{"id":43764,"date":"2018-08-30T18:49:25","date_gmt":"2018-08-30T18:49:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/30\/26-meu-battalion-commander-fired-during-deployment-over-equal-opportunity-concerns\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:28:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:28:13","slug":"26-meu-battalion-commander-fired-during-deployment-over-equal-opportunity-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2018\/08\/30\/26-meu-battalion-commander-fired-during-deployment-over-equal-opportunity-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"26th MEU battalion commander fired during deployment over equal opportunity concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An infantry battalion commander sacked in the middle of a deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit<\/a>, or MEU, was at least partially fired for allegedly using a term that could be disparaging to members of the LGBTQ community, Marine Corps Times has learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following a vandalism incident during a port call visit by the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock New York in Gaeta, Italy<\/a>, Lt. Col. Marcus J. Mainz, the commander of 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, allegedly used the term \u201cfaggot” or \u201cfaggoty\u201d during a meeting with the 2\/6 Battalion Landing Team leaders, multiple sources have told Marine Corps Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corps officials have said Lt. Col. Marcus J. Mainz was fired May 19 over a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several Marines were charged with and punished for underage drinking while on liberty during a port visit in Italy. One of those Marines was also charged with vandalizing a construction site.<\/p>\n\n\n\t