COVID and the Military

[SPIT]

Hi
What I want to know IF there is a lock down in the UK will Military Aircraft ie: RAF or NATO be allowed to fly???
:confused:

[Bob Viking]

All UK military aircraft will be grounded and our skies left completely undefended.

Warning: this message may not reflect official government policy.

BV🤪

[pr00ne]

Snort. Cough. Giggle.

[VinRouge]

If commercial airliners are not grounded, why would the military? At the moment, it’s only passengers that can’t fly.

[Capt Scribble]

Trips around the Bay of Biscay anyone?

[ORAC]

Let’s face it - FL500+ in a Typhoon is as about as physically separated from other people as you can get......

[Kiltrash]

OP is a Ruskie spy / Newshound. Wanting easy research into UK ltd defences.
After all the Russians have not stopped football matches so why would their Air Force

[AnglianAV8R]

Snort. Cough. Giggle.

I call your hand and raise you a chortle

[Trumpet trousers]

Hi
What I want to know IF there is a lock down in the UK will Military Aircraft ie: RAF or NATO be allowed to fly???
:confused:
Maybe, maybe not.....but Operation Deny Easter can’t be far away.....

[SPIT]

Hi
Re my it should have read WOULD not WILL. That will teach me not to put things on the site WITHOUT PREVIEWING IT.

[VinRouge]

Please dont shout. Ive got a headache and a high temperature.

[Bob Viking]

Too much Vin Rouge?

Do you see what I did there?!

BV🤣

[DODGYOLDFART]

In November 1957 most of the UK military fell foul of the Asian Flu epidemic. Many RAF stations were forced to close as the Sick Quarters and medics became overwhelmed. I was serving at Church Fenton (not a happy place) on night fighters at the time when the station closed down almost completely for several weeks. I was one of the lucky ones who get sent home fully fit but went down with flu the day before I was due to return and had a further two weeks recuperating.

Anyone still around with memories from those heady days?

[unclenelli]

As it's a mainly respiritory virus, could it be down to Vaping cheap chinese e-liquids....?
Every day I see clouds of steam in high-streets and emitted from vehicles that are far bigger in size that a tobacco exhale!

Is this the nail in the coffin for vaping and a tax-relief for Govt Tobacco revenue???

[PPRuNeUser0211]

As it's a mainly respiritory virus, could it be down to Vaping cheap chinese e-liquids....?
Every day I see clouds of steam in high-streets and emitted from vehicles that are far bigger in size that a tobacco exhale!

Is this the nail in the coffin for vaping and a tax-relief for Govt Tobacco revenue???

No, it would be down to the COVID-19 virus that is transmitted via contact, surface contamination and airborne droplets. If you're stupid enough to be sharing an e-cigarette then you're probably going to get it (from somewhere else).

[ORAC]

https://www.nellis.af.mil/About/Press-Releases/Display/Article/2118861/confirmed-covid-19-case-at-nellis-afb/

Confirmed COVID-19 case at Nellis AFB

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. – A NATO service member at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., has tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). This is the first confirmed case at Nellis.

The service member, who was at the base for Red Flag 20-2, entered isolation at the time of symptom onset and will remain in isolation in accordance with CDC protocols. The service member has received medical treatment.

We are following CDC guidance for personnel who had close contact with the affected individual.

Flight operations for Red Flag 20-2 had already concluded and participating personnel are in the process of returning to their home stations.

Nellis AFB continues to work closely with our federal, state, and local health officials to ensure our detection and response efforts are coordinated. Nellis AFB leadership will constantly monitor the situation and provide additional information as it becomes available.

[alf5071h]

With recent renewed interest in anti malarial drugs involving quinine, the military should encourage more drinking of G & T.

The tonic for health benefit (quinine), and the gin as an alcohol wipe; as least for the lips, mouth, and throat.

[Herod]

DODGYOLDFART. Anyone still around with memories from those heady days?

I were now't but a kid in those days, still at primary school in Australia. A couple of weeks not feeling very well, as I recall. I wonder if it gave us any immunity against this thing? (Yes, I know this isn't a flu, but we can hope).

[TEEEJ]

Hi
What I want to know IF there is a lock down in the UK will Military Aircraft ie: RAF or NATO be allowed to fly???
:confused:

Of course not! Most Aircrew will be re-assigned for this vital role (Or is it vital roll?)

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x660/etcydgrxqaaw10m_68adaeaca42025b3ba7ea46f33445746b7c2adce.jpg

[pontifex]

HEROD

On 24/1957 I had just had my first flight in a T33 at RCAF Gimli and had fallen in love with jets. Next day I felt a bit rough (didn't imbibe then) but just had to get back in the jet. Next morning collapsed when shaving and woke up in a bed in the corridor of sick quarters two days later. It was then 3 months before I got back into the bird. It had been thought that I had knackered my heart and I very nearly didn't make it. I was young and stupid but it taught me a lesson.

When I got back home the RAF insisted that the Canadians couldn't teach us to fly so I had to suffer the Vampire T11. Chalk and cheese! I still drool at the remembrance of the Tbird.

[golder]

Just take it easy guys, it's getting crazy out here. Stay safe

https://twitter.com/i/status/1241094010804019200

[pr00ne]

golder,

Thank you!

[ORAC]

Thought I’d make it a generic thread. Bound to be outbreaks across numerous countries and services.

https://eu.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/03/27/several-more-cases-uss-theodore-roosevelt-docks-guam/2920776001/

23 positive COVID-19 cases from USS Theodore Roosevelt, patients isolated on Guam

There are at least 23 people from the USS Theodore Roosevelt who tested positive for COVID-19, according to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero.

The aircraft carrier has docked on Guam and testing is underway for the crew, according to officials. There are more than 5,000 aboard the ship and there are about 800 testing kits available with more on the way, Navy officials said Friday.

On Wednesday, four sailors who tested positive for the coronavirus were medically evacuated from the carrier to Naval Hospital Guam. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said at a Pentagon news briefing on Friday that several more cases have been identified.

"There were three initial. There were five more that were being flown off the ship," Modly said. "And then there are several others that are in isolation right now and, as I said, the ship is going to be pulling into Guam and they're going to figure out from there who needs to come off, who can stay on looking at the level of symptoms and things like that."

Leon Guerrero said that the ship docked at the furthest dock from the port, and the USS Roosevelt crew will be restricted to the pier. “Please be assured that we are containing the situation,” Leon Guerrero said. "I am assured by (Joint Region Marianas Commander Rear Admiral John Menoni) that no sailors will be out of the base," she said. "They won't even go to the base. They are just quarantined in the pier area." ......

