Troubling US Navy review finds widespread shortfalls in basic seamanship

[rangerrebew]

Troubling US Navy review finds widespread shortfalls in basic seamanship
By: David B. Larter   1 day ago
 
WASHINGTON — A three-month internal review conducted by senior U.S. surface fleet leaders found some or significant concerns with the ship handling skills of nearly 85 percent of its junior officers, and that many struggled to react decisively to extricate their ship from danger when there was an immediate risk of collision, according to an internal message obtained by Defense News.

Led by the Surface Warfare Officer School, officer of the deck competency checks were conducted on a random selection of OOD-qualified first-tour division officers (the newest officers in the fleet) in underway bridge navigation simulators fleet-wide between January and March. Of the 164 officers who were evaluated, only 27 passed with “no concerns.” Another 108 completed with “some concerns,” and 29 had “significant concerns,” according to the message, which was released by the Navy’s top surface warfare officer Vice Adm. Richard Brown.

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/06/06/troubling-us-navy-review-finds-widespread-shortfalls-in-basic-seamanship/

[SZonian]

Spending more time "learning" how to be PC vs. being a sailor...what could possibly go wrong?

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I think it's a bit misleading.  It's not realistic to expect newly-qualified OOD's to be just as proficient as more experienced officers -- that's why either the captain, XO, or more experienced officers usually have the deck in more crowded/risky environments.  So I wouldn't say having "some concerns" is a deal breaker.  But having that many with "serious concerns" shouldn't happen.