You'd think the least they could do is call in the local Naval Reserve or Coast Guard unit, or one of the Navy vets on their own staff, and interview someone knowledgeable guy to give a little background. Even if their expert wasn't there to witness the event, he could give the reporter some idea of what kind of questions he should be asking.

The US Navy and Coast Guard are, I believe, the only armed forces in the world who entrust navigation to the ratings (enlisted men). For every other Navy in the world, officers do the navigating. On my ship's Navigation Department we had an officer who was officially "The Navigator", but he was primarily an administrative and command person, with little of no knowledge of the art. The senior navigation rating was a First Class Petty Officer (E-6), who was actually responsible for navigation and supervising the junior Quartermasters. On my ship that consisted of 3 Third Class Petty Officers like myself (E-4) who actually stood bridge watches and did routine navigational work, like data updates and maintenance on our charts and publications.

When I, a lowly E-4, was on the bridge, the Captain himself might come up to me and ask me for advice on a technical issue, vital to the ship's safety and when I answered, he accepted it as truth, and respecteed my opinion. And if I (respectfully) questioned the wisdom of one of his orders, like reminding him the course he just ordered was a potentially dangerous one, and why, he was obligated to listen to my advice, although he was under no obligation to follow it. In fact, he was required by regulations to do so. I was the expert in that rate.

That's a pretty heavy responsibility for a 20 year old. And it made you feel like you were doing a real job. As much as I hated the Navy, I loved my job.

QM3 "crow", worn on left shoulder

Army Quartermasters hand out laundry and give haircuts.