Bergdahl to avoid a court martial because Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dahl spent a day and a half with him?

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 13:15:32 -0400

So after a completed 15-6 investigation after a walk off the FOB, after all of the testimony of the other Soldiers in his unit, after all of the SMs harmed while out searching for him, Maj. Gen. Dahl spends an hour and a half with him and is convinced that he shouldn't go to jail and that everyone else up to him had been wrong? This can't be true, please tell me it isn't true?

***EDITED****
My apologies to all, the article said that BG Dahl spent a day and a half, not an hour and a half. My apologies, but that still does not change my stance since I was in Afghanistan when this happened and saw a lot of my buddies get effed up following cell chatter into a ambush.

http://news.yahoo.com/why-bowe-bergdahl-might-avoid-court-martial-214220454.html;_ylt=AwrTcdI0lRpWIM4AEp4PxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByb2lvbXVuBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--

Why Bowe Bergdahl might avoid a court-martial

Instead, Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dahl urged some measure of compassion for the “unrealistically idealistic” Sergeant Bergdahl, who he added was remorseful that his disappearance caused panic and a massive search by his fellow soldiers. “I do not believe that there is a jail sentence at the end of this process,” Major General Dahl told the military court at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The proceedings, known as an Article 32...

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2015 1:24 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 13:24:04 -0400

Along I have said he will not face jail time and will be medically discharged so the Army and the administration can save face.

Response by MSgt C Madd made Oct 11 at 2015 1:26 PM

MSgt C Madd — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 13:26:47 -0400

Bullshit if this is correct

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Oct 11 at 2015 1:42 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 13:42:06 -0400

This is surprising to me, anyone else?

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Oct 11 at 2015 1:48 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 13:48:46 -0400

PC can infect Generals too, it would seem.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2015 1:50 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 13:50:20 -0400

This whole case has been a political circus since the beginning. The powers that be want to be able to save as much face as humanly possible while at the same time dishing out "justice."

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 11 at 2015 2:05 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 14:05:41 -0400

Where did you get 1.5 Hour Conversation? It's a 371 page transcript of their "conversation."

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Oct 11 at 2015 2:28 PM

SSG Michael Scott — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 14:28:06 -0400

As a former NCO, tried to set the example, set the standard, and live by the Army Values. Does any of these principles mean anything. This IS BS. This will go down in history as, if he got away with it ,so can I. Our leadership and military code of justice has been flushed down the toilet.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Oct 11 at 2015 2:39 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 14:39:37 -0400

Old conversation. The general spent 53 DAYS interviewing him and has made a recommendation. That is all.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Oct 11 at 2015 2:47 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 14:47:35 -0400

You have to remember the power of the lure of a third star.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 11 at 2015 3:00 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 15:00:45 -0400

Politics. Watch how fast a 2-Star becomes a 4-Star now.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2015 3:08 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 15:08:11 -0400

This was all in the plans. The first GO involved is now the Chief of Staff of the Army. POTUS got his allies released from Gitmo and everyone involved is doing there best to make this go away. MG Dahl will get his next promotion, the investigating officer will make COL and a traitor will continue to walk our streets. But in many ways, there is more than one traitor in our midst.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2015 3:59 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 15:59:07 -0400

But no court martial for Hillary Clinton. What she did would land any of us in jail.
Go figure

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Oct 11 at 2015 4:55 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 16:55:23 -0400

I still believe "bird dog" was working for some "3-Letter" somewhere... Just saying...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2015 8:46 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 20:46:53 -0400

If Bergdahl is truly the idealist he claims he is them he should want the courts-martial to prove his innocence. As the the characterization if discharge, it is possible to get a bcd upgraded to a general. I don't think you can ever upgrade a dishonorable. I'm also not sure you can get a dishonorable without a gcm.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2015 8:49 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 20:49:03 -0400

So basically the vast all knowing opinion of a Major General negates the thorough investigation, statements from members of his unit and the untold dollars spent looking for this DB? Doesn't surprise me one bit!

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Oct 11 at 2015 9:03 PM

SPC George Rudenko — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 21:03:52 -0400

What will bother me most will be the armchair lawyers that will Monday morning quarterback a very intricate legal case. Magically people will go from zero legal knowlyor experience to JD PhD Professor.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Oct 11 at 2015 10:07 PM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 22:07:27 -0400

I think its because their names are closely sounding LOL

Response by SSG Jason Turner made Oct 11 at 2015 10:17 PM

SSG Jason Turner — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 22:17:41 -0400

Bergdahl is a traitor. Plain and simple. He'd be executed if it were my call.

Response by MAJ James Woods made Oct 11 at 2015 11:44 PM

MAJ James Woods — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 23:44:05 -0400

Yeah it's crap that this GO is recommending discharge instead of court martial. But long as they get this coward out of uniform and preferably dishonorable discharge so he doesn't reap any veteran benefits. That would be some justice.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 4:07 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 04:07:03 -0400

I hope that regardless of the outcome, everything is released to the public. If there is some sort of extenuating circumstance then it needs to be released. I personally can’t imagine what this turd had to say that would warrant what he did. He is a traitor in my opinion, based off my current level of knowledge and should be put away in a dark cell to rot.

