Riverine Squadron Skipper Fired

Cmdr. Eric Rasch, the commander of the riverine squadron that was captured and detained by Iranian forces in January, has been fired. Military.com cited a Navy statement made May 12 that Rasch was removed as skipper of Coastal Riverine Squadron 3 because of a “loss of confidence in his ability to command.” Rasch was serving as the squadron’s executive officer when two of its boats drifted into Iranian waters Jan. 12, after one of the vessels sustained a mechanical problem with a diesel engine. The Iranians detained 10 sailors for 24 hours.