[chopper2004]

https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2020/03/airbus-realises-new-face-mask-supplies-to-support-europes-fight-against-covid19.html


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1875x1084/e660554e_0fb5_40e4_baa6_5be97b548aa8_66ed1c11a349695fd69ed2c bed83e7a7ca845f8c.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1200/a28971d0_a1eb_469d_aac7_144e69ba5968_93a43f213ef9b34976b94b0 02bbffad6c577abbe.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1080/5720dc5a_f687_46ad_8301_28cec565ad7e_1682c6b0f431a2c287ff83e 16889c6812efaa615.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1280x854/fbaad0b8_db5a_4043_aa6c_f39774352163_ca06df497eff673fee23fc0 7733edb081f380f35.jpeg

[NutLoose]

From the Guardian off my phone

Downing Street officials have also said they are prepared to use the RAF to repatriate British nationals stuck overseas if commercial flights cannot be found. “Our priority is commercial flights, but we do not rule out exceptional means if necessary,” said one.

[racedo]

Makes more sense to stay where you bloody well are.

[Islandlad]

Makes more sense to stay where you bloody well are.
Agree. How much warning did people need before taking their holiday, then wanting help to get back?

[just another jocky]

Agree. How much warning did people need before taking their holiday, then wanting help to get back?
100% hindsight is a cheap science.

​​​​​​

[Islandlad]

100% hindsight is a cheap science.

​​​​​​
Are you one of the people trying to get back from a 2 week holiday? Started 3 weeks ago. How much warning would you think they needed?
Now calling on vital resources which are needed else where.

[hunterboy]

What does it cost to send a C17 or similar out to say Peru to bring back a load of Brits? Does the FCO charge them? Probably cheaper to find an AirBnB for them there and pay the bill for 2 months.

[racedo]

What does it cost to send a C17 or similar out to say Peru to bring back a load of Brits? Does the FCO charge them? Probably cheaper to find an AirBnB for them there and pay the bill for 2 months.

There were 2 777-200ER sent from Gatwick to Lima this morning.

Personally would stay where I was, assumming host Govt was happy, find a place and sit it out. WTF would I want to come back and fight them on the beaches, fight them on the streets, fight them in the toilet roll aisles. Might as well die in place on holidays rather than in UK where Drs can't look after you and hospitals are overrun with disease.

[Helena Handbasket]

In November 1957 most of the UK military fell foul of the Asian Flu epidemic. Many RAF stations were forced to close as the Sick Quarters and medics became overwhelmed. I was serving at Church Fenton (not a happy place) on night fighters at the time when the station closed down almost completely for several weeks. I was one of the lucky ones who get sent home fully fit but went down with flu the day before I was due to return and had a further two weeks recuperating.

Anyone still around with memories from those heady days?
I was a spotty 16 year old apprentice at Locking. The powers that be thought the best solution was to put 3 tier bunks in a few wooden billets and see how many people they could jam in. It was the same principle as a leper colony. We must have been pretty resilient. We all survived .

[ORAC]

https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-navy-theodore-roosevelt-coronavirus-positive

More sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt test positive for coronavirus, officials say

More sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier currently in the western Pacific have tested positive for coronavirus (https://www.foxnews.com/category/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus) and officials fear the number will continue to rise.

There are now 38 Navy sailors who have been infected with COVID-19, U.S. officials told Fox News on Sunday.

Early last week, there were only three known cases aboard the massive warship (https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-navy-sailors-theodore-roosevelt-test-positive-coronavirus) with a crew of 5,000. It marked the first U.S. naval vessel at sea to have infected people onboard.......

”We expect additional positive tests," Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations, said in a statement Thursday. Gilday says none of the sailors infected so far are "seriously ill."...... So far, no pilots on the ship have been infected, officials say.......

It's not clear if the virus has spread to any of the destroyer escorts in the group since leaving San Diego in early January. Deploying with the carrier is the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill and guided-missile destroyers Russell, Paul Hamilton, Pinckney, Kidd and Rafael Peralta. Most of those warships, armed with hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles, will remain at sea while the carrier is moored in Guam -- a stop that could be weeks long, officials say......

The Navy's only other carrier in the western Pacific also has cases of the virus onboard, Fox News first reported Friday. The Japan-based USS Ronald Reagan is in port right now, and the two sailors who tested positive are no longer on board, according to officials. The positive cases were discovered Friday and forced the naval base located an hour outside Tokyo to be locked down over the weekend, with thousands of American sailors ordered to remain on the ship for 48-hours.

The virus has also spread to an Air Force base in Okinawa, Japan, with at least three known positive cases reported.

[pr00ne]

With nearly every single UK airliner grounded and therefore available, why on earth would the RAF need to carry out repatriation flights?

[just another jocky]

Are you one of the people trying to get back from a 2 week holiday? Started 3 weeks ago. How much warning would you think they needed?
Now calling on vital resources which are needed else where.

No, we got back last week.

Why are you acting like such a dick?

Maybe it's not acting. :ok:

[just another jocky]

There were 2 777-200ER sent from Gatwick to Lima this morning.

Personally would stay where I was, assumming host Govt was happy, find a place and sit it out. WTF would I want to come back and fight them on the beaches, fight them on the streets, fight them in the toilet roll aisles. Might as well die in place on holidays rather than in UK where Drs can't look after you and hospitals are overrun with disease.

Doesn't that depend on where you are, whether you believe law and order are likely to be maintained, that food and other essential resources will remain available, that you can afford whatever extra it is costing, that hospitals are likely to be able to look after you and that you can ignore the near-overwhelming natural need to be back with your family?

As an aside, if there is one thing that this crisis has polarised, it's the rush to judge.

[Islandlad]

Pandemic declared by WHO on 12 March 2020 following major world wide disruption.

29 March UK Govt having to 'rescue' people still on their jollies :rolleyes:

Last 3 days of March significant resources being used and deflected from vital work at home.

It is unlikely we will ever know if there are additional casualties as a result of such selfish actions in the last month :=

[racedo]

Doesn't that depend on where you are, whether you believe law and order are likely to be maintained, that food and other essential resources will remain available, that you can afford whatever extra it is costing, that hospitals are likely to be able to look after you and that you can ignore the near-overwhelming natural need to be back with your family?

As an aside, if there is one thing that this crisis has polarised, it's the rush to judge.

IF you are worried about whether law and order can be maintained then you have to wonder why the hell you went on holidays there in the first place.

I believe if forced to stay the Foreign Office should support within reason V putting on aircraft to get people home.

As for hospitals being able to look after you.............. they aren't in the UK at the moment. There is a 1-8 list of who likely to be saved and unhealthy, unfit and obese then chances v someone young, fit and healthy are not good.

Peru <900 cases and 18 deaths, UK 20,000 cases 1300 dead........................

