Two more officers gone; How do we get them to trust us?
I feel some more navel gazing from the Department of Defense is on the schedule. Rear Admiral Rick Williams, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 15 watched pRon for nine hours while his sailors were training, according to the Navy Times.
All sailors go through regular computer training, particularly before getting underway, and Williams’ story shocked many who thought he should have known better.
“Senior naval officers, especially those in command, are expected to uphold unimpeachable personal, moral and ethical standards,” Rear Adm. Russell Allen, deputy 3rd Fleet commander, wrote in his findings of fact. “Rear Adm. Williams’ personal violation of those standards, as detailed in this investigation, suggests he may have difficulty upholding those standards in the personnel he leads.”
So he got fired for violating a lawful order and conduct unbecoming an officer. To his credit, he admitted the violation when confronted by investigators. If you’re interested, he seemed to be looking for videos with “cuck” in the title.
Over at the Army Times, they report that Colonel James Laughrey has been sentenced to eight years in prison for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor and for making and possessing child pRonography.
Laughrey pleaded guilty to 10 specifications and asked to be tried by military judge alone, according to information from the Military District of Washington.
The judge accepted Laughrey’s plea, and the prosecuting attorneys dismissed the remaining charges and specifications.
In all, Laughrey faced up to 91 years confinement, total forfeiture of pay and allowances and dismissal.
The judge sentenced him to eight years confinement and dismissal from the Army. Laughrey will automatically forfeit all pay and allowances because he was sentenced to more than six months confinement, officials said.
“How do we get them to trust us?” was the question they asked each other when the services assembled a group of officers in Colorado Springs to “clean up misconduct in the ranks”. I hope there were a lot mirrors in the room during the discussion so those officers would see where the problem lies.
Category: Big Pentagon
Well, the Col should have just explained to the judge that this was part of his culture and they would have let him go scot-free.
Isn’t that what they do in Afghanistan?
Hope he rots in jail.
see below….
FWIW, While at the Army War College (class of 08), the dear Colonel wrote “Know Before You Go: Improving Army Officer Sociocultural Knowledge”
guess it didn’t take.
When the “O” community – especially the flag and general officer communities – are serious about holding their counterparts accountable to the same standards as the Enlisted community (to include punishment), it will be the first step in stopping such behavior and restoring trust.
As for the two “officers”… nail their asses to the wall to send a message. They got stupid and committed crimes according to the UCMJ, make them pay for it!
Now if it had been gay porn…there’d be medals involved.
Holden
Well, I’m not holdin’ my breath on even that one.
There might’ve been convictions and then presidential pardons after the fact though.
..and a WH rose garden press conference
Such “research” would fall under ““Know Before You Go: Improving Army Officer Sociocultural Knowledge” doncha know.
9 hours watching? Did he take 3 viagra? Even in my 20s I don’t think I did a 9 hour sitting of porn watching.
Maybe he should have a job IN porn if he can watch that much at once? Since by the time he’s out that might be the only job he can get anyway.
I’m no IT guy, but how could someone surf the internet and look at pRon when those sort of sights are typically blocked? Aren’t all computer assets controlled by NMCI?
(As I understand it, RADM Williams accessed sites while underway on the USS Boxer. It’s been awhile since I’ve been on ship, so I presumed similar computer access controls exist there as they do on dry land).
Assuming there was some effort at blocking there are a whole lot of proxies out there. With a proxy the user’s browser gets it content from/via the proxy. Think of it as peeking through a keyhole. Everyone can see the keyhole however only those who peek through can see the, well, use your imagination…
As an IT guy… Let me tell you: there is a way around ANY safeguard. We do our best, but for every method we block, the pr0n industry (and consumers) come up with twenty methods around. It all boils down to personal accountability.
8 hours? Well, I have to give the man credit for endurance.
So, from the sounds of it he likes to watch other men with his wife, or at lest has a fetish for it. I hope she knows about it.
There are two kinds of men that do not surf porn. Dead ones and liars. We can’t have porn surfers out killing the enemy, that would just be wrong.
We need God fearing, fuck in the dark, 5 minute wonders with no imagination killing the enemy. Honestly, who actually gives a shit?
If he sends me a pic of the spousal unit I might be able to help him out. Hell, if he kills enough of the enemy I might talk mine into giving him a throw.
I might get 8 hours of undisturbed sleep.
Thats what I love about Jonn. He gives me these opportunities to expand my cultural diversity.
I had no idea that a Cuckold is a bird watcher. Maybe he was pumping up for Rear Admiral and polishing his knowledge of aviary wisdom.
I bet the porn just accidentally popped up.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuckold
I don’t really have a problem with anyone watching pR0n either, DH. That’s not my beef with the Admiral.
My beef is that he was a very senior official, presumably in command and with GCM convening authority, who was deliberately and knowingly violating DoD regulations and the UCMJ. Part of his duties included enforcing DoD regulations and the UCMJ within his command, along with holding subordinates accountable for violating DoD regulations and the UCMJ.
