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Cheating Rampant in Navy's Submarine Crews: Report

Commander, tenth of USS Memphis crew fired

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 16, 2011 8:18 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Navy discovered cheating so widespread among one of its nuclear submarine crews that it fired the commander of the USS Memphis and 10% of its crew, according to a report obtained by the AP. Sailors were emailed the answers before qualification exams and openly asked their officers for answer keys, the probe found. Navy officials say the case is isolated, but some former submarine officers say the problem is rampant, blaming it on competition between commanders and pressure to keep hitting higher performance targets.

One former instructor at the Navy's submarine school in Connecticut says he heard about cheating from members of a dozen other crews. "They've expected more and more paperwork, with higher levels of compliance, and over time those expectations diverged from what people are actually doing," he says. "In the nuclear department, the test became so difficult it really had no bearing on what people were doing on a daily basis."

In this March 2, 2011 file photo, the Los Angeles Class attack submarine USS Memphis returns to the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton, Conn., after a two-month deployment that was its final mission.
In this March 2, 2011 file photo, the Los Angeles Class attack submarine USS Memphis returns to the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton, Conn., after a two-month deployment that was its final mission.   (AP Photo/The Day, Sean D. Elliot, File)
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Most people have great integrity except in this one area. On a lot of boats, they'll bend the rules and try to juice the results. - A former submarine officer, speaking under condition of anonymity

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
paddymc68
Aug 16, 2011 8:58 AM CDT
John Cromwell is rolling over in his watery grave. 
HarryBeaver
Aug 16, 2011 8:46 AM CDT
We have nuclear submarines, yet we are worried about how we will pay for health care for our parents?
Scaramouche
Aug 16, 2011 8:32 AM CDT
Nothing new at all. When I was in the Navy, I remember people bribing the education officers to mark their training manuals completed, even if they'd never opened them.
 

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