[dctyke]

Cranwell in the news

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/raf-cranwell-disobeying-lockdown!-rules-3997405 (https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/raf-cranwell-disobeying-lockdown-rules-3997405)

[just another jocky]

Things have moved on apace, it's easy to forget that a couple of weeks ago we were all congregating, brushing shoulders in supermarkets that had shelves fully stocked etc. So it's a bit out of order to claim that folk who were out of the country (could also be on business or holidays longer than 2 weeks) should have known what was to come. Even governments with their scientific advisors didn't really know that a few weeks ago and if they did, most weren't being fully open about it, so go easy on those poor folk that were away when it started to ramp up. Many may also not have had the financial flexibility to change their travel plans.

[racedo]

Things have moved on apace, it's easy to forget that a couple of weeks ago we were all congregating, brushing shoulders in supermarkets that had shelves fully stocked etc. So it's a bit out of order to claim that folk who were out of the country (could also be on business or holidays longer than 2 weeks) should have known what was to come. Even governments with their scientific advisors didn't really know that a few weeks ago and if they did, most weren't being fully open about it, so go easy on those poor folk that were away when it started to ramp up. Many may also not have had the financial flexibility to change their travel plans.

I don't disagree as that is a reasonable position. Rather than spending significant amounts of money and potentially infecting people on a flight back then "stay put" in the short term, aided by Embassy personnel in country seems also realistic position.

Bringing 200 people who could be infected by 2 people on a flight adds to NHS. Where as keeping them where ever they are isolated / safe and providing them with funds to see it out limits potential spread. China worried about people bringing it back in now in flights from Europe.

I have zero criticism of what people have done on holiday, it is their choice but asking them to stay away and providing support in doing so is a probably more realistic option. Some will complain poor FiFi the cat will be stuck in kennels for a month longer. In the whole scheme of things bringing people back into a country where the virus is still growing does not make a lot of sense.

[just another jocky]

I don't disagree as that is a reasonable position. Rather than spending significant amounts of money and potentially infecting people on a flight back then "stay put" in the short term, aided by Embassy personnel in country seems also realistic position.

Bringing 200 people who could be infected by 2 people on a flight adds to NHS. Where as keeping them where ever they are isolated / safe and providing them with funds to see it out limits potential spread. China worried about people bringing it back in now in flights from Europe.

I have zero criticism of what people have done on holiday, it is their choice but asking them to stay away and providing support in doing so is a probably more realistic option. Some will complain poor FiFi the cat will be stuck in kennels for a month longer. In the whole scheme of things bringing people back into a country where the virus is still growing does not make a lot of sense.

If it was Oz or NZ or another civilised country, I'd agree (indeed my stepdaughter is on her gap year in Oz and we have encouraged her to stay put) but there are many other countries in the world I would not want to be stuck in.

Of course testing of individuals prior to repatriation would be a good idea so that no-one suspected of being infected got on board but then the tests don't seem to be that effective (~75%) but as long as anyone returning went into strict self-isolation for the minimum necessary period, I'm not sure it would be so difficult. BA are still flying, as are Qantas and a few others and I'm sure they've completed their due diligence so I guess it's up to them, not a bunch of bored keyboard warriors.

[OmegaV6]

Well written article on the BBC news pages explaining why it is such a problem ... essentially .. no-one has a magic wand !!

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52093009

[ehwatezedoing]

Are you one of the people trying to get back from a 2 week holiday? Started 3 weeks ago. How much warning would you think they needed?
Now calling on vital resources which are needed else where.
A bit of a crass comment there...
Following your train of thought we should also leave those cruise ships offshore to deal with their on board pandemic's problem alone correct!?

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Looks like the USN have now lost operational capability of the USS Reagan and the USS Theodore Roosevelt.due to Covid19 infection on board. Steaming for port. Let's hope nobody fancies invading Taiwan.

WWW

[wiggy]

Pandemic declared by WHO on 12 March 2020 following major world wide disruption.

29 March UK Govt having to 'rescue' people still on their jollies :rolleyes:

Last 3 days of March significant resources being used and deflected from vital work at home.

It is unlikely we will ever know if there are additional casualties as a result of such selfish actions in the last month :=

So..... given the loads on many commercial flights into the UK were prior to all this kicking off just how easy do you think it would be for every Mr and Mrs Bloggs, perhaps on multi week holidays, to change travel plans and get seats on an earlier flight back to the UK?

Not everybody has been selfish, some people have been left stranded despite their best effort to get home quite some time ago...

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Not good,

https://twitter.com/aviation_intel/status/1245084648599781376?s=21


https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32824/sailors-do-not-need-to-die-captain-of-covid-19-plagued-carrier-pleads-to-bring-crew-ashore

WWW

[ORAC]

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Exclusive-Captain-of-aircraft-carrier-with-15167883.php

Exclusive: Captain of aircraft carrier with growing coronavirus outbreak pleads for help from Navy

The captain of a nuclear aircraft carrier with more than 100 sailors infected with the coronavirus pleaded Monday with U.S. Navy officials for resources to allow isolation of his entire crew and avoid possible deaths in a situation he described as quickly deteriorating.........

[etudiant]

Given the tight crew space allocation on military ships, any CoV infection will spread rapidly. So these ships are crippled.
Meanwhile, the Navy's 2 hospital ships have been sent to help NYC and San Diego. Maybe that will be reconsidered.

[rattman]

Given the tight crew space allocation on military ships, any CoV infection will spread rapidly. So these ships are crippled.
Meanwhile, the Navy's 2 hospital ships have been sent to help NYC and San Diego. Maybe that will be reconsidered.

The navy ships are pretty zero use in a covid outbreak because of exactly the same reason. My understanding is that they are there to take the pressure off ER by taking the coventional ER cases allowing the a land based ones to a concentrate on covid. The hospital are setup and equiped for combat injuries so disease control would be somewhat limited

[ORAC]

https://www.defensenews.com/news/coronavirus/2020/04/01/pacific-fleet-commander-outlines-plans-for-containing-outbreak-on-carrier-roosevelt/

Pacific Fleet Commander outlines plans for containing outbreak on carrier Roosevelt

Hours after a leaked letter from the Commanding Officer of the embattled carrier Theodore Roosevelt pleading for more support from the Navy leaked to the public, the head of U.S. Pacific Fleet told reporters he is working as fast as he can to get a plan in place to rotate sailors off the ship.

In the letter, Capt. Brett Crozier said he needed to get the bulk of the crew off the ship and into quarantine on Guam, where the carrier pulled this weekend, arguing that it would be impossible to contain the spread otherwise. “Sailors do not need to die,” Crozier wrote in the letter. “If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors.”

But in remarks Tuesday evening Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. John Aquilino told reporters on a conference call that he has to balance the security and safety of the carrier with measures to protect the crew.

