0-5 fired for wearing unauthorized medals, still wearing uniform one month after conclusion: What say you as leaders?

SFC A.M. Drake — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 03:08:32 -0500

From: Army Times

An officer fired from his Army National Guard leadership post at Fort Benning, Georgia, in Octoberafter investigators found he'd worn unearned Ranger and Sapper tabs remains on administrative duty at the base more than a month after the investigation concluded.

Because actions taken against Lt. Col. Gerald H. Green III were "administrative and not criminal in nature," a Benning spokesman would not discuss details of the investigation. Col. Patrick Donahoe, chief of staff of the Benning-based Maneuver Center of Excellence, said in late October that Green, who took command of the Army National Guard Warrior Training Center in July, was not authorized to wear the Ranger and Sapper tabs that appear in his official photo and in other images of him in uniform.

The WTC includes the Ranger Training Assessment Course, a requirement for National Guard soldiers who wish to become Rangers, according to the RTAC website.

Benning spokesman Gary Jones would not comment on other findings from the investigation, including whether Green wore other unearned decorations. Green is authorized to wear a Bronze Star Medal among several other honors, including three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal and campaign medals from Iraq and Kosovo, according to personnel information provided by Jones to Army Times on Tuesday.

Preliminary findings from the investigation into Green provided "enough evidence of misconduct to warrant [MCoE commanding general] Maj. Gen. [Scott] Miller relieving him from command," Donahoe said in October. The full investigation concluded in early November, Jones said, with administrative actions related to the investigation wrapping up later that month.

Thomas Siter took over the WTC after Green's dismissal and will remain in charge until mid-January, when a new commander is slated to take over, Jones said. Siter then will return to his duties as WTC director.

Attempts to reach Green through Benning public affairs personnel and other methods have been unsuccessful.

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/guard-reserve/2014/12/31/-gerald-green-fort-benning-wtc/21106789/

O-5 fired for wearing unearned tabs still in uniform

Few details have been released regarding an investigation into the fired former head of the Warrior Training Center.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Jan 2 at 2015 3:16 AM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 03:16:50 -0500

It is a shame considering his actual accomplishments during his career. Why wear something you didn't earn...esp. while still on AD? Seems crazy to me...

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jan 2 at 2015 3:30 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 03:30:20 -0500

Is he retirement eligible?

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 3:52 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 03:52:23 -0500

Officers are held to higher standards than enlisted, from my experience. He should be admonished at the very strictest level possible...and immediately transferred, reduced by one rank, if allowed to stay in...or immediately diacharged. General Discharge.

Response by CPL Robby Raetz made Jan 2 at 2015 9:18 AM

CPL Robby Raetz — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 09:18:26 -0500

If you don't earn it don't wear it. With that being said....he has been fired and that will end his career as an officer. The shame is his to carry.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 7:47 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 19:47:10 -0500

Its only been a month since the investigation finished, for now I'll give the benefit of the doubt and guess that the chain of command he's under is reviewing all its appropriate actions.

I will say that if he's not busted at least to the rank he was prior to wearing the unearned badges and kicked out then it will be a disservice to all those great soldiers who actually earned them.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2015 10:51 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 22:51:31 -0500

Can him, slam him. Faking a decoration is a sin especially since this guy was a gate guardian for some going to Ranger School.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2015 10:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 22:51:43 -0500

It sickens me every time I see someone who has brought dishonor to the uniform. Obviously these individual have forgotten what the Officer Creeds and NCO Creeds really mean. I remember a time, that we currently serving and prior service would handle these situation in a manner that would discourage others from forgetting what it really means to serve in the military at any grade. What happened to those times?

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Jan 17 at 2015 10:58 PM

Capt Gregory Prickett — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 22:58:12 -0500

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKmJPnAGUJk

Branded

Intro to the western TV series Branded.

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Feb 2 at 2015 11:18 AM

SFC A.M. Drake — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 11:18:03 -0500

Good video!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 12:29 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 12:29:25 -0500

Bad boy... Here's military retirement 6k a month.

