Should Terryl get a second star, keep his one, or what is his proper retired rank?

2015-01-27T09:50:43-05:00

While I thought Jesse Ventura was a giant douche for suing the Chris Kyle estate (I still think Ventura is giant douche) but Terryl Schwalier takes the cake. You were allowed to retire with your one star, after 19 airmen died under your watch!

Should Terryl get a second star, keep his one or what is his proper retired rank?

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/01/13/terryl-schwalier-promotion-lawsuit/21688051/

One-star loses court bid for retroactive promotion

A one-star whose promotion was canceled following the Khobar Towers attack has lost his lawsuit against the government.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jan 27 at 2015 9:55 AM

2015-01-27T09:55:17-05:00

What is really going on? Why would he care if he is retired?

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Jan 27 at 2015 9:55 AM

2015-01-27T09:55:49-05:00

I think we let too many people retire with pay and pensions even when they have been proven to do bad things. BG Sinclair anyone?

We should see more forfeiture of benefits, pay, rank, etc for those convicted of crimes.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jan 27 at 2015 10:40 AM

2015-01-27T10:40:42-05:00

- Appears to be a classic case of "pole vaulting over a mouse turd".
- Promotion to a next higher rank is a privilege, not a right. BG Schwalier is not "owed" anything.
- Promotion to next higher rank is based upon potential, not performance. With that stated, evidence of sub performance is a reason to not get promoted.
- For BG Terryl Schwalier to retire as a MG, he would have to serve three years as a MG. Even if he succeeds through the courts to get appointed as a MG he can never retire as a MG. What is the point?
- Officers and NCOs who are on promotion lists can be removed from the list if ethical, moral, legal, or performance issues come to light before actually pinning on the next higher rank. Why would BG Schwalier's case be any different?
- Not sure that I see any systemic issues that pursuing this case will resolve for either DoD or DAF so again, what's the point?
- This occurred in 1997. It is now 2015. Either the justice system is exceedly slow (which it is) or BG Schwalier is going to shop around until he finds a venue that supports his position. I did the same thing with my parents as a child but I grew out of that by about the time I was 12.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Jan 27 at 2015 10:46 AM

2015-01-27T10:46:32-05:00

Dear Brigadier (and be damned lucky you're not a Colonel) Schwalier.

THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2015 12:06 PM

2015-01-27T12:06:16-05:00

i'll go get my silver sharpie & draw one on his collar for him. entitlement at its best.

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Jan 27 at 2015 12:56 PM

2015-01-27T12:56:12-05:00

There is obviously another story here that we are not being told. For a General to be blamed for such things is actually rare and correct but totally out of character for the self protecting officer corps.
I could sing some pretty scary songs about the double standards in the Army concerning letting situations slide, lesser punishment, if at all, for same infraction as an NCO and so on.
Not complaining, it is what it is.
Therefore there is another story here we do not see, maybe one day.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jan 27 at 2015 1:01 PM

2015-01-27T13:01:12-05:00

To me, this is a story of someone trying to take of himself rather than the team. As stated below by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM, promotion is a privilege not a right. It's clear that BG Terryl is trying to get a bigger pay day during retirement. There's no shame in retiring as a BG so he should be thankful he didn't get busted down to LTC and made to retire.