Yeah, I have a problem with the latter two. Even when one thinks DoD regulations and the UCMJ are ludicrous, those charged with enforcing them are not excused from obeying same.
I understand that too. Just seems so obviously ridiculous to end a career over it.
“Lack of Judgement” is being used to protract straw man arguments to justify punishment that severe.
Maybe he should have just stuck a cigar in an intern, that apparently has no repercussions….
HAHAHAHA, the rules do not apply to the Commander in Chief.
He can make his own porn, why watch it?
“How do we get them to trust us?”
Well, these two cases are at least a start. Acceptable behavior is expected of those in senior positions, and should be demanded of them. When things don’t work out that way, then those guilty need to be disciplined accordingly.
8 years and dismissal (equivalent of a DD for an officer) plus automatic full forfeitures and mandatory post-release registration as a sex offender seems at least in the right range for the COL – maybe a touch light since kiddie pR0n and pedophilia was involved, but I can live with it.
But I’ll reserve full judgement until we see at what paygrade the “good Admiral” retires. IMO he needs to be forced to retire lose at least one star for this little escapade – in my book, it’s certainly evidence he did not “serve successfully” at his last paygrade. But if he doesn’t lose at least a star, well, . . . .
The child porn guy should get everything he deserves.
Some officer surfing porn getting tossed out is a bit much.
I guess my distinction between the two is not important to many. Child porn is one thing…loading up on adult porn before deployment is another.
I really just do not get it. Ok, so he probably should not have used a Gov computer. So what? Destroy his career over it? Nah, I dont think so.
I get very tired of this public social condemnation of sexual fantasy. Hell of a way to end a mans career.
For the record, I surf porn all the time. I am going to do extensive research into this Cuckold thing. The spousal unit might even play along.
Had the guy had the good sense to (1) procure a $120 tablet, and (2) a couple of large-ish (32GB) thumbdrives or memory cards and fill them with pR0n before disbarking, he wouldn’t have been in this predicament. A RADM or RDML easily can afford that. And I’d personally have had zero objections to that. Humans are, after all . . . human.
However: DoD has said “no pR0n” on DoD networks and/or computers. Whether that makes any sense or not is irrelevant, just like it’s irrelevant whether prohibiting blackmarketing in Korea in the 1980s made sense or not.
And if the guy in charge won’t/can’t obey or enforce standing DoD policy, then he doesn’t need to be the guy in charge.
He could have used his cell phone for that matter.
Again, protracting this breech of judgement into a comparison of black-marketing in Korea is non sequitur.
He committed an offense under the UCMJ. No doubt of that. Making a leap by equating it to child pornography or black marketing is the issue I am addressing.
Holding that kind of position is not tenable. Letter of reprimand, surely. Ending a career, no.
No individual “in Charge” conducts themselves without flaw. If his career was ended because he visited this site and was not supposed to I would be equally outraged.
Mention “Porn” and everyone goes ape shit.
For a senior officer I am thinking a letter of reprimand IS a career ender, regardless of what it is for. The essential question is whether he loses his retirement in the process.I think we are on the same page – I can see that he needs to go away, but I am not sure whether his offense is such that his retirement should be jeopardized. The one star idea is probably appropriate.
Re the comment about every male watching it: as I have said for over 30 years: The only difference between a Man and a Dog is that a Man admits he’s a Dog.
His retirement will not be jeopardized. He went to Captain’s Mast (equivalent in USA/USAF: GO Article 15). He will retire, since as a RDML/RADM presumably he has 20+ years of active service. However, he may be retired at lower than his current grade.
You are correct that a formal reprimand given to a senior officer that’s placed in their official file is a career-ender. It’s been my experience that it generally has the same effect on more junior officers as well as senior NCOs unless successfully rebutted.
This guy is done, Hondo.
To make the cut to be assigned as the commander of a Carrier Strike Group and then pull something like this is simply not survivable for a USN Flag officer. And it’s highly unlikely that any of his peers/superiors are going to close ranks and stick their necks out to try to protect this guy in today’s environment.
Recent disciplinary events within the Navy would indicate that the RDML will most likely be required to “show cause” for retention on active duty in the Navy, which the Navy will almost certainly reject, and then he’ll probably be retired at the last rank in which he served honorably.
I’m betting that he goes out the door into retirement as a CAPT/O-6.
Mick: depends on whether he’s RDML or RADM. If the former, you’re correct – he’ll likely retire as a CAPT. If the latter, he’ll likely retire as RDML unless the incidents of misconduct span both paygrades.
Since he was CSG CO, my guess is that he was a RADM. But I don’t know for certain either way.
Concur.
His current official USN biography shows him as a one-star, but that bio hasn’t been updated since 28 July 2015, so it’s possible that he could’ve picked up another star in the meantime.
I will concede that is probably true. Sadly, it will end a senior officers career.
The man should have had better sense.
