{"id":14150,"date":"2021-09-03T00:13:10","date_gmt":"2021-09-03T00:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/09\/03\/fired-marines-question-about-leader-accountability-should-not-be-dismissed\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:14:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:14:16","slug":"fired-marines-question-about-leader-accountability-should-not-be-dismissed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2021\/09\/03\/fired-marines-question-about-leader-accountability-should-not-be-dismissed\/","title":{"rendered":"Fired Marine\u2019s question about leader accountability should not be dismissed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. Marine battalion commander Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller<\/a> was fired on Aug. 27 after he posted a video on LinkedIn and Facebook criticizing the \u201cineptitude\u201d of U.S. military leadership over the disastrous withdrawal<\/a> from Afghanistan and demanding \u201caccountability\u201d <\/a>from those involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one was surprised at the decision to fire him \u2014 least of all Scheller, who commented in a social media post, \u201cMy chain of command is doing exactly what I would do\u2026. if I were in their shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of us who have worn the same uniform know that his actions violated the canons of our profession \u2014 so did he. Scheller broke the rules, and there is little room to question the rationale for his firing. Unfortunately, the method in which Scheller chose to deliver his message has become a distraction from the message itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question of senior officer accountability over the Afghanistan debacle<\/a> is not one that can simply be dismissed alongside Scheller with the usual tired trope about \u201closs of trust and confidence\u201d and dissembling comments about this being an emotional time for all Marines.<\/p>\n\n\n\t