Tech made chief in 7 years despite 2006 conviction? Where are the checks and balances? What do you say?

2014-10-28T09:29:02-04:00

Just months after he was released early from jail and being court-ordered to attend a batterers program, this TSgt was selected for promotion to Master Sergeant. He was since promoted two more times. How did he stay in the Air Force and continue to get promoted with a criminal record?

http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20141027/NEWS/310270055/Tech-made-chief

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 7:10 PM

2014-10-28T19:10:54-04:00

SFC Drake, someone always falls through the cracks. I've seen cases where a soldier actually took leave to serve a short sentence, and maybe that is what happened here. Sometimes paperwork doesn't get done fast enough, or isn't cross-referenced or even is illegally delayed by someone who knows how to game the system. Sometimes people are just asleep at the wheel.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 28 at 2014 7:23 PM

2014-10-28T19:23:42-04:00

How can we complain about this individual when professional athletes are getting away with just as much? A crime is a crime and punishment should be the same regardless of rank, salary, popularity, etc. Until our legal systems decide how to handle these cases uniformly, more cases like this will come out.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 8:17 PM

2014-10-28T20:17:24-04:00

I find it interesting. With this is situation, we have a damned if you do damned if you don't for the military (lovely catch 22). Every time someone gets let go during manning cuts and they were "a great asset" to the military people complain about it and here we are with someone who didn't get the boot (whom we don't know personally aside what is told in the story) and has been boarded-and-selected by other top senior enlisted to join their ranks.

While I do understand that a lot of people have an issue with his having a criminal record, how many people even to this day, joined the military because a judge told them "join the military or go to jail"? I personally know several that are still in AD and are higher ranking.

On another note, I know people who are still in that have gone through some nasty divorces. I'm sure there are a lot of untold and undocumented stories that go along with those.

Ultimately, it just comes down to luck. The chief was lucky enough to get the opportunity to do what he needed to do despite the rough patches of his life. Hopefully it works out to the better of the Air Force and our country.