Posted on Oct 22, 2024
‘Loss of confidence’ doesn’t explain enough about command firings
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Posted 2 mo ago
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OK...as a former commander three times I will weigh in on this. People outside the unit don't need to know why they were fired...just that simple...nobody's business...the reason it is captured in loss of confidence is just that, I don't believe you have the ability to carry out the orders or intent for this unit under my command for whatever reason...now to relieve someone of command isn't just as easy as waving that magic comment...it has to go through a legal process. The reason may be personal that no one outside the chain of command needs to know for privacy reasons, could be breach to not follow orders or circumvent them, or letting folks break the directives or regulations to get the mission accomplished...any number of things but as a commander under my command if I relieve you, you can rest assured I have strong and valid reasons and probably legal ones.
Again, IMHO, nobody's dang business (especially those not in the unit but just being nosy) but the one getting relieved and the one doing the relieving and up the chain as required.
Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Trent Klug CMSgt Marcus Falleaf Cpl Vic Burk SMSgt Lawrence McCarter CMSgt (Join to see) Sgt (Join to see) PO1 H Gene Lawrence LTC David Brown LTC Trent Klug CSM Chuck Stafford MSgt James Parker
Again, IMHO, nobody's dang business (especially those not in the unit but just being nosy) but the one getting relieved and the one doing the relieving and up the chain as required.
Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Trent Klug CMSgt Marcus Falleaf Cpl Vic Burk SMSgt Lawrence McCarter CMSgt (Join to see) Sgt (Join to see) PO1 H Gene Lawrence LTC David Brown LTC Trent Klug CSM Chuck Stafford MSgt James Parker
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SFC Casey O'Mally
Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth I agree with you 100% for Field grade and below. For these positions, one COL or LTC or CPT (or Capt, Commander, Lieutenant) is the same as the next.
But when we get to flag Officers, things change. Yes, they should still have some level of privacy, and we do not need ALL of the sordid details. But at that point, the public, IMHO, deserves SOME explanation. These are the senior most military leaders, the folks who actually testify before Congress (and/or petition them), and the folks whose job has become at least partially political, if not entirely so. The public deserves to know if the loss of confidence is due to personal conduct, poor leadership, insubordination, or something else.
No, we do not need the gritty details, even for Flag Officers, but at least a more narrow and less boilerplate definition is, in my opinion, important to the public.
But when we get to flag Officers, things change. Yes, they should still have some level of privacy, and we do not need ALL of the sordid details. But at that point, the public, IMHO, deserves SOME explanation. These are the senior most military leaders, the folks who actually testify before Congress (and/or petition them), and the folks whose job has become at least partially political, if not entirely so. The public deserves to know if the loss of confidence is due to personal conduct, poor leadership, insubordination, or something else.
No, we do not need the gritty details, even for Flag Officers, but at least a more narrow and less boilerplate definition is, in my opinion, important to the public.
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CW5 (Join to see)
Indeed, especially when the investigation isn't even over. Even though they will most likely not return to command, if found innocent or not responsible, they shoudn't have a Google search take over their career and reputation.
News orgs are usually really poor at retractions, corrections, or rosy endings to these sort of things.
News orgs are usually really poor at retractions, corrections, or rosy endings to these sort of things.
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Good evening PO2 (Join to see). Excellent post. Thanks for sharing this shipmate. I think it goes beyond this.
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