Should this Marine Commander have been fired?

Capt Lance Gallardo — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 20:21:28 -0400

mes.com/story/military/2015/07/07/kate-germano-fired-marine-corps-female-recruit-unit-commander/29763371/

Response by Capt Lance Gallardo made Jul 7 at 2015 8:22 PM

Capt Lance Gallardo — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 20:22:32 -0400

"The Parris Island command investigation and witness statements paint a portrait of Germano as a driven officer who could be abrasive and aggressive, and doggedly pursued the goal of unit improvement to the apparent alienation of at least some Marines in the command." Abrasive and Aggressive as a Marine Commander? Say it isnt so!

This sounds like the Nominee to be the next Commandant Lt. Gen. Robert Neller:
"All of a sudden, he felt Neller breathing in his ear. "How come you didn't go up the hill, captain?" Neller demanded. "You don't have the hair on your ass."" "Dill immediately reversed course, eventually reaching the hilltop despite sustaining a number of casualties involving Marines who had overindulged the night before. When the run ended, Neller flashed a grin.

"Good for you, captain," he said that morning in 1998. "You don't back down from a challenge.""
-http://www.militarytimes.com/.../spartan.../29610731/
Sounds like this female Marine Officer and (JAG? ) had "more hair on her ass" than a lot of her male counterparts and that is what is pissing off her Col.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Jul 7 at 2015 9:52 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:52:14 -0400

I can't follow that link you posted. nvm Figured out that it was militarytimes.com

Sounds like she was a tough cookie and simply holding the women to the same standards men are held to. Is there something wrong with that if women are expected to fill combat roles?

Response by SSgt Jeremy Eddy made Jul 7 at 2015 10:31 PM

SSgt Jeremy Eddy — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 22:31:53 -0400

First off, for anyone interested, the proper link:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2015/07/07/kate-germano-fired-marine-corps-female-recruit-unit-commander/29763371/

There wasn't anything in that article that would make me decide to fire the Lt. Col.

"...by publicly berating and showing contempt for subordinates, bullying Marines and singling them out for under-performance." With this reasoning, every drill instructor ever should have been fired from their job.

"Germano also "reinforced gender bias and stereotypes" in the minds of her Marines by telling them on several occasions that male Marines would not take orders from them and would see them as inferior if they could not meet men's physical standards, the investigation found." That's just telling the truth. I would also expand that to admit male Marines would not take orders from other male Marines if they could not meet the physical standards of the Marine Corps. 'Oh, you're 300lbs and collapse after running a mile and a half? No, I don't think I will follow you into battle; I'll lead instead.'

"A May 18 "request mast" memo submitted to Williams, the depot commander, shows that Germano believed these efforts were being undermined by her immediate superior, Recruit Training Regiment commander Col. Daniel Haas." Unfortunately, in my experience, a request mast pretty much ends your current billet, whether you were right or wrong.

Its a shame. It looks like she was genuinely making positive changes for both male and female recruits.

Controversy surrounds firing of Marines' female recruit battalion CO

A command investigation into Lt. Col. Kate Germano's leadership at Parris Island's 4th Recruit Training Battalion found she was "hostile,

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Jul 7 at 2015 11:14 PM

Sgt Jay Jones — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 23:14:14 -0400

I read the article with great interest. Personally, I don't see where the Officer did anything that any great Leader would not do! She went in assessed the situation and made the necessary changes, produced results.

Since when did the Marine Corps become touchy feely?

We are Marines, heck I guess my Drill Instructors should have been fired also.

I think she got railroaded!

Response by SSG Willis Baker made Jul 8 at 2015 3:10 AM

SSG Willis Baker — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 03:10:02 -0400

It just shows how weak the women in her command were. Marines have always been hard on each other, that's why they are soo good. Since the women in her command could not take a little extra discipline how do they expect to perform in a combat situation? In my opinion, those women don't deserve to be called Marines.

Response by Capt Lance Gallardo made Jul 8 at 2015 10:04 AM

Capt Lance Gallardo — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 10:04:08 -0400

Sorry about the defective link. I have not been on RP for a while so my posting sills have gotten rusty. I guess its another "perishable skill!"

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jul 8 at 2015 10:09 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 10:09:26 -0400

God forbid anyone enforce the standard on women Marines at Parris Island and hold them accountable when they fail. Demanding any more than the minimum standard seems to be unacceptable these days. I know when I was there the minimum standard was unacceptable. I am sure she rubbed some the wrong way and they found a way to undo her. The pack mentality survives. Go after the higher performer, trash them, get them out of the way so we can all get comfy again.

I hope she was abrasive, tough, demanding etc. She works at a Recruit Training Battalion not as a cruise ship party coordinator.

Maybe we should fire her boss.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2015 12:32 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 12:32:35 -0400

Interesting that no one has yet pointed out what I believe was the root reason why she was pulled. The command climate was not one that supported the reporting of sexual assault which is the current political military focus next to suicides.
I think this is the nail in the coffin. That said, I will not speak on the other allegations since I am not in the USMC and do not know what the expectations there are.
There are rules and regulations and there is also culture. In the Army, she would have been relieved for what she did. The ends did not justify the means. We all know that in the Army, you counsel in private. The article references 1st time qual rates as one of her success statistics. That to me is unimportant. What matters is the final qual rate. Some people require more practice. From my foxhole, I improved in that category with time (so did my PT score). But again, I am Army and know little about USMC boot camp, follow on MOS training and sustainment training in regards to weapons and PT.

Response by Sgt Jason Caldwell made Jul 8 at 2015 12:34 PM

Sgt Jason Caldwell — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 12:34:29 -0400

I don't see the problem with being hard on recruits. The enemy isn't going to cease fire because of our emotional needs. Boot Camp is the foundation of mental toughness needed in a combat zone. If we allow ourselves to become lacking in our fundamentals, the rest will follow suit and the Marine Corps will be found lacking on the battlefield. Our respected name will fade as will our edge.

Response by SGT Paul Mackay made Apr 16 at 2016 8:05 PM

SGT Paul Mackay — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 20:05:50 -0400

yes

Response by 2ndLt Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 6:45 PM

2ndLt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:45:10 -0400

Absolutely not.