Marine Commander Relieved Of Duty For Demanding Accountability From Military Leadership
“I have been fighting for 17 years. I am willing to throw it all away to say to my senior leaders, I demand accountability.”
Marine commander Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller made the decision to post a video in which he, in uniform, demands military leadership accountability for the absolute disgrace, dishonor, and all-around cluster in Afghanistan.
With a shockingly sophomoric, greedy, gleaming and highly politicized eye on a glorious twentieth anniversary of 9/11 photo-op followed (they imagined) by slathering adulation from the legacy media, the bungling Biden administration, including its cowardly ‘woke’ military top brass, have made abysmal, catastrophic decisions that have (so far) cost the lives of 13 members of our military and at least 100 Afghans.
Colonel Scheller was justifiably furious about and grieving the completely foreseeable and entirely preventable deaths of a dozen of his Marine brothers and that of a Navy corpsman.
He notes that military leadership had an honor-bound duty to “throw their rank on the table” and defend America and our troops on the ground against bad strategy and sloppy planning, and they all failed in that.
They fail to this day as not one has had the moral fiber to resign either in protest or in disgrace and not one is being held accountable. Colonel Scheller is right, and it’s powerful stuff.
This is what real leadership looks like. https://t.co/ScQFskzP1e
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) August 27, 2021
"I’m not saying we’ve got to be in Afghanistan forever, but I am saying: Did any of you throw your rank on the table and say ‘hey, it’s a bad idea to evacuate Bagram Airfield, a strategic airbase, before we evacuate everyone.’ Did anyone do that?"https://t.co/P4SwGRYRU5
— James Clark (@JamesWClark) August 27, 2021
"I have been fighting for 17 years. I am willing to throw it all away to say to my senior leaders, I demand accountability." – Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller on the failures in Afghanistan that led to American servicemen dying. pic.twitter.com/JPH3nTctrG
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) August 27, 2021
When I first saw this video on Friday, I knew—as did Colonel Scheller—that his military career was over. Sure enough, he was swiftly relieved of his command.
UPDATE: Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who in a viral video called for accountability among senior leaders after the attack in Afghanistan, has announced on Facebook that he's been fired https://t.co/2dfBxc1upY pic.twitter.com/i83QFqqYm6
— Dave Brown (@dave_brown24) August 27, 2021
Colonel Scheller then posted the following:
Update from Marine Lt. Col. Stu Scheller, who was fired for criticizing military leadership on Afghanistan: “If you agree… then step up.” pic.twitter.com/UvBqQdhyZM
— Kristina Wong 🇺🇸 (@kristina_wong) August 28, 2021
People have thoughts.
1. Lt Col Scheller is substantively 100% right.
2. When I was in, and if he made this, I would’ve relieved him of command. No politics.
3. But the standard has changed. The leadership changed it. The rule is now uniformed military can do politics. So I would give him a medal. https://t.co/ruHzagEQf0
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) August 27, 2021
The only guy fired so far is the guy pointing out how incompetent the guys who haven’t resigned or been fired are. Welcome to our glorious establishment. This is what you wanted when you voted for Biden and this is what you’ve got. Own it. Own your failure.
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) August 27, 2021
I respect LtCol Scheller, not just because I'm a former Marine myself (just retired from the USMCR in 2019), but because his moral compass is NOT broken. Leaders are people who stand behind their convictions, despite the consequences… we lost good Marines (and Doc) for nothing
— AJ Levinson (@ajlevinson) August 27, 2021
If someone said this during Trump years they would have opened another impeachment against Trump and promoted this guy somehow. I love what he said, but it’s crazy the double standard. Thank you for your service sir
— Ben House (@bhouse69) August 27, 2021
Meanwhile.
Top leadership at the Office of Naval Intelligence informed active duty and retired service members that they cannot condemn Joe Biden over his Afghanistan failures.https://t.co/FM6KAq5ie8
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) August 27, 2021
Bwahahaha I’m retired. I’d LOVE to see them try to apply the UCMJ to me for talking about senile Joe and his Afghanistan catastrophe. Any one wants a piece of me, let me know. I’ll DM you my lawyer’s contact info. https://t.co/zxjmTTWyR2
— Joe Pilot, MD (@JoeSilverman7) August 28, 2021
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Comments
Have any of his peers stepped up?