“Some people want to compare a cruise liner to a ship, let me tell you there are no comparisons,” Aquilino said, making reference to the Diamond Princess cruise liner outbreak, an incident cited by Crozier in his letter. “There are requirements that I have to protect that ship. I need to be able to run the reactors, fight fires, do damage control, feed the crew that’s aboard: All those things are a requirement. And the team that’s aboard is working through how to do that while at the same time executing our approach to delivering fully healthy and COVID-free sailors.”

As for Crozier’s request to pull the bulk of the crew off the ship, Aquilino said the Navy is working the request, and is in contact with Guam’s local government to secure hotel rooms for sailors. “We understand the request,” Aquilino said. "We’ve been working it in advance, we continue to work it, and I’m optimistic that the additional quarantine and isolation capacity being discussed will be delivered shortly. But there has never been an intent to take all the sailors off of that ship. If that ship needed to respond to a crisis today, it would respond.”

Of Crozier’s letter, Aquilino said he understood the CO’s concern “is associated with the pace that we get sailors off, not that we’re not going to get sailors off.”

The plan is to rotate sailors into quarantine facilities for 14 days with the aim of getting them back on the ship after they’ve tested virus free, he said.

“That is the best way, the most accurate way, to validate that a sailor does not have the disease," Aquilino said. "The flow plan allows us to take some number of sailors off – so I can get to some number that I would be comfortable with to do all the missions the ship needs – work the remaining sailors through this quarantine/isolation/test model, then clean the ship and put only healthy sailors back on.”

Of the sailors who have tested positive, they continue to exhibit only mild symptoms, Aquilino said. “I have no sailors hospitalized, I have no sailors on ventilators, I have no sailors in critical condition, no sailors in an [intensive care unit] status on Theodore Roosevelt,” he said.

[Abbey Road]

BA are still flying, as are Qantas and a few others and I'm sure they've completed their due diligence so I guess it's up to them, not a bunch of bored keyboard warriors.
Don't make me laugh!! BA are doing nowt about checking who is getting on their aircraft. And neither Heathrow or Gatwick are checking incoming passengers. I know that from personal experience i.e.very recent experience of BA at Heathrow and Gatwick!

[racedo]

https://www.defensenews.com/news/coronavirus/2020/04/01/pacific-fleet-commander-outlines-plans-for-containing-outbreak-on-carrier-roosevelt/

Of Crozier’s letter, Aquilino said he understood the CO’s concern “is associated with the pace that we get sailors off, not that we’re not going to get sailors off.”

The plan is to rotate sailors into quarantine facilities for 14 days with the aim of getting them back on the ship after they’ve tested virus free, he said.


It is but mere speculation on my part but think it is likely that someones career may hit the buffers because in the eyes of some he did not follow chain of command and his letter was published in the press. Hopefully it is not the case.

[just another jocky]

Don't make me laugh!! BA are doing nowt about checking who is getting on their aircraft. And neither Heathrow or Gatwick are checking incoming passengers. I know that from personal experience i.e.very recent experience of BA at Heathrow and Gatwick!

Me too! Nothing at Heathrow when we came through last week, but then that's nothing to do with the airline is it, that's the airport and Border services, under control of the Govt.

[ORAC]

It is but mere speculation on my part but think it is likely that someones career may hit the buffers because in the eyes of some he did not follow chain of command and his letter was published in the press. Hopefully it is not the case.

The Navy is expected to announce it has relieved the captain who sounded the alarm about an outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, according to two U.S. officials. Capt. Brett Crozier, who commands the Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier with a crew of nearly 5,000, will be relieved of his command, but keep his rank and remain in the Navy.......

The move is expected to be announced in a briefing by Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly Thursday evening. The official reason for Crozier's relief of duty is a loss of trust and confidence, according to the officials who spoke to NBC News.....

[racedo]

The Navy is expected to announce it has relieved the captain who sounded the alarm about an outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, according to two U.S. officials. Capt. Brett Crozier, who commands the Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier with a crew of nearly 5,000, will be relieved of his command, but keep his rank and remain in the Navy.......

The move is expected to be announced in a briefing by Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly Thursday evening. The official reason for Crozier's relief of duty is a loss of trust and confidence, according to the officials who spoke to NBC News.....

Some are leaders, some are managers. Captain Brett Crozier seems to fall into the first.

[etudiant]

The Navy is expected to announce it has relieved the captain who sounded the alarm about an outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, according to two U.S. officials. Capt. Brett Crozier, who commands the Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier with a crew of nearly 5,000, will be relieved of his command, but keep his rank and remain in the Navy.......

The move is expected to be announced in a briefing by Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly Thursday evening. The official reason for Crozier's relief of duty is a loss of trust and confidence, according to the officials who spoke to NBC News.....

The Navy seems to have a tin ear on these people issues, remembering the recent brouhaha regarding a Seal.
I'd not be surprised to see a Trump tweet on this shortly, it seems dumb to dump a commander who fights for his people.

[Whenurhappy]

Well written article on the BBC news pages explaining why it is such a problem ... essentially .. no-one has a magic wand !!

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52093009
An excellent article.l have friends who are consular staff and not only is the scale of the task enormous, they are also having to deal with tens of thousands of ex-pats who, for tax reasons or for climate, have lived abroad for years and have now decided that the British Government should fly them home. The FCO has adopted a risk-based approach: if the individual is in no particular danger they are a low priority for repatriation.

[navstar1]

The Navy seems to have a tin ear on these people issues, remembering the recent brouhaha regarding a Seal.
I'd not be surprised to see a Trump tweet on this shortly, it seems dumb to dump a commander who fights for his people.

Looks like they have shot the messenger. I would imagine the crew will be very unhappy about this not good for a fighting ship.

[NutLoose]

They have sacked the Captain of the Roosevelt for doing what a good captain should,looking after his men.


Washington — The captain of an aircraft carrier hit by the coronavirus (https://www.cbsnews.com/coronavirus/?ftag=MSF0951a18) was relieved of his command by the Navy on Thursday for going outside the chain of command and circulating a memo pleading for help (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-uss-theodore-roosevelt-captain-removal-quarantine-sailors-aircraft-carrier/?ftag=MSF0951a18) from Washington, one which quickly became public.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said he relieved Captain Brett Crozier of command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt after losing confidence in his ability to lead under the stress of dealing with the viral outbreak.

"Command is a sacred trust that must be continually earned," Modly said at a news conference at the Pentagon. "As I learned more about the events of the past week onboard the Teddy Roosevelt ... I could reach no other conclusion than Captain Crozier had allowed the complexity of his challenge with the COVID breakout on the ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally, when acting professionally was what was needed most at the time."


https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavirus/navy-captain-who-raised-coronavirus-alarm-relieved-of-command/ar-BB126S3v

[Union Jack]

"Command is a sacred trust that must be continually earned,"

One would like to believe that he really meant to say "continuously" - there's a considerable difference! The new (and returning) CO has a major task on his hands......

