Missing Navy sailor Vincent Ferdin returns safely, apologizes for trouble he caused. Was there a hidden agenda?

2015-12-11T12:03:55-05:00

A member of a Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, reportedly accepted to an elite two-year nuclear engineering program, strapped for cash, disappears for a little over 2 months with where a bouts unknown, shows up voluntarily and says "I'm sorry"... Hmmm...? I know there is a lot missing from this story, but.... LOL!

A Navy sailor who had been missing for more than two months returned of his own accord yesterday and has said he left voluntarily.

Missing Petty Officer 3rd Class Vincent Angelo Ferdin, who vanished in September, had reportedly left his home in South Carolina for New York City. He told officials he had been working odd jobs for cash, according to Naval Criminal Investigative Service spokesperson Ed Buice.

Because Ferdin is part of the Navy, his disappearance, was a violation of his service.

"Basically, you can't just decide you don't want to be a sailor anymore and quit the Navy," Buice told Dateline in an email Thursday morning. "This time it was the fact that he just basically vanished for a few months; there was concern that perhaps he had been the victim of foul play. It will be up to his command to adjudicate the case."

Ferdin, 20, also posted a statement on his personal Facebook page apologizing for the worry and trouble he caused family and friends.

Ferdin was last seen the morning of September 18, 2015 leaving his girlfriend's home in Goose Creek, South Carolina on his bike. His family received a call several days later from an official at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit saying Vincent had not appeared for duty or training over the weekend. He had joined the Navy when he was 17, as soon as he graduated from Mantica, California's East Union High School, two years ago. He had reportedly been accepted to an elite two-year nuclear engineering program with the Navy, and was planning to apply to the United States Naval Academy.

http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/missing-in-america/missing-navy-sailor-vincent-ferdin-returns-safely-apologizes-trouble-he-n477751

Missing Navy Sailor Vincent Ferdin Returns Safely, Apologizes for Trouble He Caused

Vincent Ferdin, who had been missing for more than two months, has returned of his own accord and has said he left voluntarily.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2015 12:09 PM

2015-12-11T12:09:35-05:00

just lost his top secret clearance .... :)

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Dec 11 at 2015 12:12 PM

2015-12-11T12:12:34-05:00

Hope he enjoyed himself. His life's trajectory just took a severe downward turn.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2015 12:13 PM

2015-12-11T12:13:28-05:00

Oh, there is so much more to this story than meets the eye.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2015 12:22 PM

2015-12-11T12:22:55-05:00

I can't even right now......

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Dec 11 at 2015 12:26 PM

2015-12-11T12:26:17-05:00

Sounds kind of fishy to me.

Response by SGT David T. made Dec 11 at 2015 12:36 PM

2015-12-11T12:36:40-05:00

Hmmm...sailor goes AWOL to get a better job....seems legit....lol Two Soldiers in my last unit went AWOL to Switzerland to party for a few weeks. They came back when they ran out of money lol.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Dec 11 at 2015 3:08 PM

2015-12-11T15:08:53-05:00

Sometimes you don't know how severe your actions are until you find two size 12 boots knee deep in your third point of contact and 1SG (or Chief in this case) have stopped yelling and are proceeding to stomp the very last breath out of you.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Dec 12 at 2015 4:39 PM

2015-12-12T16:39:10-05:00

I see a Big Chicken Dinner in his future. I hope he enjoyed his three month vacation. It's gonna be the only nice thing he'll remember from his Navy time.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2015 6:55 PM

2015-12-12T18:55:34-05:00

People fight SO hard to get those Nuke billets - and he threw his away that could have been filled by someone that REALLY wanted it. Oh, well. Bye, Felicia!

Response by PO1 John Miller made Dec 12 at 2015 10:45 PM

2015-12-12T22:45:22-05:00

These damn kids with their skinny jeans and Justin Beiber music just don't appreciate all the military has to offer them!!! If they don't get what they want right away, they take their ball and leave. They never think long term. In this case, Ferdin should have embraced the suck, finished nuke training and his Navy time, gotten out, and gotten a job making well over six figures starting.

Response by SPC David Prentice made Dec 13 at 2015 1:57 AM

2015-12-13T01:57:44-05:00

I remember a guy like this. He showed up after being gone for 6 months from AIT. He said he just went "fishing" and said he came back because the Army owed him money. The look I gave him...

