Navy Fires Entire Amphibious Command Due to 'Loss of Confidence'

Three U.S. Navy Command officers have been re-assigned after Rear Admiral John V. Menoni fired them due to "a loss of confidence in their abilities to effectively perform their leadership roles."

The Navy's decision to remove the officers followed "a formal command investigation," Lieutenant Commander Paul Newell, a spokesman for Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, told Newsweek.

"The investigation remains open, and we do not intend to take further disciplinary action," he said, declining to provide additional information on the firings.

The relieved officers, who oversaw a unit providing military construction services, have been re-assigned to the Navy's Region Mid-Atlantic, said Newell.

"There is no impact to the command's mission or schedule due to the reliefs," the Navy said in the press release announcing the decision on Friday.

Citing "a loss of confidence in their abilities to effectively perform their leadership roles," Rear Admiral John V. Menoni fired the entire command triad team for Amphibious Construction Battalion 2 on Thursday, according to a U.S. Navy press release.

The battalion's now-dismissed triad team included Capitan Jeffrey Lengkeek, commanding officer; Commander Michael Jarosz, executive officer; and Command Master Chief Matthew Turner, according to the Navy.

Before the firings, Lengkeek and Jarosz served both served in their positions since July 2020 and Turner in his role since 2019. The Navy also announced who will be filling the officers' positions temporarily until permanent replacements can be named. Captain Brian C. Finman will serve as commanding officer. Commander Henry P. Pierce IV will serve as executive officer. Master Chief Todd Mangin will serve as command master chief.

Relieving the entire command triad of a battalion is rare, but it's not unprecedented. The reasons can also vary.

The triad of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, deployed to Okinawa, Japan, was fired in 2018 after the unit's executive officer was found intoxicated and wearing only his boots following a command gathering, reported the Navy Times.

Three leaders at the San Diego-based SEAL Team 7 were removed in 2019 following a drunken Fourth of July party in Iraq and an accusation of sexual assault against a female service member, reported The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Earlier this winter, the Navy relieved a string of officers of command for reasons ranging in seriousness, reported Task & Purpose. One refused to get tested for COVID-19 and another mishandled a sexual harassment complaint. One was relieved for not following proper procedures. Typically, the Navy fires about 40 leaders annually, retired Navy Commander Bryan Clark told the news outlet.

"While it's not unprecedented, it's a decision that wasn't taken lightly," said Newell of the more recent firings. He added, "the Navy doesn't change its standards of what is expected."

Based on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, the Amphibious Construction Battalion 2 provides "ship-to-shore movement" of equipment needed to support military operations.

Known as the "Seabees," the battalion operates under the motto "We Build—We Fight" and constructs buildings and infrastructure to facilitate troop movements.