Posted on Jan 13, 2016
1LT Platoon Leader
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Edited 9 y ago
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Responses: 54
PO1 Andrew Cabral
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Its over.
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CSM Charles Hayden
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1LT (Join to see) Why did the sister boat not have the capability of towing the 'broken' boat?
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CPO Steelworker
CPO (Join to see)
9 y
MCPO Roger Collins - A lot people even the guy's on Active don't know. When you were in I know you know this the Navy had three war fighting capabilities Air, Surface and sub and now they Navy Expeditionary Combat Command irregular or special warfare capabilities. EOD, Seabees, Riverine, Expeditionary Intelligence and Individual augmentees (sailor kills to help Army and Marines in combat support). So now you have Air, Surface, Sub and NECC (Navy Ground Troops Brown Water or Dirt Sailors) I hope that is clear as mud.
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MCPO Roger Collins
MCPO Roger Collins
9 y
I believe I like the new Navy.
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PO1 Kevin Risner
PO1 Kevin Risner
9 y
Well CPO Wheeler I was in the Navy when our secondary propulsion system was oars. So it appears the Navy has changed a bit.
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CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
9 y
PO1 Kevin Risner When did the Navy discard the paddles and start using oars? After your Crow?
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MCPO Tom Miller
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I strongly feel if our imagine of pre Obama this event would have never happens. We have not stood our ground for a long time and shown to be timid and never resolute in facing any adversarial. The president has set the trend of never confronting anyone, but to negotiate and surrender.
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TSgt Services
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By opening a can of whoop ass
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Capt Jeff S.
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If I was a betting man, I would bet that our Administration went in with Iran on this. This happened right before the SOTU. Perfect timing - eh? And why would we call Iran and ask them for help when we could have called other assets in for assistance? Something smells really bad here.

http://www.theamericanmirror.com/congressman-u-s-called-iran-for-help-when-navy-boats-broke-down/
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CPO David Sharp
CPO David Sharp
9 y
Capt., Your point is very valid. This Administration has done nothing without calculating Political value and impact. I would go with your bet and also have to wonder how deep Valerie Jarrett's influence and control have to factor into this equation? She is very dangerous and has amassed substantial power and control.
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MCPO Roger Collins
MCPO Roger Collins
9 y
Your concern is well placed. The damage to our nation by one of Iranian extraction will be felt for years to come.
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SSG Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
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Guess what was done before hashtags were available?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Praying_Mantis
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CPO David Sharp
CPO David Sharp
9 y
SSG Villacis, Another aspect along this thought, during the Iranian hostage crisis, the Third Marines were put on alert, boarded onto LSTs, sailed to the Philippines to pick up Surgeons, proceeded to the waters off Iran and were awaiting orders to "go". Now the Iranians knew that Carter would not give such an order, however, once Reagan was sworn in as President, the hostages were released all because they knew he would give the order.
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1SG Civil Affairs Specialist
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Edited 9 y ago
I agree with CPT (Join to see) that we should not speculate until the facts come out. However, several elements of this incident beg some questions:
1. BOTH vessels has a navigation system malfunction? What this means to me is one of the following is true:
a) It is a cover story
b) Murphy's Law was in full force and really bad luck set in.
c) Maintenance in that boat squadron is not close to par.
or d) The Iranians employed a EW system deliberately that was capable of disabling the GPS navigation systems of these vessels, then seizing the vessels and crews when they were successful. That means it is purposeful and planned... otherwise known as an act of war.

2. Vessels on the high seas do not "sneak up" on you. You have visibility for several miles. If the crews had mechanical issues, pulling up alongside and towing the disabled craft from territorial waters should not take very long. One would think that they'd have a sense of urgency with an Iranian gunboat bearing down on them.

3. They were 50 miles off course. Even the most inexperienced seaman had best be able to navigate to the point where they became aware sometime before then. I don't buy the drifting off course theory. There isn't THAT much current in the Persian Gulf. Not in that part, anyway.

4. The skipper surrendered his command when they had the means to resist. Shooting back may have been forbidden by the ROE, but one operational boat could certainly take the crew aboard, and they should have been able to secure any sensitive gear (it should be removable in a vessel like this) and bug out. They didn't do that nor did they seem to attempt that.

5. The skipper makes a statement about being wrong on a recording and apologizing for their "mistake". No Go. Code of Conduct, LT. Check it out.

6. It is very fortunate that our leaders were able to secure their release so quickly. This could have gone on for a while. I don't agree at all with the apologies and pandering, but we got our guys back and that is a good thing.

7. The Pasdaran is a different force than the regular Iranian Navy. They take their orders from the Ayatollah through the Mullah Chain-of-Command, not a military one. That makes this political, and the timing is suspect as well. That video was clearly for domestic consumption.

Lots of questions to answer.
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SSG Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
SSG (Join to see)
9 y
Code of Conduct
for
Members of the United States Armed Forces
I
I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

II
I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.

III
If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

IV
If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.

V
When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.

VI
I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
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1SG Civil Affairs Specialist
1SG (Join to see)
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SSG (Join to see) - Articles II and V are problematic.
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LTC Bink Romanick
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1LT (Join to see) Exactly the way we did!
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SN Greg Wright
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Edited 9 y ago
SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT For whatever reason, they drifted into Iranian waters. Therefore, by international law, Iran had the right to detain them, and any resistance would have been an act of war. The young LT in charge of those boats got at least that much right...though I suspect he got everything that got them there, wrong.

Just my opinion.
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SSG Carlos Madden
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Edited 9 y ago
The US had a disabled boat and the Iranians did not.
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