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Many people are already familiar with the black mark the Army gave itself by ending the career of this highly respected soldier, SFC Charles Martland. For those that are not here is the short and sweet along with a link to the story. Serving as an advisor in Afghanyland, Martland and his team leader were confronted with a local police commander that had kidnapped and raped a ten year old boy, then beat up the boys mother for trying to bring issue with it. Martland and Capt. Quinn confronted the police commander who laughed in their face. Martland and Quinn then escorted the commander out of the camp in a most unpleasant way!
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/enlisted/2015/08/21/green-beret-striking-corrupt-afghan-got-me-kicked-out/32080843/
For this Martland received a General letter of reprimand that has since then ended his career due to force reductions. This letter came from MG Christopher Haas, director of force management at USSOCOM. A quote taken from Col. Steve Johnson, a U.S. commander stationed in Afghanistan during that time, appears to have defended the Army’s decision in a conversation on his LinkedIn page, according to Fox News.
“The entire operational Chain of Command supported the relief for cause and reprimand. Vigilantism is illegal in the United States and should not be condoned elsewhere,” Johnson wrote. “We should do our best to ensure that the accused is brought to justice legally and fairly — we should never take the law into our own hands (as Martland and Quinn did).”
So my question is what are your thoughts about this Col. Johnson and MG. Haas? I do understand what they are saying but do you agree? Or do you see these two military officers and others unseen as allies to deeds of darkness for the reprimand they issued to a man championing the innocent and helpless.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". - Edmund Burke
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/enlisted/2015/08/21/green-beret-striking-corrupt-afghan-got-me-kicked-out/32080843/
For this Martland received a General letter of reprimand that has since then ended his career due to force reductions. This letter came from MG Christopher Haas, director of force management at USSOCOM. A quote taken from Col. Steve Johnson, a U.S. commander stationed in Afghanistan during that time, appears to have defended the Army’s decision in a conversation on his LinkedIn page, according to Fox News.
“The entire operational Chain of Command supported the relief for cause and reprimand. Vigilantism is illegal in the United States and should not be condoned elsewhere,” Johnson wrote. “We should do our best to ensure that the accused is brought to justice legally and fairly — we should never take the law into our own hands (as Martland and Quinn did).”
So my question is what are your thoughts about this Col. Johnson and MG. Haas? I do understand what they are saying but do you agree? Or do you see these two military officers and others unseen as allies to deeds of darkness for the reprimand they issued to a man championing the innocent and helpless.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". - Edmund Burke
Special Forces
Afghanistan
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 11
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Based on what we all know publicly, I would have reprimanded SFC Martland and taken him out of the Province of Konduz (which was a hell hole in 2011!) and brought him back to the HQs. He punched a child rapist for Christ sake....put yourself in that situation, what would you do.....and stand so high and mighty as if you are perfect!
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SSG John Harpold
I would like to believe that I would have done the same as SFC Martland. I believe by reprimanding him a message is being sent out to condone such behavior, for if we are confronted by such evils and do nothing, that's exactly what we are doing.
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A few thoughts:
- A good example of a bureaucracy "letting things happen" as opposed to leaders at various levels and in various organizations making common sense decisions.
- Process and procedure are good and necessary things but a leader does not always just default to the process and/or procedure answer.
- This could have been handled differently at the source such as a locally filed GOMOR rather than a relief for cause NCOER. The proper message would have been sent without enduring negative impacts for either the Soldier or the Army. In today's environment, leaders need to understand not just the immediate impacts but also the down range impacts for both the Soldier and the Army and then ask the question: is this the right decision for both now and in the future.
- A good example of a bureaucracy "letting things happen" as opposed to leaders at various levels and in various organizations making common sense decisions.
- Process and procedure are good and necessary things but a leader does not always just default to the process and/or procedure answer.
- This could have been handled differently at the source such as a locally filed GOMOR rather than a relief for cause NCOER. The proper message would have been sent without enduring negative impacts for either the Soldier or the Army. In today's environment, leaders need to understand not just the immediate impacts but also the down range impacts for both the Soldier and the Army and then ask the question: is this the right decision for both now and in the future.
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