shitheads when drunk. Many times they get just a slap on the wrist at the academy and do not learn hard lessons until they enter the fleet and find out that acting like an idiot while intoxicated is not acceptable behavior.
I agree with you Jonn, time to dust off the old resume. Maybe Disney is hiring. I heard a couple of their workers are out with workman’s comp issues…..
“Well, I see on your resume that you graduated from Annapolis. Very impressive indeed. But… you list your dates of service as 2012-2014. Don’t service academy graduates usually incur a five-year active-duty commitment?”
“Umm…. You see, it’s like this…”
@3, he will be taken care of. The mystical society of the RING will see to it!!!
Ex-p, I think it depends on whether he was prior service or not. Iv’e known others who dropped who were allowed/required to revert back to enlisted to pay back the time. Hmm, article says he’s 23, so I’d guess no prior enlisted time… Hits a woman in the face with a three foot piece of PVC pipe? Damn, maybe a boot officer, but no gentleman. Who gets trashed at Epcot anyway? Ohh, Intl Food and WINE Festival. Damn look at that mug shot. He apparently ‘broke away’ from security and hurt his face somehow. Oops, wonder how that happened. Just Wow. Dean’s list and football player too. Nice career flush, dickweed.
P.S And forever famous on teh interwebz. Bet mommy’s proud jackazz.
“Salvageable”? After working someone over with a pipe? No. He was drunk, and he became dangerous. I want my tax money used to pay for people who THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS.
The career would only be salvageable if a woman had done that.
he’ll be put in charge of the nukes now!
@8 Really? Why? Woman get just as shitfaced and just as stupid as men when they’re drunk.
@5CWORet, I worked with a guy in the 1960s who had the appointment to the Naval Academy but did not have the math skills to keep going. He was dropped from the program, but still had his Selective Service obligation and was given an E-5 rating to finish out.
That’s why I said PO3 for this one, max, and he should definitely spend some quality time with female Boatswain’s Mates like Mom Shipley.
PintoNag: I’ve known a few folks with potential that simply couldn’t hold their liquor, and got absolutely stupid and out of control when liquored up. If you could get them to give up/stay away from the booze, they were productive.
Those types can be salvaged. But it requires a lifestyle change on their part.
In this case, whether he can be salvaged or not IMO is likely moot. I’d guess he’s likely not going to have the option of salvaging his Navy career.
I’m siding with the folks who think he is his-to-ree… he might have gotten away with just being drunk in pub-lick like Mr. White sez, but that pipe attack will probably wind up sounding like ADW on Snow White. It’s not that he won’t have a Naval career – he’s going to have fun getting a decent job anywhere. He may be salvageable… but as an employer, I would be a fool to bring a potential liability like that in my workplace. Say he falls off the wagon or has another incident even once – no employer’s liability insurance would touch it.
Ex-PH2: if the guy you knew was prior service before going to Annapolis, he may indeed have reverted to previous enlisted status because he had some remaining active duty obligation. However, if the guy you knew entered from civilian life but had started his 3rd academic year, he picked up a service obligation the day he did so. Cadets/Mids at the service academies who enter from civilian life start incurring an active duty obligation as soon as they begin their 3rd academic year – technically, when they attend their first class of the first term of their third academic year. That’s true whether they voluntarily resign or fail out after that point, or if they graduate and refuse a commission. If they do either of those, they can (and routinely are) ordered to active duty in an enlisted status to fulfill their commitment. I knew one guy who started his 3rd year at West Point, then decided to quit a few weeks into the term. He ended up serving as a PFC in the Army for a couple of years. Knew another guy who managed to fail out his last semester and didn’t graduate, even after summer school. I believe he ended up doing 3 years on active duty as a SP4. A key difference between them (and the guy you knew) and this guy is that they were never commissioned. This guy graduated and received his commission. It’s pretty difficult to pitch someone involuntarily during their first term once they’ve been commissioned. Generally, they have to be court-martialed (or be convinced to resign in lieu of court-martial) for that to happen. I’m pretty sure promotion to O2 is still a decentralized admin action. That means the first board to consider their file for promotion/”show cause” for retention is thus the O3 board – which typically occurs when an officer has got around 3 to 3 1/2 years of commissioned service. Most officers only have a 2 to 5 year initial service obligation. As a result, most end up completing their obligation, even if they screw up royally, unless they… Read more »
If he’s 23, drunk as a skunk and out of control, in all lilihood, he was 22, 21, 20, and 19–and, from time to time , drunk as a skunk and out of control. The value of what one loses to drugs or alcohol is usually unknown until he loses it.
I’m sure he took a ton of high-level academic courses at the Naval Academy. But he should have learned an important lesson from the wise sage Adam Sandler in “The Wedding Singer”….. “Alcohol equals puke, equals smelly mess, equals nobody likes you!”
AverageNCO: true. But that’s a lesson some folks have to learn the hard way – no matter how damn smart they are.
