{"id":23075,"date":"2019-01-07T20:26:17","date_gmt":"2019-01-07T20:26:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/01\/07\/commander-of-marsoc-team-falsely-accused-of-war-crimes-finally-cleared-for-promotion-to-lieutenant-colonel\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:42:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:42:30","slug":"commander-of-marsoc-team-falsely-accused-of-war-crimes-finally-cleared-for-promotion-to-lieutenant-colonel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/newsletters\/daily-news-roundup\/2019\/01\/07\/commander-of-marsoc-team-falsely-accused-of-war-crimes-finally-cleared-for-promotion-to-lieutenant-colonel\/","title":{"rendered":"Commander of MARSOC team falsely accused of war crimes finally cleared for promotion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Navy records board has exonerated the commander of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2018\/02\/08\/marsoc-marines-falsely-accused-of-war-crimes-get-lackluster-vindication-from-hqmc\/\" target=_blank> Marine special operations team <\/a>and paved his way for a promotion more than decade after the unit was falsely accused of killing civilians during a March 2007 ambush in Bati Kot district of Afghanistan\u2019s Nangarhar province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The board cited a 2008 Court of Inquiry decision that found the team had operated within the confines of the Law of Armed Conflict when it engaged militants in a violent ambush. And it\u2019s the latest in a series of letters and Pentagon records, including a recent letter from the commandant\u2019s office, that have cleared the elite team of accusations of wrongdoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The records board approved a request to remove adverse paperwork from the team\u2019s former commanding officer, now-Ret. Maj. Fred Galvin, and called for the convening of a special selections board to consider his promotion to lieutenant colonel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Galvin had been relieved of his command and his unit booted from Afghanistan following false accusations of war crimes in 2007 \u2014 while some members of the commando outfit faced potential negligent homicide charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/special-projects\/task-force-violent\/2015\/03\/05\/task-force-violent-the-unforgiven-part-1\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"204\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635609740033447165-mar-fred-galvin02jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Task Force Violent: The unforgiven | Part 1<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The tragic betrayal of an elite Marine Corps commando unit<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specifically, the board approved the removal of a fitness report dated June 1, 2006 to April 3, 2007 \u2014 which covered Galvin\u2019s command of the Marine special operations team in Afghanistan \u2014 and the removal of a no misconduct report regarding the calamitous events of March 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The board also agreed to remove an adverse fitness report stemming from an unrelated incident while Galvin served as an operations officer in 2011 for 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Galvin spared with his battalion commander over the need to use a lower yield munition during a fire fight that was dangerously close to Marines on the ground, which resulted in his relief and adverse paperwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fitness reports in the Marine Corps are a career performance evaluation tool and negative paperwork can stymie future career progression and promotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;This report from the thorough review held by senior civilian leaders at the Pentagon unanimously determined that not only did our Marines do exactly what they were supposed to do during the deployment of the first Marine Special Operations Task Force into combat in Afghanistan in 2007 but that false reports not only from locals but up to the Prime Minister of Afghanistan that were publicly reinforced by senior military officers led to our removal from Afghanistan, a criminal investigation and following trial that left many of the facts unclear as they were never publicly address by the Pentagon until today,\u201d Galvin told Marine Corps Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The board said the March ambush \u201ccorrupted the judgement of the RS [reporting senior],\u201d which also led to Galvin\u2019s removal from command of the special operations team and his removal from Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Galvin was the commanding officer of elite Marine special operators dubbed Task Force Violent, which was part of Marine Forces Special Operations Command\u2019s first deployment to Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On March 4th 2007, 30 members of the team embarked on a six vehicle convoy near the village of Bati Kot when a bomb laden car approached the convoy and detonated. The Marines then fought back a complex ambush.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/special-projects\/task-force-violent\/2015\/03\/12\/task-force-violent-the-unforgiven-part-2\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"133\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635615101081798485-ch-2-lede-dasr-platoon-fox-company-msoc-fox-2007-afghanistanjpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Task Force Violent: The unforgiven | Part 2<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Unwanted and unsupported, the first Marine commandos were &#039;set up for failure&#039;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the attack, media reports spilled onto the internet detailing scores of innocent civilians killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An investigation into the incident was launched and the Marine commandos were restricted from operating in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Members of the team involved in the ambush were ordered not to participate in future missions unless deemed necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another event on March 9, 2007, involving the Marine commandos further aggravated the situation and hastened their departure from the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marine