I’m wondering if this will start something. He’s tossed a pension and will likely find private sector employment closed due to government threats.
But he’d be a mighty candidate for office, wouldn’t he.
The armed forces are systematically weeding out officers who have integrity, who believe America is worth fighting for, believe if this country goes to war it damned well be committed to victory, and last but not least, officers who don’t despise their own troops.
I’ll hire him.
This outcome was inevitable. Criticism of superiors in the military is prohibited, and Colonel Scheller knew this going in. Yet his honor would not allow him to idly stand by while those in authority behaved like craven cowards.
I served with officers and men like Col. Scheller, but that was many years ago. Sad to say, the military leadership of this age is so corrupted by power and position they allowed the catastrophe of Afghanistan to occur on their watch with nary a whimper of protest. This is to their eternal shame.
Semper fi, colonel.
“Criticism of superiors in the military is prohibited” unless your name is Alexander Vindman and your Commander in Chief is Donald Trump.
Trump should personally sacked Vindman.
Vindman reported the incident through proper channels, he didn’t post any internet videos.
Vindman bypassed his chain of command and went directly to see a lawyer at the Nation Security Council. He bypassed his immediate superior, Tim Morrison. Mr Morrison, his boss and reporting senior, said later that Vindman did not follow the chain of command when Vindman reported his concerns about the Trump-Zelensky phone call to NSC’s legal counsel. Vindman was later fired.
Still not the same as vomiting your low opinion of the President onto the internet.
What an ignoramus. Why are you posting bullsh-t?
Fuck off asshole. If that overfed chair warming rear echelon mother f******r didn’t like what he heard on the telephone (which by the way was well within the purview of the CinC), he should have resigned his commission.
The President is the top of the military food chain.
What rock did you crawl out from under?
Last time I checked, we had a Constitution that imposes limits on Presidential power. What is it that military personnel take an oath to defend again?
/This. Every word of it.
A question:
Out of all the serving officers — not only in the USMC, but all branches — is Colonel Scheller the only officer to have the fortitude and honor to stand up in the face of this debacle? If so, I weep for our country.
Colonel Scheller has surrendered the well-earned rewards of 17 years of faithful service to the citizens of this nation, often risking his own life, in order to “speak truth to power”. I dislike that phrase, but in this case it is absolutely appropriate.
I wonder how many of those currently serving — officer and enlisted — will choose to remain on active duty after this national disgrace. Afghanistan is a stain that will tarnish this nation for decades to come, far worse than Vietnam, where I served.
The final cost to our country is yet to be determined.
Compare the case of Marine LtCol Scheller with that of Army LtCol Vindman. LtCol Scheller is “relieved for cause” because he called out the chain of command and demanded accountability, but LtCol Alexander Vindman – remember him? – he can accuse the President of the United States and testify against him and he gets praised to high heaven for his high moral standards.
WTF?? What planet am I on??
Not a planet. You are now in the beginning of a dystopian United States where temper tantrum Millennials are now in control. What we know is being unraveled at a faster pace every day.
Everywhere I look it is old people on charge.
If you believe Biden or any other “Boomer” is in charge, you are a fool.
The armchair keyboard warriors are in charge. Biden and his ilk are the Potemkin face of this country.
Like black clad pussies sacking American cities are in charge while the decrepit elders cower.
You really think the brownshirts are the top of their food chain? I don’t know who is at the top, but it ain’t the kids.
Mostly true. The democrat party is a gerontocracy. But it is also true that the likes of Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez wield great power over the older “bosses” simply by virtue of getting their self-important outrage in the news quite often.
I think you need to look up the definition of Millennial. The people in charge are the peers of Jane Fonda and her ilk, and people trained by them.