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Dec 13 at 2015 11:01 AM

2015-12-13T11:01:41-05:00

Well, he's not going to Annapolis now, is he... and he won't be a Nuc either...

Response by SGT Robert Deem made Dec 13 at 2015 6:39 PM

2015-12-13T18:39:36-05:00

Kid probably just cracked under the pressure. I've heard that's a damned tough program, and probably not a great fit for the maturity level of most 17 y/o kids. These comments are not to be mistaken for sympathy; help was available if he had asked for it. A friend of mine went through the same (or similar) program years ago and had a tough time with it at 23. He asked for and received reclassification to another rate... without losing his mind and going AWOL.

Response by CAPT Tom Bersson made Dec 13 at 2015 7:45 PM

2015-12-13T19:45:23-05:00

No way to know from the article.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Dec 13 at 2015 8:43 PM

2015-12-13T20:43:30-05:00

He'll be spending some time getting thoroughly debriefed, and that's only the beginning of his troubles.

Response by SPC Robert Dembro made Dec 14 at 2015 12:26 AM

2015-12-14T00:26:19-05:00

Looks like and sounds like desertion to me?

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Dec 14 at 2015 3:44 AM

2015-12-14T03:44:54-05:00

Life gives you enough Shit sandwiches without you making a triple decker one for yourself.

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Dec 14 at 2015 12:38 PM

2015-12-14T12:38:56-05:00

He deserves what he gets for punishment. Who cares if he cam back on his own accord, he still went AWOL.

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2015 4:42 PM

2015-12-14T16:42:18-05:00

Well, he's no longer going to the Naval Academy...
It's sad to see that he decided to not only throw his Career as a Sailor away, but probably even damage his life as a civilian.

Response by Rhys Lloyd made Dec 14 at 2015 8:37 PM

2015-12-14T20:37:05-05:00

Sounds like more to story, no one in right mind with intensions to come back dies that, it's pretty clear what happens

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 14 at 2015 9:05 PM

2015-12-14T21:05:14-05:00

MSgt Curtis Ellis I bet he will learn to say, "Yes, sir" to the Marines running the brig?
Please keep us posted on the outcome.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 7:37 AM

2015-12-15T07:37:39-05:00

What a moron. I seriously cannot believe why anyone would do this.

Response by PO1 Darrell Benge made Dec 15 at 2015 9:52 AM

2015-12-15T09:52:18-05:00

Big Chicken Dinner is what he needs, he's not good enough to be a Deckape!

Response by PO3 Steven Benitez made Dec 15 at 2015 1:04 PM

2015-12-15T13:04:02-05:00

It's not that bad their, even when you get the boot it's not bad. Stress is at an all time high there but seriously going awol during what I would assume was "a" school this kids going to have a hard life

Response by Cpl Rc Layne made Dec 15 at 2015 9:11 PM

2015-12-15T21:11:20-05:00

Sounds like six, six and a kick to me.

Response by LCpl Aj Dessenberger made Dec 16 at 2015 10:54 AM

2015-12-16T10:54:18-05:00

And he needed odd jobs for money because? Sorry, maybe I'm just a simple grunt, but I've been waist deep in bullshit and this smells the same

Response by LCDR Steve Didio made Dec 16 at 2015 11:37 AM

2015-12-16T11:37:37-05:00

Strapped for cash? Worked "odd jobs"? Sounds more like he had an attack of "Dumbshit-itis". Nothing like screwing up your life early over something completely stupid.

Response by Sgt Thomas Coke made Dec 16 at 2015 12:44 PM

2015-12-16T12:44:10-05:00

Fuck him, kick his ass out! Probably got radicalized and now wants our Intel POS traitor deserter just like Bergdahl burn his ass.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Dec 16 at 2015 3:14 PM

2015-12-16T15:14:46-05:00

Seems like another self entitled brat who wasn't getting what he thought he was.
I am sure he has some weak ass excuse as to why he left and I doubt that he was working for cash on the streets of NYC. More likely, and I know its going to sound like something out of a movie, he got somehow connected to a spy from a foreign government and was briefing them on what he knows, I would not doubt that he somehow got some plans or photos of equipment / control panels.
Next we will hear is that this little scumbag was disillusioned with the Navy or some other equally poor excuse.
Ahh the Navy's very own Bradley / Chelsea Manning, I'm seeing a lifetime movie in the next few years.

