Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller announced Friday that he had been “relieved for cause” after nearly 20 years of service for posting a video calling out senior leaders and demanding accountability on Afghanistan.
In his Facebook post, Scheller said that he would have taken the same action if he were in the position of his superior officers.
Scheller says he knows one the people killed in the blast, but he declines to name the person until the family had been notified.
“Not making this video because it’s potentially an emotional time,” he says. “Making it because I have a growing discontent and contempt for … perceived ineptitude at the foreign policy level.”
Scheller cites remarks Austin gave earlier this year suggesting that the Afghan security forces could withstand a Taliban advance. He also notes that two Marine generals are supposed to be advising the president: Berger, in his position on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and CENTCOM boss Gen. Frank McKenzie, though he does not name McKenzie.
“I’m not saying we’ve got to be … in Afghanistan forever,” Scheller says. “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 air base, before we evacuate everyone? Did anyone do that?'”
A Marine of his rank and position would be fired immediately over “the simplest live-fire incident” or equal opportunity complaint, he says. He then suggests that the lives lost over the past 20 years could all be for naught if high-level political and military leaders don’t take responsibility for their actions.
“Potentially all those people did die in vain if we don’t have senior leaders that own up and raise their hand and say, ‘We did not do this well in the end,’ ” he says. “Without that, we just keep repeating the same mistakes.”
Scheller participated in the noncombatant evacuation of American citizens from Beirut in 2006 and deployed to Ramadi, Iraq, the following year.
Beginning in 2010, he spent a year in Afghanistan, where he led a team in Paktika and Ghazni provinces that destroyed explosives caches and sought to prevent attacks with improvised explosive devices.
“Obviously new generation Marine Corps,” LinkedIn user Erik Watson, whose profile lists five years as a Marine officer, wrote in response to Scheller. “There are proper channels [to voice concerns] and if it is not addressed to your satisfaction, so sorry so sad, keep it moving. Submit resignation ASAP.”
But others defended Scheller. Facebook user Craig Lowell called his video “probably the most incredible act of leadership I’ve ever seen.”
It’s definitely out of the ordinary but almost certainly violates military rules, said Jim Golby, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a 20-year Army veteran.
“I’m not sure the last time I’ve seen an active-duty battalion commander openly and directly challenge senior military officers, including the Commandant of the Marine Corps, in this way,” he said.
Scheller echoes what many are feeling, but the video could be used to sow division in the ranks, Golby said, and in the end likely does more harm than good.
Scheller has no plans to resign, he said in a comment, though in the video he says his critique could cut his career short, “if I have the courage to post it.”
“I think what you believe can only be defined by what you’re willing to risk,” he says. “I think it gives me some moral high ground to demand the same honesty, integrity, accountability from my senior leaders.”
“I’ve been fighting for 17 years,” he continues. “I’m willing to throw it all away to say to my senior leaders, ‘I demand accountability.'”
Source: Military.com
I agree with this LTC, in what he is saying. There needs to be accountability at the highest level of not only the White House, but also the Military. They need to get their act together, like right now.
Thank you sir for having the courage to speak up… God Bless you and your integrity…
Thank you sir. May God Bless you and your family and God Bless America.
HE’S RIGHT CIVILIANS SHOULD HAVE BEEN EVACUATED MONTHS AGO. THEN THE MILITARY WITH ALL THEIR SUPPLIES. NO VECHLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT THERE IF ANYTHING THE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN BOOBY TRAPPED.
SGT. JGG HEBERT
U.S. AIR FORCE 64 TO 68
STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND.
Good for him, the problem is, the entire senior level of military “leaders” have become political “cow dogs”, solely concerned about their careers, and bowing to the country’s inept Administration! Stand strong, LTC, very few will!
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO:
RULES FOR SOME(THE FEW) AND SCREW THE REST OF YOU!
I’D LIKE TO PRESERVE SOME PERSONAL/PROFESIONAL CAPITAL, BUT THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND…
Well said I want to thank you for your service. As a navy veteran I agree with you 100%. Our public comanders have turned into nothing but a bunch of political puppets. Instead of doing what is right for our country all they do now is for their own agenda and not the people’s or our troops who are putting their lives on the line for our great nation. This is why I could not stay in after my 6 year. Tour I wanted to stay in but was not about to play their political games. I signed up to serve my country not watch the so called generals and such run this country into the ground
Thank you for your service and the sacrifices that you made for our freedoms. I so sorry that they let you go for standing up and speaking out. It just goes to show that Democrat’s don’t take blame very well. To them this is all Trump’s fault or the Afghanistan Army’s fault. Trump was being impeached over a phone call. Biden will never answer to anyone nor his Generals. I promise that I will be praying for you and your family. God is able to give you more than what was taken you.
Keep telling your story while its fresh, do all the interviews and write a book.
Jerry Gaddis
Wow and very well said Sir and I commend you for standing up for what you believe in. As a retired USAF member I understand totally your commitment and integrity of taking care of others and getting the job done
He did the right thing. Biden should be removed from office and top brass held accountable.