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Feb 2 at 2015 4:54 PM

SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 16:54:28 -0500

No excuse, no reason and no way should this be tolerated, an O-5?
D I R T B A G ! No morals, no pride, no respect!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 5:07 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 17:07:04 -0500

Two words for you SFC A.M. Drake SGT Bergdahl....

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 10:28 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 22:28:59 -0500

I was stationed at MCoE last year. A lot of people questioned this and many other things about him. I have a feeling there's still more to come.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 10:40 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 22:40:14 -0500

It's very unlikely he'll be punished as harshly as he should. I see a forced retirement with a reduction in grade as the worst which is very unfortunate.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2015 3:38 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 03:38:21 -0500

Who put his uniform together? His Airborne wings and CAB are not centered. His device over his unit awards looks too low also.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jun 12 at 2015 12:11 AM

SFC William Farrell — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 00:11:39 -0400

Chances are nothing much will become of this as there is a huge double standard for enlisted versus officer. I can almost guarantee that had he been enlisted, he would have been court martialed already along with reduction in rank and other assorted punishments. What's good for the goose, should also be good for the gander.

Response by MGySgt James Forward made May 17 at 2016 10:40 AM

MGySgt James Forward — Tue, 17 May 2016 10:40:09 -0400

First he is a Lt Col, not an O-5. Second, "Still wearing uniform one month after conclusion", hope you don't expect him to be discharged for this. I do expect that he will face further administrative action that will preclude any further promotion. To be reduced he must be found guilty at a Court Martial. I don't expect this meets the requirements for that.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jun 19 at 2018 11:39 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 11:39:22 -0400

It takes so much time. He was fired/relieved of command- that in it'd self is a career ender. He will be flagged for promotion. Now if the want to kick him out they will have to start all over- ART32, JAG, etc.

Response by Sgt Steven Boone made Feb 13 at 2020 8:34 PM

Sgt Steven Boone — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 20:34:57 -0500

He should go thru the same punishment as the younger peers
He was supposed to be setting an example! Fire him with no benefits or strings attached!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 11:43 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 11:43:10 -0400

My immediate superior in the 1st Air Cavalry was a cowardly Captain who finagled the system and awarded himself 3 Air Medals and the Army Aviation Badge (Crew Wings) I earned while operating 93 sniffer missions on the Cambodian border in 1970. He retired as a full colonel and lives in Annapolis Maryland. I found out about this when I connected with him on the Internet in 2006. He disgusts me to this day!

Response by MSG William Wold made Feb 10 at 2021 3:36 PM

MSG William Wold — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:36:43 -0500

Well I had 7 ribbons awarded me by the National Guard then when I went back to Active I was told I couldn’t wear them anymore so I took them off is that so hard ? But when I went back years later to the Guard they wondered where all my ribbons were I started just wearing a pre-made 4 row. Having short arms I had a general tell me son, you look awfully young to have Vietnam ribbons, (told him how old I was, older than him) then he said after looking at my sleeves, isn’t it about time you retire you ain’t got no more room for longevity stripes. Sir John his is my second to last drill.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2021 8:32 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 May 2021 08:32:57 -0400

I wonder what ever became of him after all this time

Response by MSG William Wold made May 5 at 2021 10:55 PM

MSG William Wold — Wed, 05 May 2021 22:55:45 -0400

Well I’m a rather short person and uniform fills up fast. I got chastised for not wearing all my medals my last inspection. Didn’t feel like buying a 4 row with two upper holder combo. Later that day, a General doing a walk thru, said son, your going to have to retire soon your rank and longevity stripes are going to collide . Yes sir I have 2 weeks. He took two steps back and saluted me.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2021 7:45 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 19:45:03 -0400

I thought long and hard about outing the retired full Colonel living in Annapolis, MD who plagiarized my flight log and awarded himself three of the Air Medals and the Army Aviation Badge I earned with the 1st Cav in 1970. I found out in 2006 and sent him a copy of Stolen Valor. His second wife divorced him shortly thereafter. I can only hope I was instrumental in precipitating that. He’s 80 years old now. He knows that I know. That’s sufficient at this juncture.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Jun 22 at 2021 5:06 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 17:06:35 -0400

I don't understand why he would do this! Stolen Valor!