I’ll cut you some slack. Jane Fonda and her peers may be the Potemkin face of the government.
But the armchair keyboard pussies with Anitifag and BLM are in charge.
Prove me wrong.
Welcome to our Live adaptation of Idiocracy!
Now, this probe goes in your mouth, this one in your armpit, and this one goes in your butt. Wait. *This* one goes in your mouth, *this* one in……. Wait…
Huh?
IMO, this was the epitome of moral courage. LTC Scheller posted his comments in public knowing full well he would be relieved. He resisted the entreaties of friends and peers to pull it down. His career ended the moment he submitted this. He will be fortunate to be retained until his retirement date. He knowingly proceeded.
He put Nation and service ahead of his own interests. This is what the founders called sacred honor.
It’s good order and discipline to suspend him. They guy was about to quit anyway because of the crap going on and figured he might as well do some good on the way out. A win/win.
Yesterday’s news
I hope you don’t come to LI for breaking news, @gonzotx. That’s not what we do here. We break stories regarding our mission, particularly regarding Oberlin and CRT, and we provide the Internet’s best coverage of legal cases (Oberlin, Zimmerman, Chauvin) and of antisemitism, but we are not and don’t pretend to be, a “news” organization. That said, yes, this is technically “yesterday’s news.” As are something like 80% (plus) of our posts; you’ve been here for years and know this, so what is your point?
Shame on you gonzo…
I respect an outfit that prefers to verify, fact-check, and validate before forming their opinions instead of the rush to be “first”.
Seriously, go straight to hell with that attitude.
For many years, the only part of the United States government that I had any respect for was the military.
“Had”. Past tense. Not any more.
Former Technical Sergeant (E-6) Rusty Bill
United States Air Force/Mississippi Air National Guard/Texas Air National Guard
CTR3 USN (fired). Just four years. But, I agree. The military collectively is a disgrace today.
Indeed. It’s tough for those of us, though, with kids still in the military, who signed up when Trump was prez and now have to suffer with a demented pervert-in-chief supposedly in charge.
A number of years ago, a nephew of mine who I had encouraged to join the Marines retired with 20+ years as an E-8. He spent multiple tours in hot, dry, places where we officially were not. I am both extremely proud of him, and very grateful that he is out.
Subotai Bahadur
I feel like the go-along and get along era may be coming to an end.
If you haven’t figured out what the Vaccine mandates are really about- they are a purge of all wrong thinkers.
If he had instead gone on a rant blaming Trump and Republicans he’d still have his job.
Meanwhile the Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to tell RETIRED service members that they ‘cannot disrespect senior government leadership.’
Remember when HUNDREDS of jagoff retired political assholes publicly condemned Trump?
These people are disgusting.
Courage is the rarest human trait
And he has it,
LTC Scheller is a patriot and a leader. The “senior leadership,” while incompetent, are traitors. This Afghan failure is planned by the traitors. They are at war against the USA. They are just no longer able to control the narrative.
Bumbling Biden will be blamed (he is not giving orders) and removed and all will be declared over. Biden’s mission is to shield the traitors by being the scapegoat for the fall of the USA. He has no other value to the traitors.
Apparently, the United States Armed Forces is full of cowardly officers. Every officer from 2nd Lieutenant to Colonel should resign their commission immediately. If not, every damn one of them is complicit in what’s going on in
Vietnam, er, Afghanistan.But they won’t. Only enlisted people died in Kabul.
What do you do when the entire chain of command are incompetent clowns who punk for the globalist uniparty? That’s a tough spot for a patriot.
Question: I’m not able to find any stories about it, so I am asking: with the vaccine mandate, stacked up with the sheer incompetence and connivance of the present flag ranks, what is the retention rate?
Have “re-ups” fallen off?
