For those not in the Navy man overboard is about the fourth worst thing that can happen right behind missiles getting chucked at you, main space fires, and water where it is not supposed to be and rising. Everything stops for man overboard. My last ship I got onboard for the last few weeks of a 9 month deployment. No one had died,not even in the ashore MEU that was in combat. A rarity. Every deployment, someone died peacetime or not. A few days onboard and someone comes up missing. 19 year E6 had kiddie pornon the government computer. Oops. Most likely jumped to get his wife the life insurance since there would be no pension. Maybe pushed. We reversed course, headed back east for a full day. Stayed at general quarters forever, searched everything many times. Never found. The Marines were livid, 9 months in the sand, now this. Wanted posters appeared quickly. Condition unimportant.
Two days later a flight deck hand reached for a tossed football. Fell down bomb disposal ramp. He was seen in the water, had a float coat, it was daylight and moderate seas, lookout got a smoke right on him, still lost at sea in the few minutes it took to get the boat on the smoke.
It is deadly serious, you do not screw around with man overboard and if I didn't personally see you then you aren't mustered. Needs some wall to wall counseling.
