Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Another coastal patrol skipper heaved; Penn. Nat’l. Guard commander resigns

The CO of the USS Typhoon was relieved of command on the grounds that they don’t like how he do.

150317-N-SF508-314 
U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITYS (March 17, 2014) The Cyclone-class coastal patrol ship USS Typhoon (PC 5) and other coastal patrol ships assigned to Patrol Coastal Squadron 1 (PCRON 1) transit in formation during a divisional tactics exercise. PCRON 1 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles Oki/Released)
150317-N-SF508-314 U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITYS (March 17, 2014) The Cyclone-class coastal patrol ship USS Typhoon (PC 5) and other coastal patrol ships assigned to Patrol Coastal Squadron 1 (PCRON 1) transit in formation during a divisional tactics exercise. PCRON 1 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles Oki/Released)
150317-N-SF508-314 U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITYS (March 17, 2014) The Cyclone-class coastal patrol ship USS Typhoon (PC 5) and other coastal patrol ships assigned to Patrol Coastal Squadron 1 (PCRON 1) transit in formation during a divisional tactics exercise. PCRON 1 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles Oki/Released)

The CO of the USS Typhoon was relieved of command on the grounds that they don’t like how he do.

The CO of the USS Typhoon was relieved of command on the grounds that they don’t like how he do.

The Navy is to be commended for disclosing such moves (even if in this case it did so after 5 pm on a Friday). The Army continues to decline to do so on claims of privacy. So either the Navy is violating the privacy act, or the Army is hiding behind a false claim.

Meantime, the chief of the Pennsylvania National Guard resigned without explanation. He had been under investigation for some undisclosed allegations that the York Daily Record and others reported were about sexual harassment. He must be one of the last people in uniform to have served in the Vietnam War.

In the same vein, allegations of buttocks grabbing hit the New Zealand navy. And CENTCOM continues to be a most unhappy headquarters.

Photo credit: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles Oki/U.S. Navy

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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