Marine Corps Base Hawaii leader removed from command

2015-04-29T10:58:54-04:00

From: Marine Corps Times

The commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Hawaii was relieved of his duties Monday following "a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead," the service said.

Col. Eric Schaefer, who assumed command of the base in August, was removed from his post by Maj. Gen. Charles Hudson, the commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Pacific, according to a Marine Corps news release. Schaefer was reassigned to another position effective immediately.

"The Marine Corps holds all Marines, especially commanders, responsible for their actions, and is committed to upholding high standards of honor, courage and commitment within the ranks," the release states.

No additional details about the relief or Schaefer's new position were immediately available. Schaefer could not immediately be reached for comment.

Col. Christopher Snyder, the deputy commander of Marine Corps Installations Pacific, has been assigned as the interim commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Hawaii until a permanent replacement is named by Headquarters Marine Corps.

Schaefer, a career aviator with more than 2,000 flight hours, graduated from San Diego State University in 1991, according to his official Marine Corps biography. He served as the commanding officer of Marine Attack Squadron 214, which was named the Marine aviation attack squadron of the year in 2009 following a deployment to Afghanistan's Helmand province.

Prior to assuming command of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Schaefer served as the deputy director of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Staff Training Program Division.

Schaefer is the second commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Hawaii to be relieved in recent years. In October 2011, Col. Jeffrey Woods was removed from his job following a loss of confidence in his ability to lead.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2015/04/28/marine-base-hawaii-schaefer/26501833/

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 29 at 2015 11:12 AM

2015-04-29T11:12:54-04:00

It will be interesting to learn what's behind the loss of confidence and what the "actions" were, if we ever will.

Personal integrity, personal appearance, and personal control have been hammered down for a long time. I remember going to O-6 poop school back in '98. Most every vice, inattentiveness, etc. issue was dealt with by the myriad of Flags and SESers paraded in front of us.

We'll always have that low end of the bell curve that will ensure we'll see repeat articles of this nature. Unfortunately.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 29 at 2015 12:51 PM

2015-04-29T12:51:55-04:00

Terrible journalism. Why was he removed, where's the "so what?"

"In other news, sometimes when people don't meet expectations they are fired. No Further Information."

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Apr 29 at 2015 1:26 PM

2015-04-29T13:26:42-04:00

Remember when the Pentagon used to put actual "information" in their news releases? or when news reporters actually conducted investigations then reported the results? The obvious question is what the heck did he do? When I hear vague statements such as: "loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead his command", I immediately think he did something political like speaking his mind in the wrong place. If he committed a violation of the UCMJ such as theft or fraternization, wouldn't it be better to present the facts as they are known up front? Eventually, the story will get out and it will make the Marines look worse for the slow response.

Response by Capt Andrew Cosgrove made May 1 at 2015 9:48 PM

2015-05-01T21:48:32-04:00

He said something that a 3 star did not like. Probably something like "no." when asked to do something that would negatively impact the morale of the Marines aboard MCBH. Like not ask for so much money in a facilities budget or infrastructure review.

In Fiscal circles this is the end of the mid year review time. It would be embarrassing for questions to be asked about why more money is needed at MCBH when the money allocated for them hasn't already been spent.

Just spit balling.

Or he got caught in a compromising or embarrassing situation with the local law.

That is what usually happens to facilities managers in the Corps.

But I am doing nothing more than being cynical and engaging absolute conjecture, based upon common public events in our Government's calendar.