REPOSING SPECIAL TRUST AND CONFIDENCE

REPOSING SPECIAL TRUST AND CONFIDENCE

By Andy Weddington

Wednesday, 01 September 2021

Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care. - Theodore Roosevelt (Colonel, U. S. Army Medal of Honor recipient and 26th President of the United States)

The commission (document) of an officer in the United States military opens ...

"The President of the United States of America

To all who shall see these presents, greeting:

Know Ye that, reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of ... "

Reposing special trust and confidence - think about the meaning and keep in mind.

Thirty-nine years ago we were 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, infantrymen, lieutenants, in a Victor unit just back from a Mediterranean deployment. 

An exceptionally bright friend, a commissioned reserve officer on active duty, showed me the battalion commander's endorsement on his package for augmentation into the regular Marine Corps.

It's one of those pieces of paper you wish you had asked for a copy (in those days, white, pink, or green) because no one would believe it. 

The otherwise several respectable paragraphs recapping performance were countered at the end with, "This officer is too intelligent for the infantry." [He was a solid officer - exceptionally competent, well-read, well-rounded, articulate, modest, a leader, and able to converse intelligently on most any topic. To this day, I've not met anyone like him. There was rumor his GT 160. I didn't believe that. Seemed to me he was 200 or better.]

In short, his package was forwarded to regiment endorsed with confidence (not the coveted "enthusiasm") for augmentation with lateral move into a more challenging MOS (Military Occupational Specialty).

Incredible!

He was irate. Understandably. He wanted to be an infantryman.

I was stunned. [And again this morning typing that absurd statement.]

He formally requested (known as Request Mast) to speak to the division commander; a major general, beloved by Marines, who enjoyed reputation of gruff, hard-nosed intellectual. 

Regiment tried to defuse the Request Mast. So did division Chief of Staff; though not as forcefully. 

But the lieutenant was determined to speak to the commanding general - about the augmentation endorsement and other nonsense frustrating the company grade officers (not just our battalion but throughout division). And he asked permission to use my name, among others, to corroborate his complaints. Of course.

He "debriefed" me on the meeting.

The general welcomed him, came from behind desk with pad and pen, they sat in arm chairs, and he had the floor without interruption. 

The general then asked if there was anything else, posed a few questions for clarity, thanked him for his courage and said he had all for action - assuring him in coming weeks he'd most likely see some changes and that other sensitive matters he'd not necessarily see nor know about but vowed appropriate action. 

The lieutenant, duty done and satisfied - clear conscience, returned to work.

But his tenure in the Marine Corps came to a natural end. He was not augmented. And he decided against offer of extension. 

His whereabouts and achievements since unknown. Regrettable, really. But I've no doubt for his brilliance, complemented by integrity and courage, he has done just fine. 

I mention that story because that was a case of a fine Marine officer, an infantryman - the heart of the Marine Corps, who wanted nothing more than to be a Marine infantryman. In the end, senior leadership, for whatever reasons, denied him.

Since writing about Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Scheller's video post last week demanding senior leadership accountability for the Afghanistan withdrawal goat rope, he released video Sunday announcing intent to resign his regular commission. And yesterday he posted to social media a copy of his resignation letter (several friends sent to me).

Here is a case of a fine Marine officer, an infantryman - the heart of the Marine Corps, who wanted nothing more than to be a Marine infantryman, and senior leadership failed (from his perspective, and from what is publicly known, accurate) him.

In his less than half-page resignation declining commission in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve, paragraph 3. ...

"My reason for submitting a letter of resignation: A lack of trust and confidence in your ability to lead."

"Your" - the letter is addressed to Secretary of the Navy via Commanding Officer, School of Infantry, East and the Commandant of the Marine Corps (MMSR-3). 

Bluntly, a U. S. Marine infantryman said he will not follow incompetent cowards.

In courage, integrity, too, special trust and confidence implied.

By such stunning example of leadership - demonstration of how much Lieutenant Colonel Scheller cares - there must be more resignations; top to bottom (President to general to colonel to lieutenant) - with paragraph 3. citing admitted failure as a leader or loss of trust and confidence in leadership, as case may be. 

Reposing special trust and confidence encompasses responsibility for life and death. 

Last week 13 warriors, representing the best of America, charged to follow and obey those entrusted with special trust and confidence now dead; senselessly - senior leadership failed them.

Families, spirits and hearts broken, grieve; fellow warriors and countrymen with them.

Whilst America seethes. 

There must be senior level accountability. There must be! 

"So help me God" (last words of oath of office).