Response by PO1 Gordon Eatley made Dec 16 at 2015 3:36 PM

2015-12-16T15:36:40-05:00

I think a big chicken dinner is in order

Response by CWO4 George Scruggs made Dec 16 at 2015 4:12 PM

2015-12-16T16:12:44-05:00

He needs to be thoroughly vetted.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2015 6:22 PM

2015-12-16T18:22:03-05:00

His ass is grass.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2015 7:42 PM

2015-12-16T19:42:25-05:00

Aaaaaaand he's gone...

Response by PO3 Eric Czynszak made Dec 16 at 2015 8:44 PM

2015-12-16T20:44:57-05:00

Must be something about those girls in Goose Creek. Girl down there had me messed up for my whole tour when I was in. Didn't do what this fool did but, still. Wow!

Response by PO3 Michael Crowder made Dec 16 at 2015 9:01 PM

2015-12-16T21:01:27-05:00

Whatever he learned in Nuke School is valuable currency. I half suspect he sold what he knew.

Response by TSgt Scott Podeyn made Dec 16 at 2015 11:56 PM

2015-12-16T23:56:58-05:00

Light his ass up the captains mast for awhile and a bad chicken dinner.

Response by Cpl Randal B Munoz made Dec 17 at 2015 8:10 AM

2015-12-17T08:10:09-05:00

Throw his sorry ass in the brig for 6months & give his worthless ass a "Dishonorable Discharge". That will stay on his record for a very long time.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Dec 17 at 2015 9:24 AM

2015-12-17T09:24:44-05:00

Reduction to E-1, repay his salary for the time he was missing, general discharge and a complimentary escort to the gate...can't ever trust him again with any of our personnel or equipment in my mind. May have not thought it through but he is an adult and made his own way.

Response by SSG Scott Shuman made Dec 17 at 2015 9:45 AM

2015-12-17T09:45:57-05:00

Awwww, I'm sorry little Navy puke. Lateral transfer into the Infantry. Make a man outta this punk.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 10:25 AM

2015-12-17T10:25:14-05:00

I hope there is a thorough investigation. Hopefully he didn't do anything that would jeopardize our National Security

Response by SN Erika Chaparro Gomez made Dec 17 at 2015 1:22 PM

2015-12-17T13:22:39-05:00

Well now we know where the Navy adage "Don't Nuke it!" comes from. He just nuked the shit out of his future. Its all the damned babying going on in training now, that is giving these millennials the sense of entitlement to do whatever the hell they want. Are these really the type of people we want fighting for our country? Hope he liked working odd jobs cause that's what he'll spend the rest of his life doing. UCMJ Article 85/Article 86/Article 87. A rose by any other name is still a rose.

Response by LTJG Robert M. made Dec 17 at 2015 4:04 PM

2015-12-17T16:04:39-05:00

polygraph him, find out where, what, with whom and for whom he has been doing!! If he was accepted to the School, doesn't it meas he was pre-vetted and had a pending clearance??

Response by SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres made Dec 17 at 2015 5:24 PM

2015-12-17T17:24:44-05:00

Why does the military need him? Monitor all of his activity on media streams etc, ensure this shit-bag doesn't share vital information and then be done with him. Make him pay back any money for bonus given to him,etc. Just a piece of feces to me....

Response by MCPO Tom Miller made Dec 17 at 2015 6:05 PM

2015-12-17T18:05:48-05:00

Let him go through the steps of military justice system! A special court martial sounds ok with brig time and an undesirable discharge. This should be his outcome without a rose garden family reunion praising his return!

Response by CW4 Scot Cowie made Dec 17 at 2015 7:37 PM

2015-12-17T19:37:36-05:00

Can you say Bosensmate, I think I spelled that right.
How long has this "Sailor" been in the nuke program? He has a clearance I am sure, or should I say had a clearance, but with this little foray he is pretty much DUN. People do not realize what a dumb decision like going AWOL can do to your life. Can you say reenlistment code of 5 on your DD214. Burger flippen for about 10 years.

Response by CW5 Joe Tygart made Dec 17 at 2015 8:52 PM

2015-12-17T20:52:13-05:00

What's so hard to understand about this "reported" act of Desertion. Punishment will be in accordance with (IAW) the UCMJ. Probable Hard Time, Fines and a Dishonorable... Let the UCMJ do it's job. Unfit under any terms! Hooah...