Anyone can learn from their own mistakes. However, a wise man/woman can also learn from the mistakes of others.
I did a few truly stupid things when I was young and ignorant. But I did manage to avoid going off the rails like this guy before I wised up.
@17 That makes two of us Hondo. I think if Jonn started an open thread on dumb things we’ve seen our buddies do while drunk…it would be a VERY LONG THREAD. This guy just seemed to combine bad decisions. 1. Get drunk in public. 2. Not just any public place, but friggin Disney World. 3. Didn’t seem to make sure he had a good wingman. 4. and the main thing is that he seems like an angry drunk. People seem to be forging of happy drunken stupidty. But angry/violent drunken stupidity seems to have much less tolerance.
In his defence we don’t know for certain that Mickey, Minnie and Donald weren’t terrorists. The man could be a hero.
Well, considering that it was 45 years ago when I knew that PH2, I’d have to guess that his 3rd year at Annapolis was what did him in academically. He said he didn’t get enough math at that level in high school, if I remember correctly.
That said, I do think some quality time following my suggestion would do this maroon some serious good. He doth appear to need the full effect of an angry bos’n telling him ‘No, that is NOT the way to tie that off, you !@#@$#%!! pantywaisted academy dickhead moron! Now take it apart and do it right.’
I’m not real crazy about hard liquor, although I have never been a teetotaler and have won money in drinking contests. However, even I know when to quit and enough to stay out of trouble. Apparently, this imbecile thought he was just above it all, no penalties, nothing applies to him, etc.
And this asshole was going to fly fighter jets on our tax dollars, people. Well, now he can spend some quality time chipping paint and buffing floors to redeem himself.
Oh, yeah – my niece, the Army nurse, went through college on a ROTC scholarship, full 4 years, and was obligated to 6 years active duty following college, which was at Walter Reed, then Ft. Hood, then Iraq, then Germany, and then back to Texas.
Boy, this butter bar really screwed the pooch, but…you never know how the “Ancient Order of the Ring Knocker” will address it. A lot of times, I was left scratching my head at the BS that some of those officers got away with.
Who gives a rats ass when he entered service? The boi done screwed the pooch. Maybe he best start looking at a truck driving career…or flipping burgers at Mickie D’s.
Dunno. It might depend on the Disney character. Anybody who would attack Snow White is obviously a sick puppy, but it’s not hard to understand how somebody might want to whack Donald Duck with a pipe. Or a crowbar.
Deputies said Hill appeared to be drunk as he resisted efforts to restrain him, yelled and made incoherent statements.
Well, since that sounds like most officers anyway-how can they be sure he was drunk?
lol that’s nothing. He should have killed somebody while drunk driving then he’d be elected as a senator.
Wow- what a bunch of O-bashing chairmandos. I mean really, is this anyway to talk about the future head of the NAA? (Naval Aviators Association)
Wait, is this 1981???
He’s getting a real head start learning ‘carrier landings’ IYKWIMAITTYD…
I’m still stunned they serve alcohol at a Disney establishment.
He will probably be atrited from flight training and sent to a ship as a black shoe to complete his requirement. The current requirement for O2 and O3 is “all fully qualified” but he’ll be behind his SWO (Surface Warfare Officer) classmates for qualifications aboard ship because of his time in flight school. If he keeps his nose clean and busts his ass as a SWO, he’ll be allowed to finish his commitment.
Alcohol related incident, violence among civillian employees and law enforcement, conduct unbecoming an officer…I think this guy’s chance to get in the astronaut program has been nixed.
NavCWORet: perhaps. Wouldn’t shock me if this results in him serving 5 yrs as an ENS, though.
Knew a guy once who managed to not make 1LT with his peers – in the early 1980s (I don’t think he ever did make 1LT, actually). Dunno the details, but he had to have “stepped on it” pretty hard.
This fool needs to do brig time.
Had a Sergeant in a fellow FIST Team when I was a 2nd LT / FSO who had been kicked out of USMA on an integrity violation.
Fast forward a year to 1999 and Bosnia and he got caught stealing stuff (PLGRs, binos, and a pistol) from several Officers.
He didn’t get a third chance.
It’s not his fault. Someone slipped him a Mickey. Pretty sad that it took this long for someone to post that lame ass joke, and sadder that it was me.
Does anyone know if the US ever signed a SOFA treaty with EPCOT Center?
Hondo, that’s the best he can hope for.
Possible UCMJ violations:
Art 82 – UA (if he spent time in jail when he was supposed to be at training)
Art 109 – damage to private property
Art 116 – Breach of peace
Art 128 – Assault
Art 133 – Conduct Unbecomming
Art 134 – Disorderly Conduct/drunkeness
Maximum punishments could include reprimand, total forfeiture of all pay and allowances, restriction for up to 2 months or confinement with hard labor at the USDB, and/or dismissal.
