Donald Trump Is Pushing America’s Special Forces Past the Breaking Point

Tell us how you really feel. Do you feel there is a place for civilian leadership and control of the military, or should it all be turned over to the Joint Staff?

MSgt Steve Sweeney - Look up the word delegation, it is a rather common word in the military and private industry. Nothing said about responsibility or accountability.

MCPO Roger Collins - It is an interesting word, especially when used relative to those that have no desire or ability. But you are correct, absolutely nothing said about responsibility and accountability, and Trump sure hasn't felt a need to take any thus far. Whatever happens, he can always blame it in Congress, .... or Obama .... or Hillary... or Comey ... or ...

Weak deflecting response, SOP.

MSgt Steve Sweeney - Then Capt Joe Osterman was a Tactics bubba at TBS when I went through WOBC in 89. Saw him again in Somalia with 24 MEU. He was a Maj by then and OpsO for 1/2 under LtCol Natonski. He was wrapped tight but laid back. Did a lot at MARSOC and is Dep CINC at SOCOM now as LtGen. I read about some of the infighting but am glad they finally went all in. Without it you never get the cash or missions. The current climate begs for that type of operations, so there's no turning back. Best wishes, Will

Was Osterman out at the school house? Sounds familiar, but I am terrible with names. I was in the G-3 under Col Petronzio when the command stood up in 2006. It was because of some of the infighting that I assumed the role as Current Operations Chief - the Marine that reported to fill the billet couldn't maintain a security clearance, so down the road he went. Good guy, but his monitor didn't help him out any sending him to a command that basically required a clearance to walk in the front door. It was an interesting time, and we were painting the car while driving 120 down the highway... Best.

I don't know more than stated about O. He had MARSOC when they were renamed Raiders before turning over to MajGen Mundy, and moved on to SOCOM. He was a motivator and an outstanding Instructor at TBS and 1/2 was wired tight in Somalia. Low stress too, which impressed me because command climate makes a difference. I've supported some that were full of "stress monsters" and it trickles down. I retired in 98 so any info is via reading. My exposure to the community was collateral through the MEU. The Stone Bay SOTG guys were closely joined during workups and for SOC Quals before deployment. The guy that took over 24 after the boss when I was there for 2 floats (Col, retired BGen Broderick) was Col Berndt and he came from SOTG. He had them when they snatched Capt O'Grady in the TRAP. The guy before Col Broderick was Col Jim Jones, later CMC, SACEUR, Natl Sec Adv. I have read some about all the friction vs. the concept and especially the whole deal with TF Violent i.e. Fox Company. Lots of those involved (non USMC) have moved up to CINCs but it makes for some interesting reading. Way above my paygrade and that's fine with me. CBIRF was starting to shake the bugs out as I was getting close to punching out. In fact none of the amphib platforms we sailed on are still around, so what a difference 25 years makes. We were lucky to scrounge a tired LST to make up a 4 ship mix. It was very lean times for amphibs pending new hulls. First float we wetnetted over the side of LKA El Paso into Somalia for her last cruise with the T R(oosevelt) battle group. Very hard on equipment and lots of crane ops.

Oh, Osterman was a MARSOC Commander. My mistake. I departed right after General Hejlik turned over command to Robeson. Yes sir, interesting times. I was fortunate, or possibly unfortunate not to spend hardly any of my career aboard ship... 4 months for work-ups, and then received orders for a "special assignment"... That is about it... and all I ever really wanted to do was a Med float.
I was at MARSOC for the "TF Violence" nonsense, and those guys got a very bad wrap, though I am sure you are acquainted with the story.... a lot of which stemmed from the "good ole boys" not wanting to play with the new kids.
It is funny that 24 MEU keeps coming up, as that was the MEU Colonel Petronzio took over after he left MARSOC. Petronzio had been doing spooky, secret squirrel stuff his whole career, and then was tapped for a MEU. He would come back over to the MARSOC HQ on occasion, when it was still at Hospital point, and commiserate with our Deputy Ops saying he was stuck in the third ring of "belt fed" hell... a not so admirable description of the command climate and the general conventional viewpoint. It didn't surprise me when, instead of going aboard ship, they just flew the entire MEU into Kandahar. That was around 2008....