Are recruitments down?
a commander more concerned about the welfare of his men than he is for himself
a man of courage and, even more importantly, personal honor
no hiding, no dissembling or spinning, just the truth as he sees it
thank you for your service, colonel
you are a credit to our country and to the honor of the usmc
Can someone with some JAG military experience clarify something for me? I understand that the military brass has the power to relieve the colonel of his command for publicly attacking his superiors and going outside the chain of command. He seems to acknowledge this. When my son (who is in the military) saw the video, he called it “career suicide.” However, does this mean that the colonel can be summarily thrown out of the military? Does this mean that he automatically loses his pension? Doesn’t he have to go through a court-martial first. What may justify being relieved of command, does that same act necessarily result in a successful court-martial? I think there have been commanders who have been relieved of their command who have not been thrown out of the military or court-martialed. I would appreciate any informed opinion.
Henry,
Very broadly there are three avenues available to the Marine Corps here. Judicial Punishment, Non Judicial Punishment and administrative actions. The first two are part of the UCMJ; Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Can he be dismissed from service without a CT Martial? Yes, via administrative actions. However the burden of proof has already been met. LTC Scheller violated;
Art 89 Disrespect towards a superior Officer
Art 133 Conduct unbecoming an Officer
Almost certainly he violated Art 88 as well, Contempt towards Officials. Any one of these can result in dismissal from service.
The use of administrative actions has already begun with his removal from BN Command. In short order he will very likely receive a letter of reprimand which ends any chance at promotion and retention to his 20 year retirement date. If the USMC wants to subject him to a Court Martial they can do so and will definitely meet the burden of proof.
The USMC could opt not to do so for publicity reasons. Instead they could follow up his relief with the letter of reprimand, assign him to the worst place in the world on an unaccompanied tour so he is separated from his family. Then the next Officer retention board refuses to retain him.
As a no longer active Marine I can tell you – they don’t have to do anything to simply remove him from command. There is broad authority in the Marines for any commander to remove or transfer their subordinate commanders if they have no confidence in them. Just like this LtCol could relieve any one of his company commanders or platoon commanders at any time if he doesn’t believe they are effective, his superiors can remove him from command at any time. Obviously it’s VERY rare for a LtCol to be relieved but it does happen, I did see it happen once where they replaced the CO with his XO because of…… lets just say an extremely public incident.
Now to actually remove him from THE MARINE CORPS would require a court-martial under the UCMJ. And they COULD prosecute him, if they choose to do so, for insubordination and conduct unbecoming an officer, which, WOULD probably stick.
Are military pensions an all or nothing deal? Most jobs, if you get fired a few years before your eligible for a full pension, you get less money but you still get something. If things didn’t work that way you’d have managers looking for excuses to fire people a few months before they were eligible to retire in order save the cost of a pension.
Aside from medical retirement, military pensions are all-or-nothing. If you get involuntarily separated at 19 years, 11 months and 28 days (2 days short of 20-year retirement), you lose it all – pension, medical, base access, insurance, everything.
Dennis,
Mostly all or nothing with a few caveats. The DoD implemented a defined contribution pension a few years ago for new service members. Legacy members could have chosen to be included. Basically instead of a 50% at 20 years it’s 20% at 20 years with the DoD making direct contributions into the TSP; military 401K.
If he chose that option he retains the TSP but not the defined benefit plan. He may either now or in the future qualify for a VA disability for any injuries identified. Even if his rating is now 0% if it worsens to becoming eligible for compensation he will receive that.
There are a few other things as well. Combat related special compensation for injuries sustained in a combat zone. Normally this is presented to replace the amount of military pension you must waive entitlement to in order to receive VA disability. In his case, if he has no military pension, this probably wouldn’t apply.
The Services work to avoid anyone losing pension if possible, even for dirt bags. However, given the publicity he is likely not going to protected in the usual manner.
This is beyond any doubt evidence that the old American military culture that saw us through our real wars (as in actual wars not fighting 7th century tribesmen with the most advanced air and drone tech of all time) is dead.
Good….another on “our” side.
World War III will be government vs the citizens.
“Will be”? Is. The shooting just hasn’t started yet.
I simply never post on the Internet, but felt the need to do so here.
God bless you Colonel Stuart Scheller. If you need something we have your back as a true leader.