CSM sentenced for wearing/claiming fake medals. What do you think of his penalty?

What he did was wrong the punishment was way over the top. Reduced one grade and force to retire should have been his punishment.

Reducing the CSM to SSG seems fair to me. He was caught, he deserves punishment. He also should not have used his family as crutch. However, sending him to prison for 6 months is absurd. He will now sit in a federal penitentiary and cost the Army additional money before he collects his subsequent retirement. He has served the United States in a leadership capacity and having his rank reduced to SSG and forced retirement is sufficient.
As for the comments regarding UCMJ/ Court Marshall being biased and "top rank" heavy, this is absolutely the case. The CSM and this case are proof, had the defendant been an Commissioned Officer the punishment would have been far less severe and more appropriate.

Too harsh. If he gets 6 months, the dude in the middle should get 2 months for that beret.

The Army still has issues with high ranking enlisted and officers when it comes to doing what they want. If you are a lower enlisted soldier you would be treated as dirt, crapped on and thrown out. I am not saying that is bad for someone who commits a violation, but it needs to be fair across the board regardless of rank.

If he was junior enlisted he would be Leavenworth much longer!!!!

I stand corrected. BG Jeffrey Sinclair sexually assaults a female Captain, keeps his rank and pays a $20,000 fine and retires with full benefits as a Brigadier General. A CSM wears medals he didn't earn. I understand the integrity issue but 6 months jail time and the sexual predator walks because he's an Officer?

He was a senior enlisted adviser and should have been setting an example. No excuses.

If I wore a SGT rank as a joke and got caught by the wrong person, I'd be hung upside down, and made an example of. I can tell you as someone who tries to stay out of trouble, seeing so many high level seniors just within a year get slaps on the wrist, it is tempting to get promoted for the extra layers of protection. I believe that Senior leaders should be punished much more so, because they are the examples of "The Standard". If I can't use, "think of my family and how it will affect them", then no Senior leader should be able to as well.

Weather in a hospital or on the battlefield I'm sure he has seen his fair share of mind f###king situations. We are not sure why people do what we might call stupid shit for no real logical reason but it happens everyday, especially in our armed services. The bottom line is the guy paid his dues to his country and would have most likely have held the same rank and position had he not faked his record or awards. He definitely deserves to be punished and discharged, however I believe he has earned his benefits. Just because someone showed some sort of bad conduct or dishonorable behavior during their enlistment doesn't mean they served their country dishonorably!

Forced retirement