Jack

[NutLoose]

https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/captain-crozier-captain-crozier-videos-show-sailors-sending-off-ousted-uss-roosevelt-commander-with-cheers-1.624732

https://www.change.org/p/usn-istandwithcaptcrozier-captcrozier-cvn71-reinstate-captain-crozier-as-commanding-officer

They approve of his actions

https://twitter.com/hashtag/IStandWithCaptainCrozier?src=hashtag_click


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/804x706/image_d29734367adb84dcdf61b944ddd64f7c2f4c90a6.jpg

[RAFEngO74to09]

Full Statement From SECNAV on Relief of CO Aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)

https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=112537

Extracts:

"But there is a larger strategic context, one full of national security imperatives, of which all our commanders must all be aware today. While we may not be at war in a traditional sense, neither are we truly at peace. Authoritarian regimes are on the rise. Many nations are reaching, in many ways, to reduce our capacity to accomplish our national goals. This is actively happening every day. It has been a long time since the Navy and Marine Corps team has faced this broad array of capable global strategic challengers. A more agile and resilient mentality is necessary, up and down the chain of command.""Perhaps more so than in the recent past, we require commanders with the judgment, maturity, and leadership composure under pressure to understand the ramifications of their actions within that larger dynamic strategic context. We all understand and cherish our responsibilities, and frankly our love, for all of our people in uniform, but to allow those emotions to color our judgment when communicating the current operational picture can, at best, create unnecessary confusion, and at worst, provide an incomplete picture of American combat readiness to our adversaries."

".. the TR’s Carrier Strike Group Commander, RDML Stuart Baker. RDML Baker did not know about the letter before it was sent to him via email by the CO. It is important to understand that the Strike Group Commander, the CO’s immediate boss, is embarked on the Theodore Roosevelt, right down the passageway from him. The letter was sent over non- secure, unclassified email even though that ship possesses some of the most sophisticated communications and encryption equipment in the Fleet."

"It was sent outside the chain of command, at the same time the rest of the Navy was fully responding. Worse, the Captain’s actions made his Sailors, their families, and many in the public believe that his letter was the only reason help from our larger Navy family was forthcoming, which was hardly the case."

"I could reach no other conclusion than that Captain Crozier had allowed the complexity of his challenge with COVID breakout on the ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally, when acting professionally was what was needed most. We do, and we should, expect more from the Commanding Officers of our aircraft carriers."

Video of SECNAV Press Conference:

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1245842193547325440

[sharmatt]

I'm not far from East Mids and was surprised to see an RAF Atlas heading that way yesterday. After a quick google it seems they have at least one kitted with "full aeromedical evacuation capability for high dependency and highly infectious patients".

Also plenty of Mil choppers around, A Lynx just flew over today, there was a Merlin went over the other day as well.

[GlobalNav]

This Captain, commander of thousands of crew members, tried to take care of his people. Something his commander-in-chief and henchmen know nothing about nor respect. I salute this Captain, he did nothing that diminished our national security. Nothing that was irreversible. Retreat to fight another day is a well understood military measure. We must care for and care about those who go into harm’s way for our sake. Shame on SecNav and those in authority over him. Do we not value the investment we have in these crew members and the time and resources it would take replace them, even if we disregard their lives and well-being?

[dogsridewith]

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/804x706/image_d29734367adb84dcdf61b944ddd64f7c2f4c90a6.jpg
"Of the sailors who have tested positive, they continue to exhibit only mild symptoms, Aquilino said. “I have no sailors hospitalized, I have no sailors on ventilators, I have no sailors in critical condition, no sailors in an [intensive care unit] status on Theodore Roosevelt,” he said."

The ship was not on fire. The humans aboard are a relatively healthy demographic?

Major assets being ready, and appearing ready, is important.

I don't know about your services, but mine suffer a fair number of aircraft crashes and vehicle rollover fatalities in training. There are losses in wars and actions of dubious purpose, and an elevated suicide incidence with the reserves and veterans.

Maybe a little risk associated with keeping the ship staffed would also shed some light on the value-versus-hazard of shutting down the economy of a world threatened most by overpopulation.

[dctyke]

First mil Coronavirus case announced in the Falkland Islands.

[PPRuNeUser0211]

"Of the sailors who have tested positive, they continue to exhibit only mild symptoms, Aquilino said. “I have no sailors hospitalized, I have no sailors on ventilators, I have no sailors in critical condition, no sailors in an [intensive care unit] status on Theodore Roosevelt,” he said."

The ship was not on fire. The humans aboard are a relatively healthy demographic?

Major assets being ready, and appearing ready, is important.

I don't know about your services, but mine suffer a fair number of aircraft crashes and vehicle rollover fatalities in training. There are losses in wars and actions of dubious purpose, and an elevated suicide incidence with the reserves and veterans.

Maybe a little risk associated with keeping the ship staffed would also shed some light on the value-versus-hazard of shutting down the economy of a world threatened most by overpopulation.

The ship has 4800 people embarked. Given the demographic of the population concerned, let's assume that the death rate from COVID is 0.1% (somewhere around 1/10 to 1/30th of the rate in the general population). If you assume an infection rate of 80% amongst a population with no where to go and no real way of isolating from one another, that's 3 sailors dead. The Captain's point was exactly the opposite to yours. There is no war, and they are providing no critical capability at this point in time. With that in mind, what is the point in killing 3 people at random for the sake of it.

[racedo]

This Captain, commander of thousands of crew members, tried to take care of his people. Something his commander-in-chief and henchmen know nothing about nor respect. I salute this Captain, he did nothing that diminished our national security. Nothing that was irreversible. Retreat to fight another day is a well understood military measure. We must care for and care about those who go into harm’s way for our sake. Shame on SecNav and those in authority over him. Do we not value the investment we have in these crew members and the time and resources it would take replace them, even if we disregard their lives and well-being?

Nothing to do with C-i-C as naval personnel made the call on this. Let their procedures follow their course but to assumme everybody had an input is wrong.

I believe he did the right thing and those in the chain of command likely will understand that as well BUT if he got away with it then danger is someone would do similar in the future. Lets see what happens as it works its way out.

[racedo]

The ship has 4800 people embarked. Given the demographic of the population concerned, let's assume that the death rate from COVID is 0.1% (somewhere around 1/10 to 1/30th of the rate in the general population). If you assume an infection rate of 80% amongst a population with no where to go and no real way of isolating from one another, that's 3 sailors dead. The Captain's point was exactly the opposite to yours. There is no war, and they are providing no critical capability at this point in time. With that in mind, what is the point in killing 3 people at random for the sake of it.

