How to destroy your military career in a few easy steps

This is the story of Commander Michael P. Ward II. He was due to take command of the USS Pittsburgh, a fast attack submarine, until in several showings of absolutely stunning stupidity, he utterly destroyed his career.

In October of 2010, Cmdr Ward met an unnamed 23 year old woman on a dating website (Cmdr Ward was married, with children at the time). He used a false name, and told the woman that he was a special forces operator. In June of this year, Cmdr Ward decided that he wanted out of the affair.

In the second stunning display of stupidity, the Commander, using another false name, sent an email to his mistress saying, "He asked me to tell you in case this ever happened, but he's gone." Here's where the fun really gets rolling. Three days after receiving word of his "death", the mistress drove to his home to pay her respects, where she was informed that not only was he not dead, but he had just sold the house, and moved to take command of the sub.

One of her relatives then informed NCIS of the whole story. Commander Ward has since been removed from command of the Pittsburgh, and placed in an administrative role.

Redacted report

Blog report

reply to post by Zaphod58


Because of the demonstrated lack of self-control and intelligence, I am glad he is no longer in command of a ship.

Especially something along the lines of a submarine. They're supposed to be the best out there, and act fairly autonomously.

reply to post by Zaphod58


This dud does not need to be in a leadership position. His thoughts and deeds are nothing for young sailors to emulate.

Do you really want someone with such demonstrated ineptitude, commanding a submarine????????

its a lot easier then that to destroy your military career.

If he used a flase name and sent the 'he's dead' message via another fake name. How did she know where he lived? If he was married with kids, wouldn't they be at the house? So, surely he would not be taking her back there then or anywhere near where he would be recognised. With all that sneaking about and ablility to lie, they probably will give him a job with the CIA.

reply to post by theconspirator


A few opionated posts on facebook can do it

reply to post by theconspirator


There are a few hundred ways to do it, but you don't normally hear about a sub commander being as stupid as this guy was. Sub commanders are usually smarter, and better officers than this idiot.

Originally posted by CthulhuMythos
If he used a flase name and sent the 'he's dead' message via another fake name. How did she know where he lived? If he was married with kids, wouldn't they be at the house? So, surely he would not be taking her back there then or anywhere near where he would be recognised. With all that sneaking about and ablility
to lie, they probably will give him a job with the CIA.

Actually, infidelity is the one common factor that links most individuals who are willing to compromise national security for personal gain without regard to their rank or country of origin.

If you can find a traitor or spy or double agent they have almost in 99% of the cases violated their marriage vows. It is the most easy way to manipulate someone into working as an informant.

Adultery is a common trait among the universally untrustworthy and his clearance will be revoked and he will be gone from the service. H might be allowed to retire but he will never command or be in charge of anything other than unclassified desk work - most likely power point for the time he has remaining. It is the most exploitable of infractions next to financial instability

Individuals who spy or are sources for ideological reasons are far more reliable than one who is being manipulated or especially one who does it for money.

I'm sure there's a joke about submarines and sea men to be had out of this but i'm just not able to think one up !

Yeah a guy that foolish shouldn't be in charge of a rubber dingy let alone a submarine, well done on the mistress for outing the idiot.

Originally posted by Golf66

Originally posted by CthulhuMythos
If he used a flase name and sent the 'he's dead' message via another fake name. How did she know where he lived? If he was married with kids, wouldn't they be at the house? So, surely he would not be taking her back there then or anywhere near where he would be recognised. With all that sneaking about and ablility
to lie, they probably will give him a job with the CIA.

Actually, infidelity is the one common factor that links most individuals who are willing to compromise national security for personal gain without regard to their rank or country of origin.

If you can find a traitor or spy or double agent they have almost in 99% of the cases violated their marriage vows. It is the most easy way to manipulate someone into working as an informant.

Adultery is a common trait among the universally untrustworthy and his clearance will be revoked and he will be gone from the service. H might be allowed to retire but he will never command or be in charge of anything other than unclassified desk work - most likely power point for the time he has remaining. It is the most exploitable of infractions next to financial instability

Individuals who spy or are sources for ideological reasons are far more reliable than one who is being manipulated or especially one who does it for money.

Hmmm, interesting statistics there. Rather worrisome when we see how many of our politicians, including Prime Ministers, have been caught with their pants down, and that is just the ones who have been caught!!!
The one that always comes to mind is Paddy Ashdown who was very quickly dubbed Paddy Pantsdown, which always did and still does, make me laugh
Unfortunately they don't get demoted to a non descript desk job but tend to fade into the background and join the unelected invisible government!

His career is not destroyed.

He will be given a cubicle to run and will still retire and collect a retirement.


There was a black General in charge of Ramstein Air Force Base. During the Bosnia War only C-130's could fly into there. A Black politician "Ron Brown"....our Commerce Secretary.....one of the Clinton's money men....wanted to fly into Bosnia. The Black General decided to make a political move for his future and wanted to send the black Politician into Bosnia in luxury on a BIG pretty jet.....problem is those big jets couldn't land on the runway we had there. Only C-130's do to the terrain, landing strip guidance systems, low cloud cover and mountains.

Anyways the Black Generals Colonels were all saying there's no way that plane can go in there. The Black General dismissed all those Colonels and ordered the plane in.

She crashed,,,almost everybody died when it crashed. There WERE a few survivors but the Bosnian's got there first and shot all the survivors between the eyes.

That General was personally fired by President Clinton.....but was given a cubicle in the Pentagon to run until he had enough time in to retire.

He retired and collected a paycheck. He killed a black poltician, our Commerce Secretary and all aboard that plane. Didn't hurt his career.....he still collected a retirement check.

There IS politics in our military. And Officers AINT thrown under the bus.....they still collect their retirements and will be able to stay in until they have enough time to retire. Officers CAN NOT destroy their careers...even when they make severe mistakes they still collect $$$$ in the end.

How many people do you know who have killed politicians and never faced a trial? I've known one.

en.wikipedia.org...