Navy Accidents Followed Overlooked Warning Signs: Report

WASHINGTON, DC — The USS John S. McCain and USS Fitzgerald both failed to maintain basic training requirements before being involved in deadly accidents that killed a total of 17 sailors this summer, according to a stunning report published Monday by CNN.

Citing data sent from the Government Accountability Office to Congress, reporter Jeremy Herb found that the Fitzgerald had 10 out of 10 expired training certifications for "key warfare mission areas." Six of 10 of McCain's certifications had expired before its accident. According to the report, these training records were worse than average for American warships in the Pacific, though the problem extends beyond the ships involved in fatal accidents. The key areas in which the ship's training had fallen behind include "air warfare, ballistic missile defense, electronic warfare, fire support, cruise missiles and more." (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

The 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin was dismissed following the accidents. The Navy is conducting a "comprehensive review" to determine the roots of the problem.

Read the full report at CNN>>

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U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Fulton/U.S. Navy via Getty Images