Most important message to the crew was "I will do everything to ensure you are safe, even at the expense of my career", figure he will spend 3 months on the beach and then return.

[NutLoose]

I'm not far from East Mids and was surprised to see an RAF Atlas heading that way yesterday. After a quick google it seems they have at least one kitted with "full aeromedical evacuation capability for high dependency and highly infectious patients".

Also plenty of Mil choppers around, A Lynx just flew over today, there was a Merlin went over the other day as well.

Yup it departed East Mids about 9am ish, saw it climb back up into the clag, not sure if it landed or just did a practice approach.

[GlobalNav]

Nothing to do with C-i-C as naval personnel made the call on this. Let their procedures follow their course but to assumme everybody had an input is wrong.

I believe he did the right thing and those in the chain of command likely will understand that as well BUT if he got away with it then danger is someone would do similar in the future. Lets see what happens as it works its way out.
What’s the danger of a commander doing the responsible and courageous thing? Boy wouldn’t it be terrible if more commanders did that? The politicians would be terribly embarrassed. It’s dangerous to tell the truth.

[racedo]

What’s the danger of a commander doing the responsible and courageous thing? Boy wouldn’t it be terrible if more commanders did that? The politicians would be terribly embarrassed. It’s dangerous to tell the truth.

None BUT their arguement would be he went outside the chain of command making it look they were doing nothing which appears not to be the case. The arguement of being emotionally compromised probably holds water but then easy to say that when someone sitting in Norfolk rather than in a carrier

Hopefully he gets a minor slap on the wrist, an admin appointment for a few months and then another command.

[etudiant]

The claim is that the letter was cc'd to multiple recipients and consequently went viral even before the Navy Secretary had seen it. I could understand that being unacceptable to the chain of command.
Simultaneously, there is no question that this broad distribution compelled immediate action, which may have helped prevent a much larger outbreak,
Social distancing is impossible aboard a carrier, a 100,000 ton ship with 4-5000 sailors and airmen aboard. Hopefully the Navy will recognize that the breach of protocol prevented what could have become a major problem.

[GlobalNav]

None BUT their arguement would be he went outside the chain of command making it look they were doing nothing which appears not to be the case. The arguement of being emotionally compromised probably holds water but then easy to say that when someone sitting in Norfolk rather than in a carrier

Hopefully he gets a minor slap on the wrist, an admin appointment for a few months and then another command.
“A minor slap on the wrist”?
He will never be given another command. That isn’t done when one has been removed. His Navy career is over.

Don’t be naive, he is not new to being an officer and fully knows how to use the chain of command. When the chain of command is deaf and unresponsive, and sailors’ health and well-being are at stake, the courageous commander does whatever it takes, regardless the personal cost. Just as he did.

Now his elected commander-in-chief has defended the SecNav’s move. Interesting how the president supports a Navy SEAL convicted of murder, rather than a commander defending his sailors. No surprise really.

[Lonewolf_50]

The claim is that the letter was cc'd to multiple recipients and consequently went viral even before the Navy Secretary had seen it. I could understand that being unacceptable to the chain of command. There are "personal for" messages that are available to that echelon of command that are not treated as emails are.

But that claim about "it got away from us" may have substance.
I have seen a few ill advised messages/signals sent out with too large of a "info addressee" list over the years which ended up causing quite a bit of trouble.

[Less Hair]

Esper confirmed he didn't even read the letter so the captain was right to speed things up his way. Otherwise nobody had listened.
So the now seemingly slow and unforgiving apparatus navy at least had picked the right guy for the job before.

He tested corona positive.

[skua]

Captain Crozier has tested positive for the bug.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Navy-captain-ousted-from-coronavirus-stricken-15180345.php


He gets my vote.

[GlobalNav]

Well, SecNav doubled down, disparaging Capt Crozier as stupid for not knowing his letter would be broadly distributed.

I would not disparage this courageous commander. If there was error, it was the false hope that the Navy’s highest leadership truly valued the the true source of its ability to defend our country, it’s sailors.

The truth hurts, and the pain can be temporarily relieved by denial. The American people are not blind. The SecNav and his superiors stand naked before the truth.

If the good Captain had cared more for his career than his subordinates, THAT would have been grounds for dismissal.

[TEEEJ]

Yup it departed East Mids about 9am ish, saw it climb back up into the clag, not sure if it landed or just did a practice approach.

Atlas ZM402 on radarbox

https://www.radarbox.com/data/registration/ZM402/1405006745

[RAFEngO74to09]

SecNav addressing the crew of CVN71 - OMG !

Scroll down to live braodcast.

https://www.navytimes.com/news/coronavirus/2020/04/06/secnav-roosevelt-skipper-too-naive-or-too-stupid-to-command-or-sent-letter-on-purpose/

[Less Hair]

Incredible. Hard to believe they deal with this like that? "Betrayal"? Seriously?

[Chugalug2]

DRW:_
Maybe a little risk associated with keeping the ship staffed would also shed some light on the value-versus-hazard of shutting down the economy of a world threatened most by overpopulation.

Interesting comment, so the ship should have stayed at sea for epidemiological rather than for military reasons? Breath-taking!

As to SECNAV's foulmouthed speech, I agree with him that there most certainly was betrayal here but not by Capt Crozier, who I would be honoured to have as a boss.

[etudiant]

Well, SecNav doubled down, disparaging Capt Crozier as stupid for not knowing his letter would be broadly distributed.

I would not disparage this courageous commander. If there was error, it was the false hope that the Navy’s highest leadership truly valued the the true source of its ability to defend our country, it’s sailors.

The truth hurts, and the pain can be temporarily relieved by denial. The American people are not blind. The SecNav and his superiors stand naked before the truth.

If the good Captain had cared more for his career than his subordinates, THAT would have been grounds for dismissal.

Seems very possible that the letter was written and distributed so widely in order to dynamite the Navy bureaucracy defer and deny approach to this pandemic.
We saw the Navy response, only a few are infected and their situation is not serious. So obviously the plan was to deploy as normal, which would have ensured that everyone on board gets infected.
As most of the sailors are young, they would expect minimal casualties and no hard questions about the effectiveness of the force during this outbreak.
The Captain refused to go along with this and made sure everyone knew.
Good on him!

[West Coast]

“A minor slap on the wrist”?
He will never be given another command. That isn’t done when one has been removed. His Navy career is over.

Don’t be naive, he is not new to being an officer and fully knows how to use the chain of command. When the chain of command is deaf and unresponsive, and sailors’ health and well-being are at stake, the courageous commander does whatever it takes, regardless the personal cost. Just as he did.

Now his elected commander-in-chief has defended the SecNav’s move. Interesting how the president supports a Navy SEAL convicted of murder, rather than a commander defending his sailors. No surprise really.

