Posted on Jan 25, 2015
AF Commander relieved 6 months after death occurred?
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Officials at Fort Bragg say a squadron commander has been relieved of her position based on the investigation of a July death at Pope Field.
The Fayetteville Observer reports Air Force Col. Elizabeth Shaw was removed from command of the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron on Thursday.
http://hamptonroads.com/2015/01/squadron-commander-fort-bragg-relieved-after-death
The Fayetteville Observer reports Air Force Col. Elizabeth Shaw was removed from command of the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron on Thursday.
http://hamptonroads.com/2015/01/squadron-commander-fort-bragg-relieved-after-death
Accountability
Death
Command
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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Definitely a sad story. The unnecessary and likely preventable loss of life. And - on a much lower level - another "loss of confidence" relief.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
CW5 (Join to see), a lot of that going around. Makes one wonder, is it happening more, or are we just hearing about it more in the age of the instant media?
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- Agree with CW02 Reck that the article does not provide enough information to provide quality discussion on.
- Generically speaking, however, it is not unusual for a death investigation to take time, be completed, higher command digest that investigation, and then decisions made based upon the investigation. Six months later would not be unusual especially if autopsies, labs, and other investigative facts had to be established.
- Aside from the death investigation, a follow on 15-6 investigation might also have been conducted to look at potential surrounding issues such as command policies, SOPs, guidance, etc that might have directly or indirectly contributed to the airman's death that the Squadron Commander either should have known/implemented or that she knew/implemented in a negative manner.
- At the end of the day, the only things that the article states for a fact are that 1) a SSG died and that 2) a squadron commander was relieved for "loss of confidence in ability to command".
- Generically speaking, however, it is not unusual for a death investigation to take time, be completed, higher command digest that investigation, and then decisions made based upon the investigation. Six months later would not be unusual especially if autopsies, labs, and other investigative facts had to be established.
- Aside from the death investigation, a follow on 15-6 investigation might also have been conducted to look at potential surrounding issues such as command policies, SOPs, guidance, etc that might have directly or indirectly contributed to the airman's death that the Squadron Commander either should have known/implemented or that she knew/implemented in a negative manner.
- At the end of the day, the only things that the article states for a fact are that 1) a SSG died and that 2) a squadron commander was relieved for "loss of confidence in ability to command".
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
SPC (Join to see), I am away from a "real computer" right now so I can really look up the article I remember reading on it, the unit was not qualified to do the exercise they were running, HHQ had previously advised them not to do it. Once I get back to the house, I will see I can locate that one.
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CWO2 Shannon Reck, LTC Stephen C., COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM, CPO (Join to see)
Gents,
This isnt the article from a few months ago, but it is a much better written article with more details regarding the issue.
http://www.fayobserver.com/military/air-force-colonel-relieved-of-duties-after-fort-bragg-training/article_66a0c8d4-4518-57a0-8268-9287ac6a01af.html
Gents,
This isnt the article from a few months ago, but it is a much better written article with more details regarding the issue.
http://www.fayobserver.com/military/air-force-colonel-relieved-of-duties-after-fort-bragg-training/article_66a0c8d4-4518-57a0-8268-9287ac6a01af.html
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
Here is an AF Time article from Last month http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2014/12/08/humvee-accident-death-investigation-pope-army-airfield-timothy-wright/20104667/
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CPO (Join to see)
Thank you, much better article. It is a shame when people publish crap just to hit a deadline and have no facts to show the truth.
This is horrible, to me, one of the things that is worst of all, there are not criminal charges for criminal neglect that resulted in death, it is a murder charge in most courts. Here, this person and the others that violated their oath will get retirement instead of jail time. That is what will be the wrong thing happen here.
The chain of command exists for many reasons, one of which, to give guidance and information preventing the group think process from putting our peoples lives in danger. The chain of command that walked off and said, oh ok, lets do this, they should all be prosecuted for conspiracy.
There is no acceptable loss in a simple training exercise, especially when the exercise has been reviewed by peers prior and rejected as not permitted or safe.
That would be criminal negligent homicide in a civilian court, they should not get a retirement check here. They should see charges here also.
This is about accountability. This is about abusive leadership and the lacking of character it takes to be in command leadership positions.
Either we stand up and say NO when something is very wrong or we do not. None of us can turn and say afterward, if we knew, and did nothing that our hands would be clean.
This was wrong, there were many here who knew and were in a position to stop and protect that persons life. That was their job.
This is horrible, to me, one of the things that is worst of all, there are not criminal charges for criminal neglect that resulted in death, it is a murder charge in most courts. Here, this person and the others that violated their oath will get retirement instead of jail time. That is what will be the wrong thing happen here.
The chain of command exists for many reasons, one of which, to give guidance and information preventing the group think process from putting our peoples lives in danger. The chain of command that walked off and said, oh ok, lets do this, they should all be prosecuted for conspiracy.
There is no acceptable loss in a simple training exercise, especially when the exercise has been reviewed by peers prior and rejected as not permitted or safe.
That would be criminal negligent homicide in a civilian court, they should not get a retirement check here. They should see charges here also.
This is about accountability. This is about abusive leadership and the lacking of character it takes to be in command leadership positions.
Either we stand up and say NO when something is very wrong or we do not. None of us can turn and say afterward, if we knew, and did nothing that our hands would be clean.
This was wrong, there were many here who knew and were in a position to stop and protect that persons life. That was their job.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
SFC Mark Merino, I am pretty sure "opps" doesn't cut it, especially in a training scenario.
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