Response by CPT Kate Howe made Dec 17 at 2015 10:10 PM

2015-12-17T22:10:15-05:00

F***tard....

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Dec 18 at 2015 12:36 AM

2015-12-18T00:36:11-05:00

Nuclear trained sailor are susceptible to going UA or using drugs to get out. Their working hours on a Carrier is no joke. Some sailor work nearly 20 hours a day on deployment. I would go insane too if that's the case.

Response by PO1 Guy Hawkins made Dec 18 at 2015 8:08 AM

2015-12-18T08:08:46-05:00

He's not the first to have done this. Probably won't be the last! Better to just s**tcan him and send him packing. It's part of weeding out those that can't make it

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Dec 18 at 2015 8:48 AM

2015-12-18T08:48:22-05:00

Was there a hidden agenda? Of course there was! Hope it was worth it! I am just trying to figure out what made him want to return. Hmmmmmm.....

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 11:21 AM

2015-12-18T11:21:24-05:00

Let NCIS ask the questions that need to be answered, if he can't hack it then UCMJ will act accordingly to his actions. I have a feeling he will be joining the civilian life.

Response by PO1 Russell Henson made Dec 18 at 2015 11:22 AM

2015-12-18T11:22:55-05:00

AWOL, loss of security clearance, dropped to E1, possibly loss of rate.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 11:39 AM

2015-12-18T11:39:04-05:00

He turned up for what?

Response by CW2 Carl Swanson made Dec 18 at 2015 2:51 PM

2015-12-18T14:51:26-05:00

I see this as another symptom of the Millenials. Not taking responsibility for their own actions and not being fully aware of the consequences involved. Let him spend a few months in the brig and take away some of the freedoms he enjoys. Then a nice BCD and send him out into the "real" world and see how much fun his life is now.

Response by CW3 Jim Norris made Dec 18 at 2015 3:48 PM

2015-12-18T15:48:56-05:00

This little dude should be thourghly interrogated and every effort to track his where about's....if it was me he would be no where near anything near classified until that is completely resolved....jail time is of course in order for desertion.

Response by PO2 Justin Songer made Dec 18 at 2015 4:51 PM

2015-12-18T16:51:45-05:00

Really hope he enjoyed himself, cause he just screwed the pooch big time. I know there are hundreds of Shipmates that would give there left leg for the opportunity he had. In my opinion, he was AWOL for those two months. Bust him dow. To E-1 and send him to Leavenworth.

Response by PO1 Rick Duff made Dec 18 at 2015 5:07 PM

2015-12-18T17:07:26-05:00

I'm sorry my ass! In the Nuclear Power Program, you walk the line, or you mess crank and go become the bosun's lil boy. (True verbiage disguised to prevent offending pansies that may or may not exist...)

Response by MCPO Ronald Harris made Dec 18 at 2015 7:15 PM

2015-12-18T19:15:49-05:00

So a UA Sailor is what paaaes for news on this site?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 7:49 PM

2015-12-18T19:49:58-05:00

Red flags on this one. He needs to spend some time at Fort Leavenworth! But they will most likely hit him with an AWOL charge and kick him out.

Response by COL John Hudson made Dec 19 at 2015 9:39 AM

2015-12-19T09:39:49-05:00

Administrative punishment in the form of an Article 15 for "Failure to Repair" - at a minimum for AWOL would be a start.

Response by SCPO Charles Thomas "Tom" Canterbury made Dec 19 at 2015 11:00 AM

2015-12-19T11:00:42-05:00

I've seen plenty of people who were in a career path they didn't want and who would use something like this to get out of it. Of course being I designated will suck, but if he didn't want the life of a Nuke then he will get what he wanted.

Response by PO1 Dave Jones made Dec 19 at 2015 11:07 AM

2015-12-19T11:07:39-05:00

Well apparently he was intelligent enough to secure a very sought after billet that would have set him up for life. I hope he gained valuable work experience in his odd job phase they will serve him well. It's a Big Chicken Dinner for you my friend

Response by PO1 Aaron Baltosser made Dec 19 at 2015 4:17 PM

2015-12-19T16:17:15-05:00

So he is a Deserter, with knowledge of Classified Information. That does not bode well for his future, or the future of anyone else that may wind up dead if his poor financial planning caused him to divulge secrets to people he should not have.