Just who is this sailor you’re referring to?

Are you sure you have your basic facts correct wrt this sailor?

[Less Hair]

So the captain got fired for sending an e-mail to 30 people that got leaked to the media.
SecNav spoke to 1500 people on the PA that got leaked to the media. What is he getting for it?

P.S. So he is out too. Well deserved this time.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/07/politics/modly-resign-crozier-esper-trump/index.html

[OmegaV6]

On the BBC now ...

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52209105

seems like the pigeon might have roosted .....

[sitigeltfel]

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, currently out in the Atlantic, has signalled that they have forty suspected coronavirus cases on board and is making a rapid return to its base at Toulon.

[West Coast]

So....the French are retreating?


It's a joke people,

[Islandlad]

So....the French are retreating?


It's a joke people,
Which bit is a joke? French lives? You are one of the first to get on your high horse when a similar comment is made vis-à-vis anything US.

[NutLoose]

Hope they are all ok, not were you want to be, out in the Atlantic, away from family, with a serious risk to your health.

[West Coast]

Which bit is a joke? French lives? You are one of the first to get on your high horse when a similar comment is made vis-à-vis anything US.


You'll be okay lad.

[racedo]

You'll be okay lad.

Knowing your humor, I read it as that :ok:

[ORAC]

https://twitter.com/andynetherwood/status/1248848650203287553?s=21

[ORAC]

https://twitter.com/andynetherwood/status/1248632189186605056?s=21

[NutLoose]

Nothing like being late with the news

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavirus/military-helicopters-are-deployed-across-the-country-to-carry-coronavirus-patients-to-hospital-as-part-of-new-300-strong-task-force/ar-BB12spBY

[West Coast]

https://twitter.com/andynetherwood/status/1248848650203287553?s=21

You just got to understand. Hair is touching my ears, first time since the mid 80s, it’s not a good look. May have to sneak on the base for a cut.

[ORAC]

I nite with interest the comment that 4 of the USN carriers now have infections and are in port. How many does that leave at sea once those in maintenance are added?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hms-queen-elizabeth-set-to-sail-amid-coronavirus-fears-tff80cm5p

HMS Queen Elizabeth set to sail amid coronavirus fears

One of Britain’s two aircraft carriers is to set sail later this month despite fears that it could face a similar fate to French and American carriers, which had to be quarantined after hundreds of crew members were infected by Covid-19.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is set to depart from Portsmouth for a scheduled training cruise around the UK with a 600-strong crew.

So far four US nuclear carriers have had to pull into port after the virus infected their crews, and earlier this week the French carrier Charles de Gaulle was ordered home after crew were infected with Covid-19 (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tracking-coronavirus-in-the-uk-maps-show-how-the-disease-has-spread-2w05d0rwl).

The former defence minister Kevan Jones said the HMS Queen Elizabeth should not sail without all of her 600 crew being tested for the virus. “The Royal Navy needs to justify why this cruise is essential at this time,” said Jones. “In light of other nations’ experiences, all the HMS Queen Elizabeth’s crew must be tested before she goes to sea.”

The shadow defence secretary, John Healey, added: “Large-scale training that can be delayed should be.”

The Royal Navy confirmed that its carrier would put to sea on April 27: “HMS Queen Elizabeth has a key role to play in the defence of the United Kingdom. We continue to conduct sensible and proportionate planning to ensure the welfare of our personnel is protected, while maintaining essential operational duties.”

[Islandlad]

HMS Queen Elizabeth set to sail amid coronavirus fears

The former defence minister Kevan Jones said the HMS Queen Elizabeth should not sail without all of her 600 crew being tested for the virus. “The Royal Navy needs to justify why this cruise is essential at this time,” said Jones. “In light of other nations’ experiences, all the HMS Queen Elizabeth’s crew must be tested before she goes to sea.”


HMS Q E maybe at sea for good reason and the RN don't need to justify anything. He should know better!

The UK has 50% of its carriers out. The US may be less :)

Don't worry, the EU is so locked down the Russians couldn't achieve freedom of movement with tanks.

[racedo]

HMS Q E maybe at sea for good reason and the RN don't need to justify anything. He should know better!

The UK has 50% of its carriers out. The US may be less :)

Don't worry, the EU is so locked down the Russians couldn't achieve freedom of movement with tanks.

Assumming they testing daily and 200 miles from land is a quarantine all by itself.

[Less Hair]

A Roosevelt sailor has died of COVID.

https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=112614

[racedo]

By all accounts the Captain refused to allow any other Officer to sign the letter knowing full well it was the end of his career.

That Meme may have encapsulated him more than anybody realised at the time.

Give it 5 years and he will be in Congress.

[Less Hair]

1. He can write a book join the speaker's circle and finally a movie will be made about him.
2. Or the Navy could reinstate him ASAP to quiet things down fastest and keep him quiet before 1.

[RAFEngO74to09]

The Thunderbirds did a low level flyover of 14 hospitals in the Las Vegas metropolitan area showing support for health care workers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubso7EHsgGI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HViA3Y6f7M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVbuTFdLz-o

As one resident commented: Only in Las Vegas can you see the Area 51 commuter transport "Janet Airlines" aircraft, a pyramid and sphinx (the Luxor), a snow covered mountain and The Thunderbirds all in a single shot !

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1080x833/tbird_covid_flight_10_20f1655fd3bf60f6117e527b04c46a10f79995 38.jpg

[RAFEngO74to09]

Full coverage - multiple cameras all over Las Vegas - plus commentary from 57 Wing Commander

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkWfbH4uBio

[etudiant]

1. He can write a book join the speaker's circle and finally a movie will be made about him.
2. Or the Navy could reinstate him ASAP to quiet things down fastest and keep him quiet before 1.

The Defense Secretary has already hinted that he may reinstate Crozier.
Given the mass of infected sailors (over 550 at last count) and now at least one death, the Captain's letter prevented a hugely embarrassing 'plague ship' development from happening.
I think vindication would help boost morale and also the Navy's public image.

[NutLoose]

An inspiration to us all.. 100 laps of his garden at 99.. £1.4 million raised and says he might try for 200 laps..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-52278746

[pr00ne]

His total raised is now over £9 million, truly incredible!
Amazing to think his initial target was £1000.

[NutLoose]

My worry is as long as it keeps rolling in he intends to keep on going, one would hate for him to feel obligated and over exert himself in the process.

[NutLoose]

10 mil 245k as of now.

