After three obvious suicides per week on board the USS George Washington, the US Navy determined to scale back the variety of personnel dwelling on board the ship in clear response to the crew’s complaints.
Below the brand new plan, about 260 of the 400 sailors on board can be transferred to non permanent lodging beginning this week. The choice could possibly be obtainable to a different 50 employees every week, a spokesman for the ABC Navy stated. The service will often depart the fundamental crew on board ships within the shipyard to reply instantly within the occasion of a hearth or different emergency.
The USS George Washington has been with the Newport Information Shipyard since 2017 as a result of a mid-life overhaul, and its return to service has been delayed by a minimum of a yr as a result of a pandemic and extra restore wants. . Different crew members reported harsh dwelling and dealing situations on board in the course of the discipline. “It is not a spot for sailors for the primary time the place you promote all this stuff from a recruiter and also you’re thrown into this ship, the place issues do not even work, the ports aren’t clear, the loos aren’t clear,” a crew member advised the Navy Occasions.
The issues of life within the shipyard have broken morale, some crew members and former crew members report. Whereas the challenges of a very long time within the navy are well-known, the apparent consequence on board Washington isn’t good. Final yr, seven crew members died, considered one of unknown trigger, one for suicide and one other three for obvious suicide. Following public requires an investigation, the Navy appointed a rear admiral. Brad Dunham, Deputy Commander of the Atlantic Naval Air Power, to analyze high quality of life issues on board shipyards.