Response by PO1 Wayne Ball made Dec 20 at 2015 7:16 AM

2015-12-20T07:16:51-05:00

Am I just an old retired, conspiracy-theorist and paranoid bubblehead? My first thought was espionage or something more dubious than his lame-ass excuse. There are many facts that are unknown to us at this moment. Did the investigation include any verification of "odd-jobs"? If he needed money, I am not sure odd-jobs in New York would pay that well. Ifoney was the issue, I would think his " knowledge" would be worth something. But, then why call attention to yourself by going missing for two (2) months. Just a bizarre story!

Response by SSG Johb Coates made Dec 20 at 2015 8:33 AM

2015-12-20T08:33:35-05:00

What does "basically disappeared" mean? As a "part of the Navy", is he not a sailor? The credibility of this writer is in question.

Response by CSM Donald Smallwood made Dec 20 at 2015 5:48 PM

2015-12-20T17:48:27-05:00

Nothing short of AWOL and DFR of his unit.
Time for security access revocation followed by investigation which should lead to a court-martial with discharge.

Response by Cpl Ernest Thomas made Dec 20 at 2015 7:58 PM

2015-12-20T19:58:12-05:00

Unfortunately obama will most likely embrace this punk and ask him to make a clock!

Response by MSgt Christopher Schoen made Dec 21 at 2015 9:05 AM

2015-12-21T09:05:25-05:00

We all did some stupid shit early in our careers. Heck, I remember an old Viet Nam chief at his retirement ceremony talking about his Article 15's (Captain's Mast). NJP stuff. The Navy and his command will take care of this properly.

Response by PO3 Keith Armstrong made Dec 21 at 2015 10:51 AM

2015-12-21T10:51:19-05:00

What a ass hat.....send him to the fleet to mess crank for 4 years.

Response by SSG Keith Cashion made Dec 21 at 2015 5:19 PM

2015-12-21T17:19:08-05:00

My son -in-law is a Navy Recruiter and he is telling me all the time how hard it is to get these jobs, and this young man had it in his hand and pissed it away. I see that career doing a clock wise swirl down the ole drain. Sense was not common with this one.

Response by SSG Brian Weeden made Dec 23 at 2015 6:56 PM

2015-12-23T18:56:26-05:00

I sorry to have to admit he not only is from my home town... I'm an an East Union graduate from MANTECA!!

Response by CPL Yanna Conkle made Dec 27 at 2015 10:36 PM

2015-12-27T22:36:59-05:00

Wow, if he thought he was only going to work odd jobs for a little bit, ha, he may be doing that again very soon.

Like most AWOL babies, he may have a tooth ache, or medical issue, and finding out how much something actually costs, well, time to return for the free care.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 12:05 AM

2015-12-28T00:05:34-05:00

Take his benefits 40 days extra duty tjn send his ass home with dishonorable.

Response by SPC David Cervantes made Dec 28 at 2015 12:38 AM

2015-12-28T00:38:56-05:00

The man went awol, should be in prison.

Response by SSG Keith Forbes made Dec 28 at 2015 12:33 PM

2015-12-28T12:33:10-05:00

I have mixed feelings about this. I agree, too many unanswered questions. From past experiences, don't waste time with punishment, man power, nor supervision. Save all resources, and discharge him as quickly as possible. His actions are totally unacceptable & he knew better. If he was struggling with the course, help is available. To keep him around is only going to make matters worse, in so many more ways than one.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 4:47 PM

2015-12-28T16:47:41-05:00

Was he exposed to anything that would be valuable to the enemy? If he was strapped for cash, maybe he sold them. Ridiculous, but certainly something worth looking into....

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 10:17 PM

2015-12-28T22:17:19-05:00

I definitely would be wary about any adjudication other than Admin Sep! he obviously can't be trusted and you don't just leave an advanced course with a line on the academy to work odd jobs unless there IS a hidden agenda

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2015 10:44 AM

2015-12-29T10:44:54-05:00

Send him green side we'll take care of him

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2015 11:52 AM

2015-12-29T11:52:40-05:00

This dude came from my home town, wtf...and it's spelled Manteca

Response by SPC Matthew Keough made Dec 29 at 2015 8:03 PM

2015-12-29T20:03:43-05:00

Chapter him out . Dis-Honorable discharge. Let him walk through life with that ,unemployable and cannot apply for any
type of benefits. Let his actions do for him the rest of his life what he's done to the service and himself. He's a strapping young lad ripe age of 21 good luck for the next 70 years.