I predict at worse a fine and dismissal. No one got hurt and no real property was damaged. Just a public embarrassment for the Navy.
“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through the Navy, Ensign.” Admiral Wermer
@23
it’s not hard to understand how somebody might want to whack Donald Duck with a pipe. Or a crowbar
Goofy can be kind of a jerk, too.
Plus, didn’t Disney acquire the Star Wars franchise? What if the guy attacked Jar Jar Binks… would that be so wrong?
@27; I know they serve beer at Chuck E Cheese.
Guy can probably still get a job as a thug with the Obama administration; ATF, most likely.
“Austin DeVan Hill, 23, of Pensacola was charged with aggravated battery and two counts of battery after he punched two male workers in the head and struck a female with a plastic pipe in an area off-limits to guests, according to an arrest report.”
I HATE it when a guy hits me with a length of PVC in an area off limits to guests. I walk funny for a week.
Damn… if he could have kept it “together” for a year… he could have gone to Vegas for the Tailhook Convention and this “behavior” would have been OK! Wait-the Navy ruined that fun as well.
I’m guessing if you don’t have a big hell-raising convention to look forward to, Disney is the next best place?
Test.
@27–Most of the Florida properties serve alcohol. I spent a week there over the summer with the girlfriend and the kids. Only the Magic Kingdom didn’t have alcohol readily available–all the others (EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and of course Downtown Disney) served, although it was insanely expensive, as with all else there.
That being said, yeah, while it isn’t horribly far from P-cola to Orlando, and the Food and Wine Festival is kinda cool, seriously? How did he get back in those areas?
Dude needs to get chaptered out, and spend the rest of his time starting at E-3. He’s certainly nobody worth trusting with a burnt out match.
Post # 35, NavCWORet, touched up on what could happen to this clown.
He’s going to get an Article 15 (Captains Mast) for all or a combination of charges that NavCWORet pointed out. The punishments listed could be carried out. Best case scenario, the CO holding the mast could recommend that the proceedings “not” be held against his promotion or retention, and recommend his continued service.
He may end up getting removed from the flight program, and sent to another program.
Now, once he’s up for O2, his CO could review his record, and performance since then. He/She could then either sign off on his promotion, or initiate procedures needed for not recommending him for promotion. If this happens twice, and he doesn’t get promoted a second time, his going to get chaptered.
If he makes it past that point and gets promoted to O2, his Article 15 will rear its ugly head again when he’s up for 03. That will be a tough hole to dig out of… especially if he doesn’t hit the ground running if he’s given a second chance. He’s going to need some heavy hitters to vouch for his remaining on the promotion list.
If he gets removed from the promotion list twice, he’ll be released from active duty and he’ll start his reserve time, where he’ll face this same situation again.
Once again, he’ll be up for promotion, and that article 15 will rear its head each time he’s up for it. With his being twice failed for promotion, he’ll end up getting discharged.
If he’s given a second chance, he better hit the ground running, and simply be “shit hot” if he’s to improve his chances of staying in. Even then, his goose is cooked.
He needs to seriously get help for his anger management and alcohol issues, and to seriously consider what he wants to do after the Navy. As others here has suggested, he needs to start working on that resume… and hit the ground running in his civilian career.
@ CWO. I believe this guy is a bad officer, Period. Todays Navy will not permit him to serve any longer as an officer.
But then again, he could lawyer up and make this a med issue and salvage a bad career serving at a most undesirable location. He will not be sent to sea or a combatant command as he would get a clearance.
Would not get clearance.
The FAA licenses ALL pilots, including military pilots.
If you fly drunk, you’re grounded, maybe for good. This dude needs some serious counseling on anger management, and a long absence from alcohol. He has rather obvious issues with self control. Some quality time with a mop, a bucket and a buffer would do him good.
Also, how the hell did he get into the ‘back entry’ areas of Disney World? How many children did he run over roughshod on his little rampage?
I can answer the “cast only” areas. I almost used the “back entry” phrase, but I figured I’d not go there. Not in this crowd…
Anyways… All over EPCOT, and the other WDW parks, there are numerous unmarked doors. Some obvious, others not so much. If you get past them, you enter an entirely different world. Not as pretty as what the guests see, more utilitarian. That’s where all the behind the scenes work happens. Replenishment of the sundry stores, cast break areas, etc.
He’s lucky he didn’t get down in the tunnels. He might have gotten seriously hurt. Strange things happen there…
Tunnels? Strange things?
Oh, now, I’m in it!! Is that where Maleficent’s ravens flock? Is it an oubliette? Did the Wicked Queen really mix her potions on the set, or were they hidden in those tunnels? Is the Headless Horseman running a tavern down there in the bowels of WDW?
Not that strange. It’s where all the electrical, plumbing, etc are located. It’s also how the cast get around unseen. It wouldn’t be good for multiple snow whites to be seen simultaneously.