Navy board, former commandant agree: Marine colonel should not have been fired

I was always taught, as a combat arms leader, to practice the pause, ask questions, and gather information from several sources to validate any situation before making personnel decisions. Additionally, decisions made in hast, without vetting are almost universally bad.

Seems to be a cascade of poor decisions were made here destroying 3 careers.

One question not apparently asked, “Did the service member ever volunteer information to the SNCO that they had a medical chit altering their approved uniform?”

Carrying and producing a profile is required (or used to be), so it could be produced when challenged by seniors questioning an apparent change to standards be it a uniform, PT or what ever.

The story leaves out any responsibility for the Marine central to this issue and their ability to inform the chain of command.

If the expectation is that Regimental Commanders and Seargent’s Major are aware of each individual in the command’s medical status, as appears to be from LtGen McMillian’s actions, then every commander at every level, even the Commander of The USMCR should likewise be at fault.

That’s why, I believe, the Navy Board of Corrections ruled as they did removing the adverse actions. The unfortunate part is the careers destroyed in the wake of poor decision making and an investigation that did not reveal all sides of the issue.

Communication is a 2-way Highway.

A perfect storm of bad decisions and leadership reeking havoc on careers and lives

Very sad affair, but the damage has been done and in an organization as small as the Marines there is no coming back.