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Letters to the Editor

PROBLEMS WITH INSURV

I would like to comment on the mine ship Chief’s most recent failure by the Board of Inspection and Survey [“Mine ship fails INSURV,” July 11]. Our rotational crew had just gone through INSURV on the mine countermeasures ship Champion in April and passed.

However, this wouldn’t have ever been possible without long, countless hours for almost five months. We sacrificed everything, from our families to our liberty to our physical training. We didn’t do but two weeks of Fitness Enhancement Program PT in six months, and there were eight personnel in our command with two failures; three failed their most recent physical readiness test. Way to help your guys out; I can pass an inspection, but I can’t take care of my sailors.

These ships are not getting the funding to help fix them. In relation to all the ships in San Diego, what is a minesweeper, anyway? You go over to a destroyer and they are having a continuous maintenance availability that’s costing them $10 million — that’s not even our funding for the whole year. Yet they expect the minesweepers to pass the same inspections as the rest of the fleet.

It really doesn’t surprise me that Chief failed because of the condition of these ships and the funding. We want to keep these ships until 2020, but is there a benefit in the amount of money it will take to fix them and keep them running over that time frame?

It’s really a shame because the sailors work long hours on these ships to get them to where they are, and then you get crushed with an “unsatisfactory.”

If Naval Surface Forces wants to do something, let’s start with better service and some more money!

— MNC (SW/EXW) Anthony Stone, San Diego

INSURV is just nightmare cram sessions in which ships try to hide manpower and budget issues. No ship wants to be on the cover of Navy Times for failing INSURV. A Navy Times article will only [state] that equipment was broken and give the impression that the commanding officer and crew didn’t take care of their ship.

However, there is more to the story. Navy Times won’t [mention] that the crew members worked at least 14-hour days, six or seven days a week, starting two months before the INSURV. The article won’t show that ships only get much-needed support and maintenance within their INSURV window. When INSURV time arrives, all of a sudden there is major work to be accomplished, and temporary additional duty personnel augment the ship’s force.

INSURV puts tremendous pressure on the mental and physical health of a ship’s crew. I have seen hope in young sailors’ eyes turn to heartbreak.

INSURV doesn’t care about schedule, budget or manning. INSURV is such a horrible event that INSURV’s website links to a suicide-prevention website. Does anyone not see a problem with this?

I cannot wait until my ship gets released from our captor, the impending INSURV. If we pass, we just validate that the Navy can do more with less. We pat ourselves on the back and, in Stockholm syndrome-like fashion, thank INSURV for making us so combat-ready. The bigger issues never get solved as we continue with our high op tempo and manning issues.

The article on the dock landing ship Oak Hill in the May 9 issue [“An amphib’s comeback”] is a perfect example of a victim of neglect-turned-INSURV love story.

— FC1 (SW) Derrick Wilson, San Diego

CONSIDER A TAX HIKE

When I read the article “Lawmakers flirt with retired-pay overhaul” [July 4], confusion was all I could feel.

I understand the massive debt the government bears and the need to make deep cuts, and I fully agree that everything needs to be on the table. Tuition assistance and retirement pay should be included.

However, Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., walked out of the debt meetings when the prospect of tax hikes for the wealthy was brought up. With the proposed cuts to Medicare, Social Security and now defense, all of which will be painful to the lower and middle class, is it really that outrageous to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay just a little more?

Cantor didn’t even say “no” to tax hikes. The idea was so offensive to them that he and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., refused to participate in discussions that would even suggest a tax increase.

I understand why the richest 1 percent vote Republican, but someone will have to explain why the rest do.

— Marine Corps Sgt. Christopher Floyd, Escondido, Calif.

NAVY IS TOO SENSITIVE

Your July 11 cover asks the question, “Has the Navy gone crazy?”

As my lawyer friend would say, asked and answered.

We now have a Navy where the feelings of the most sensitive female sailor set the standards for everyone. Yes, there is a regulation against “tacking on.” This is to be regretted, as is the loss of “crossing the line,” chiefs’ initiations and similar traditions. Anything that women don’t like is now taboo.

Now a female commanding officer [seeks] the career death penalty for six sailors. Captain’s mast? Yes, if you must. But discharge? Really?

— Cmdr. Gilbert D. Gibson (ret.), Burke, Va.

EXCHANGES often PRICIER

I rarely go to the exchange because all too often I find that there are not many deals to be had [“Military retailers seek key to luring shoppers back,” June 20]. Many times, I find items that are overpriced.

This goes especially for electronics. They are often outdated and cost more. I understand they will match the price offered by another store, but rarely does an item model exactly match a competitor’s product.

The other day I found a bottle of alcohol at a local store on sale for $3 less than at the exchange. Why does the exchange always boast discounts when I rarely see them?

On the flip side, to give credit where it’s due, I find great deals at the exchange on clothing and commissary items.

— AZAN (AW) Charlton L. Butler, Norfolk, Va.