Response by SGT Robert Zuniga made Oct 12 at 2015 12:52 PM

SGT Robert Zuniga — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 12:52:31 -0400

I'm sure Dahl will end up as director of the FBI or CIA as soon as he retires. The corruption will just continue.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Oct 12 at 2015 2:26 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:26:06 -0400

To be expected, recall that Bergdahl was released by the Cost Guard for mental issues, and NCO reported him to the 1SGT for mental issues, his buddies made fun of his issues and yet the chain of command never saw it. A court Martial would embarrass ALL.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Oct 12 at 2015 4:04 PM

SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 16:04:07 -0400

Are they related? Bergdahl and Dahl...Hmmmm

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 8:14 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 08:14:11 -0400

The media sucks. He wasn't recommended for NO jail time.
He was recommended for a Special Court Martial, instead of a General Court Martial. That does mean less possible punishment, not none. It limits the maximum punishment to reduction in rank, a bad-conduct discharge and a term of up to a year in prison.

It is also possible that the convening authority could choose a General Court Martial, though unlikely.

All of this talk is coming from Bergdahl's lawyers who obviously only spin it the most positive possible way.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 9:28 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 09:28:31 -0400

this is so screw up...

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Oct 13 at 2015 1:36 PM

CPT Mark Gonzalez — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:36:23 -0400

Anyone saying that MG Dahl did this for his next promotion should recognize that all promotions at that level have to be given congressional approval. The republicans control congress, so I see this hurting him a lot more than it helps. I would hope he came to the best decision possible with a lot more information available to him than we have.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 5:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:14:06 -0400

I will take the word of his fellow platoon mates that he betrayed over some political hack field grade officers any day of the week and twice on sunday.

Response by SGT Neil Doty made Oct 13 at 2015 8:33 PM

SGT Neil Doty — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:33:12 -0400

I sure hope this is not true he deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law and get the death penalty that piece of dog shit he is

Response by SPC Luis Mendez made Oct 13 at 2015 8:42 PM

SPC Luis Mendez — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:42:18 -0400

I blame it all on Tricky Nixon.

Response by SGM Richard Holloway made Oct 13 at 2015 9:17 PM

SGM Richard Holloway — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 21:17:36 -0400

i cannot believe the recommendations that are being considered at this time. reading comments that question the the basic integrity of presiding officers is a challenge to the leadership of our army. Our leadership at the army level is at question. those in the key leadership positions need to stand up and be counted. Career progression/prromotion (as some know) should be based on recognized performance and accomplishments coupled with technical/tactical proficiency. It appears to me that the leadership is not standing up for our army (past,present and future). For the enlisted force, we need our CSM to speak for the force that he truly represents, you are our standard bearer and leading example for the enlisted force. You must speak for us and state that this is wrong. You must know that we have your 6. respectfully SGM RICHARD A HOLLOWAY, USA RETIRED

Response by COL Charles Williams made Oct 14 at 2015 12:39 AM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 00:39:43 -0400

Tough one... He was away for 5 years... so it could be considered time served. I do think he should lose all pay allowances and benefits...

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Oct 14 at 2015 1:31 AM

Capt Jeff S. — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 01:31:02 -0400

Maj Gen Dahl is not acting the part of a patriot. His actions are more that of a suck up "Yes Man" that sold out and is putting his personal career ahead of the best interests of the Army and this country's honor and national security.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Oct 14 at 2015 1:30 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 13:30:26 -0400

Why are we even having this discussion? If we had a real Commander in Chief, the Taliban would still have Sgt Bergdahl.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2015 4:41 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:41:23 -0400

Even if he does not one minute of prison time, his life in Idaho will certainly be an interesting one. There are many in this state that support him, but there are also MANY in this state that want to pay him a personal visit. And this state has A LOT of veterans. So, even if he avoids prison, life for him in Idaho will not be easy and pleasant.

Response by CPT Bill McNeely made Oct 14 at 2015 5:18 PM

CPT Bill McNeely — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 17:18:24 -0400

As long it can be established he did not seek to join/aid the Taliban,I always thought an article 15 with a two pay grade demotion, a forfeiture of pay during his time of capture and an admin separation was enough.

He did 5 years as a captive in a really austere environment. He got to think about his stupid decision the whole time. That's both justice and punishment in my book.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2015 7:03 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 19:03:07 -0400

It would be ignorant and naive to assume the public has all the information concerning Sgt Bergdahl. If that's what was decided, that's what you'll have to accept.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 1:38 PM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 13:38:16 -0400

All I had to see was that performance in the WH rose garden with the goofy Hippie parents (remember Papa Pashto with his beard). Pretty much summed it all up for me. I hope all the people who have jumped on board the "poor misunderstood Bergdahl" train are happy with whatever they have gotten as a result of "playing ball". This whole thing stinks as far as I am concerned.

Response by SGT Scott Henderson made Nov 2 at 2015 8:49 PM

SGT Scott Henderson — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 20:49:09 -0500

He must have gotten REAL good at sucking dick while he was "captive". Hopefully someone somewhere has a precision rifle and an ironclad alibi

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2016 1:45 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 13:45:56 -0400

Keep the officers out of it, allow those enlisted personal who were there with him make that choice... Desertion is what it is, and no political correctness will save his butt.