{"id":23914,"date":"2017-08-30T21:45:38","date_gmt":"2017-08-30T21:45:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/08\/30\/fired-parris-island-battalion-commander-arraigned-before-court-martial\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:39:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:39:53","slug":"fired-parris-island-battalion-commander-arraigned-before-court-martial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2017\/08\/30\/fired-parris-island-battalion-commander-arraigned-before-court-martial\/","title":{"rendered":"Fired Parris Island battalion commander arraigned before court-martial"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A former Parris Island training battalion commander was arraigned Wednesday ahead of his court-martial for charges stemming from events that culminated in the death of a recruit last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No trial date has been set for Lt. Col. Joshua Kissoon, who did not enter a plea at Wednesday\u2019s hearing, said Capt. Joshua Pena, a spokesman for Training and Education Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kissoon was fired as commander of 3rd Recruit Training Battalion on March 31, 2016. He was subsequently charged with failure to obey a lawful general order, making a false official statement and conduct unbecoming an officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his tenure at Parris Island, recruit Raheel Siddiqui jumped to his death on March 18, 2016. Siddiqui was assigned to the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion at the time. His senior drill instructor was Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Felix, who was not supposed to be working directly with recruits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Felix, who also faces a court-martial, was under investigation at the time for allegedly ordering another Muslim recruit to sit in a commercial dryer and then turning it on several times while insulting the recruit\u2019s religion. Felix was assigned another job afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n

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He is the highest ranking Marine and only officer referred to a court-martial in connection with recent investigations into abuse and hazing at Parris Island, South Carolina.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

At his Article 32 hearing in June, prosecutors argued that Kissoon is responsible for Felix becoming a senior drill instructor again despite verbal and written orders from the commander of Parris Island\u2019s Recruit Training Regiment that Felix not work directly with recruits until the dryer investigation had been completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although it is unclear from the Article 32 hearing\u2019s testimony exactly how Felix returned to his post, witnesses claimed that Kissoon repeatedly asked the regiment about the status of the dryer investigation. His battalion was missing a senior staff noncommissioned officer at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kissoon is the highest ranking Marine and the only officer to be referred to a court-martial in connection with three investigations into allegations of hazing and abuse at Parris Island. Two investigations were ongoing at the time of Siddiqui\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\t