Marine one-star cited for misusing aide, taking gifts from subordinates

I never held a job for very long and spent most of my working career bouncing from one contract to another. Thus, I had the opportunity to observe more organizations than most. Military. Civilian bureaucracy, federal, state, municipal, and county. Businesses large and small from one man operations to multinational corporations. One thing was clearly visible in all (except the one man operations): Leaders set the tone of the organization. Interestingly, it was amazing how quickly that tone changed when the person at the top changed, and those who didn't adapt were easily spotted like a chameleon that moves from one background to another and forgets to alter its appearance. That being said, look again at this situation and tell me what you see. I see a forgetful chameleon...

Makes you wonder

This should have been addressed by other officers or senior NCOs in the unit & they should have spoken with the Marine Officer about the use of his aide-de-camp.

I find the picking up meals task to be a little nitpicky. There were plenty of times I got meals for other folks (Officers & NCOs too) while I was in Iraq who were on duty at the time & couldn't break for chow. Other people did the same for me when I was in meetings- It's called "Taking Care of Soldiers" - It's what you do!

When I was prior service, I was a Division (DIVARTY) Artillery XOs Driver and he asked me to pick up some uniform items at Clothing & Sales for him & I did do it because I considered it an order. The DIVARTY CSM found out about it and spoke with the XO and I was never asked to do that again.