AF Commander relieved 6 months after death occurred?

Definitely a sad story. The unnecessary and likely preventable loss of life. And - on a much lower level - another "loss of confidence" relief.

- 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".

CWO2 Shannon Reck, LTC Stephen C., COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM, CPO Don Alfera

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

I have no issue with the decision taking 6 months, so long as safe guards were in place in the case the command was concerned the death was caused or a proximate case of leadership failure>
As stated elsewhere.. autopsies, labs, interviews, follow up interviews, some taking place at other duty stations likely,, these take time. There there is the time it takes for the appointing authority to review the final investigation, then the review of that.
So long as the command was safe and under competent leadership in the interim I would hope the investigation took as long as needed to be fair, through and complete.,

It was an incredibly sad incident. She was a good commander from those I know that worked under her, and the unit is one of the best in the Air Force. I wasn't part of the exercise, so I don't have first hand knowledge, but it's not an unusual exercise. Last minute changes in the role playing and script were a contributing factor from what I understand.
It's never good when someone is injured or killed in a training exercise, and it's potentially harder on these folks because nearly everyone involved is medically trained and they weren't able to save him.
I don't know that it's normal for a commander to be relieved when a training accident leads to death of a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine... but I do know that leadership responsibility is ultimately where the buck stops (short of equipment failure or gross negligence on the part of the victim).
It's a great loss to the Air Force in the form of the SSG and the Col. Both were dedicated to bringing home our wounded with the best care, safely and quickly. They were both exceptionally good at it.