[ORAC]

https://www.france24.com/en/20200415-a-third-of-french-aircraft-carrier-crew-have-covid-19-says-defence-ministry

A third of French aircraft carrier crew have Covid-19, says defence ministry

A third of the nearly 2,000 sailors who were aboard France's aircraft carrier and support craft when a coronavirus outbreak occurred at sea have tested positive for the virus, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.With two-thirds of test results in, 668 sailors from the Charles-de-Gaulle and escort vessels in its battle group are confirmed to have the virus, it said. Thirty-one were being treated in hospital, and one was in intensive care, a ministry statement said.........

Sailors from the Charles-de-Gaulle, one of the frigates and the pilots who returned the aircraft to their respective bases, are all placed in isolation for 14 days, the ministry said. There had been no virus outbreak on the other frigate.

So far, 1,767 sailors from the battle group have been tested for the virus, the vast majority from the aircraft carrier itself, said the ministry statement. Some thirty percent of results are still outstanding, meaning more than half of those tested so far have come back positive.......

[ORAC]

Capt Tom now over £12 million and rising.

[FODPlod]

Good to see the US media getting its priorities right. Why isn't our own Defence Secretary taking a firm stance on the critical issue of haircuts?
https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/marines-should-get-haircuts-despite-soci-idOVC9GYVOF

[trim it out]

Good to see the US media getting its priorities right. Why isn't our own Defence Secretary taking a firm stance on the critical issue of haircuts?
https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/marines-should-get-haircuts-despite-soci-idOVC9GYVOF
Relating raising the flag on Iwo Jima with hair cuts and applying it to a disease that requires physical contact to spread...if a jar head displays discipline then how come SF have beards and beautiful boofons?


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/480x415/053b0d66_4b0e_4cfc_9956_378bd7b52803_020ad007e5cdc9c13239b65 c57426929f2737d3c.jpeg


Here we see US servicemen doing their job while also being unshaven. Thank you for your service 🇺🇸

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1325/e9cd83fd_cd48_4fa5_895d_36e2df733f64_ecd55f7245994fcec286186 c03ac3c1eb4e625e1.jpeg

Gleaming film by the way (3 Kings)

[NutLoose]

Capt Tom now over £12 million and rising.


Over 16 million so farDonation summaryTotal raised £13,956,501.51 + £2,576,295.20 Gift Aid

[ORAC]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/25/brett-crozier-us-navy-seeks-to-reinstate-captain-demoted-over-covid-19

Brett Crozier: US navy seeks to reinstate captain demoted over Covid-19

The US navy has recommended reinstating the fired captain of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, whose crew hailed him as their hero for risking his job to safeguard their lives from coronavirus, officials have said.The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the navy’s leadership made the recommendation to reinstate Brett Crozier to the defence secretary, Mark Esper, on Friday, three weeks after Crozier was relieved of command after the leak of a letter (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/02/us-navy-uss-theodore-roosevelt-coronavirus)he wrote calling on the navy for stronger measures to protect the crew.

The Pentagon issued a statement acknowledging Esper received the results of the navy’s preliminary inquiry into the Roosevelt incident. But it added that Esper wanted to review a written copy of the completed inquiry. Suggesting no decision was imminent, the statement said Esper “intends to thoroughly review the report and will meet again with navy leadership to discuss next steps”. The navy said in a statement, “no final decisions have been made”.

The House armed services committee chairman, Adam Smith, a Democrat, called for Crozier’s immediate reinstatement. “During this time of crisis, Captain Crozier is exactly what our sailors need: a leader who inspires confidence,” he said.

A senior US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Esper wanted to be sure that the final navy report would stand up to public scrutiny before signing off and stressed that the Roosevelt outbreak inquiry went far beyond Crozier. But Esper’s deliberations raised questions about whether political or other considerations might override the navy’s recommendations in a case that has seen Democrats vocally critical of the Trump administration’s handling of the matter.........

[racedo]

Most important message to the crew was "I will do everything to ensure you are safe, even at the expense of my career", figure he will spend 3 months on the beach and then return.

Maybe I was off by a couple of weeks.

[EGDLaddict]

Question: Are the UK Armed Forces guys performing roadside antibodies tests wearing appropriate and safe equipment. Or (as is all too familiar) they performing their duties with inadequate kit?

As a couple of mean asides>>>>
Has anybody ever thought about calling Civil Servants in to do these sort of jobs? How about firemen doing it instead of kipping at night so that they're well rested for their secondary jobs during the daytime.

Do any other groups of Government employees spring to mind folks?

[topgas]

Traffic wardens?

[Willard Whyte]

Never mind Govt. employees,

How about journalists, lawyers, and estate agents.

[pr00ne]

Can I suggest some volunteers?

How about EGDLaddict, topgas and Willard Whyte for starters?

[ORAC]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/28/coronavirus-massachusetts-veterans-outbreak-holyoke-soldiers-home

'It’s horrific': coronavirus kills nearly 70 at Massachusetts veterans' home

Nearly 70 residents sickened with the coronavirus have died at a Massachusetts home for ageing veterans, as state and federal officials try to figure out what went wrong in the deadliest known outbreak at a long-term care facility (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/15/were-living-in-fear-why-us-nursing-homes-became-incubators-for-the-coronavirus) in the US.

While the death toll at the state-run Holyoke Soldiers’ Home continues to climb, federal officials are investigating whether residents were denied proper medical care and the state’s top prosecutor is deciding whether to bring legal action.

“It’s horrific,” said Edward Lapointe, whose father-in-law lives at the home and had a mild case of the virus. “These guys never had a chance.”

Sixty-eight veteran residents who tested positive for the virus have died, officials said on Tuesday, and it is not known whether another person who died had Covid-19. Another 82 residents and 81 employees have tested positive.

The home’s superintendent, who has been placed on administrative leave, has defended his response and accused state officials of falsely claiming they were unaware of the scope of the problem there. The superintendent, Bennett Walsh, said this month that state officials knew that the home was in “crisis mode” when it came to staffing shortages and were notified early and often about the contagion at the facility........

[ORAC]

https://www.postguam.com/news/local/800-sailors-moving-out-of-guam-hotels-as-uss-roosevelt-returns/article_d2f76592-a51a-11ea-9c25-972308ad5804.html

800 sailors moving out of Guam hotels as USS Roosevelt returns

[Less Hair]

The CO is not coming back.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/navy-won-e2-80-99t-reinstate-carrier-captain-fired-after-virus-outbreak/ar-BB15IYYo

[Chugalug2]

“I will not reassign Captain Brett Crozier as the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, nor will he be eligible for future command,” Gilday said. “It is my belief that both Admiral Baker and Captain Crozier fell well short of what we expect of those in command.”

Which says far more about Admiral Gilday than it does about Captain Crozier.

[Less Hair]

USN could have made a PR Super Bowl out of this story. They wasted it.

[Willard Whyte]

Can I suggest some volunteers?

How about EGDLaddict, topgas and Willard Whyte for starters?

Too busy old chap.