commandos submitted a concept of operations for a several reconnaissance missions, but a platoon commander with the unit \u201cmasked\u201d a route showing the convoy moving through the restricted operation zone of Jalalabad to an operating point south of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But a later mission confirmation brief clearly indicated the reconnaissance objective was in Jalalabad, not the southern point submitted with the concept of operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/special-projects\/task-force-violent\/2015\/03\/20\/task-force-violent-the-unforgiven-part-3\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635620957173419586-ap070305013974jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Task Force Violent: The unforgiven | Part 3<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Marine commandos survived this nightmare. No one believed their story<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The issue raised questions as to the location and intent of the team, and the unit was recalled before it ever made it to its final destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The incident was magnified by the investigation that was already underway for the March 4 ambush that appeared to paint a picture of a renegade group of cowboys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Board determined the enemy information operation and responses of senior leaders were the proximate cause of the MSOC-F [Marine Special Operations Company-F] redeployment and actions taken against Petitioner were \u201ccollateral damage,\u201d the Navy board said in its determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Board determined the events of March 4, 2007 set in motion events that contributed to the unsuccessful operations of March 9, 2007 and the perception Petitioner lost operational control,\u201d the Navy board said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Galvin was relieved of his command for the incidents that occurred in March 2007, and the Marine special operators were kicked out of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team was ostracized by public statements made by senior officials and Afghan leaders, which has taken a heavy toll on their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And because much of the testimony during the Court of Inquiry was classified, a one-sided narrative of the incident developed in the media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That led to a February 2008 Marine Corps Times cover story that misrepresented the team and the events that unfolded in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"520\" height=\"581\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mct-task-force-violent-meltdown.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-49901\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mct-task-force-violent-meltdown.jpg.jpg 520w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mct-task-force-violent-meltdown.jpg.jpg?resize=269,300 269w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Galvin has spent more than a decade trying to clear his team\u2019s name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In February 2018, a letter from the commandant\u2019s office to North Carolina Republican Congressman Walter Jones affirmed the ruling of the court and exonerated the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Marine Corps has consistently said, in agreement with MARCENT [Marine Corps Forces Central Command] commanding general\u2019s decision announced publicly May 23, 2008, that the Marines of Fox Co. acted appropriately \u200ein response to the Mar. 4, 2007 complex attack in Afghanistan,\u201d Lt. Col. Eric Dent, the commandant\u2019s spokesman told Marine Corps Times about the letter sent to Jones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBoth Gen. Dunford and Gen. Neller, as the 36th and 37th Commandants respectively, openly supported this position and remain steadfast in their support of the MARCENT commander\u2019s\u200e characterization of the Fox Co. Marines\u2019 tactical actions on Mar. 4, 2007,\u201d Dent said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., called for the Marine commandos\u2019 story to be fully told in a statement posted to the Congressional Record in December 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese reports of war crimes were unsubstantiated, and these Marines deserve to be recognized for their courage as they encountered the enemy,\u201d the former California representative said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Navy records board further stated that Galvin \u201crightfully took a moral stand\u201d when he challenged his battalion commander during a separate 2011 deployment to Afghanistan to use a smaller munition that would better protect Marines and Afghan civilians on the ground.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The first Marine special operators to deploy to Afghanistan were ostracized and falsely charged with war crimes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":49897,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":101,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["news","your-military","left-column","home","middle-column","good-news-report","newsletters"],"primary_category":"your-military"}}},"categories":[101,12,25,69],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3398],"class_list":["post-23075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-marine-corps"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"MU23W47NF5HJTADK6SKHIJKXQU","arc_canonical_url":"\/newsletters\/daily-news-roundup\/2019\/01\/07\/commander-of-marsoc-team-falsely-accused-of-war-crimes-finally-cleared-for-promotion-to-lieutenant-colonel\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Commander of MARSOC team falsely accused of war crimes finally cleared for promotion - Marine Corps Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The first Marine special operators to deploy to Afghanistan were ostracized and falsely charged with war crimes.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/newsletters\/daily-news-roundup\/2019\/01\/07\/commander-of-marsoc-team-falsely-accused-of-war-crimes-finally-cleared-for-promotion-to-lieutenant-colonel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Commander of MARSOC team falsely accused of 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