Cell phone screens are kinda small for viewing . . . family pictures. (smile)
Actually, DH, it IS the exact same offense.
Blackmarketing in Korea was a violation USFK regulations. It was therefore a violation of UCMJ Article 92 – failure to obey lawful order or regulation. It didn’t make any damn difference that the regulation against same had long outlived its actual intent (protect the South Korean economy so they could develop economically to Western standards). It was still on the books.
Viewing pR0n on DoD computers appears to violate published DoD policy and/or instructions. It thus appears to violate the exact same UCMJ article, for much the same reason (as well as other UCMJ articles – in this case, Articles 133 and 134 for starters).
Doesn’t matter whether one thinks a reg’s stupid or not, until changed it’s still the reg. Compliance isn’t optional.
I completely agree. What I rake exception to is the lack of a mechanism that should have been used to reprimand/punish the offense without ending the mans career.
I was guilty of too many violations of the UCMJ during my career. All of which were more severe than surfing porn.
The man deserved an opportunity to redeem himself. Just like I was given, and did. There are some walking around without teeth because of my violations, I am missing a few myself because of it.
Surfing Cuckold wed sites harmed nobody, it showed a moment of poor judgement.
The manner in which these things get handled simply needs to change. I am just adding my voice to that cause.
We’ll have to agree to disagree, DH.
The amount of “slack” that’s appropriate for a Private – or even for a Sergeant – is substantially larger than that for a GO/FO with 20+ years experience.
Senior leadership has many prerogatives, and much latitude to affect – and even judge – others. But they should accordingly be themselves held to a much more stringent standard.
“For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”
It’s ok Hondo, I agree that we disagree. You have a right to be wrong.
No worries, its not the first time you were wrong. I can accept that not everyone can be right.
Much respect brother, Semper Fi.
How do we get them to trust us?
Here’s a novel notion, maybe if these officers stop being lying sacks of shit who regularly provide cover and egress for other lying sacks of shit it might be less obvious to everyone with more than 4 functional brain cells that some of these rat bastard, son of a bitches were worthy of trust.
The fact that many of these officers lack the testicular fortitude to tell the truth to authority when it’s their duty to protect and serve those under their command is indicative of the reality of current risk aversion career management.
It’s becoming quite clear that the most important aspect these days for officers isn’t necessarily the troops, it’s their own careers and safe path to retirement. Perhaps as Jonn said they could spend a few minutes thinking about the effect that has on the troops that are supposed to trust their leaders to look out for them. Creating an environment where speaking truth to authority isn’t a career killer isn’t easy, but it’s imperative for senior officers to have that ability and perhaps for mid-level officers as well.
Dissent isn’t necessarily disobedience, one of the best commanders I ever had told me that he didn’t mind hearing alternative options from his subordinates and he welcomed our input, we just had to understand if he disagreed with those options it wasn’t personal especially in matters of opinion versus matters of fact.
I served with some fine Officers, both Naval and Marine. I am sure you have too.
I bounced a SNCO off so gear lockers and held him over the railing of the side of the ship. I was busted to Cpl for that by a BLT commander that didn’t know me from Adam.
A Navy Captain named Fred Olds stepped in. CO of the USS Austin at the time. He knew that guy needed his ass kicked. Fred was old school. He made it known in no hidden way the BLT Commander a Lt Col had fucked up.
Six months later I was a SSgt.
I owe that fact to a Navy Captain that stood his ground with a senior Marine officer. I would have walked backwards off the fan tail if Capt Olds asked me to. Still will.
There are some shit birds out there. Officers included, we both served with them too. Respect is earned, not mandated by rank.
Semper Fi.
I think the Admiral should have just brought some of his own pRon onboard like everyone else….well we used to.
The other guy? Summary Execution for that shit.
This is what happens when you binge watch Season 1 of Salute My Flagpole: Ensign Chicks Do Their Duty…
Let me see if I follow this. Two male officers are married in the USNA chapel. They then go on a honeymoon where, after some ball grabbing and kissing, one sticks his Richard in the other guy’s Asbestos. Maybe they receive a congratulatory letter from, say, Rear Adm. Russell Allen. A couple of female officers get married in the USNA chapel. They then go on a honeymoon where, after some rubbing and kissing, one loads up the strap-on and boinks the other. They, too, receive a congratulatory letter. A presumably heterosexual male officer watches porn all alone and thus fails to uphold the high moral and ethical standards required to be met by Navy officers. Is that about right?
Can’t help chuckling the pun you wrote, 2/17 Air Cav reference the two male officers married in the USNA chapel:
” Rear Admiral”.
😉
The hits keep on coming.
This in today’s WP, worth the read.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/local/marine/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_marine%3Ahomepage%2Fstory
2/17 Air Cav
Great summation.
494th mech
Child Porn as well as inappropriate touching? I hope he does every day of his sentence. I feel nothing for him. Nothing …
I think the Admiral took the Naval phrase “Thar she blows” a bit too literally