Behind the cover: Commandant calls out complacent leaders, tells Marines to quit embarrassing the Corps
April 30th, 2012 | Behind the Cover Leadership The CMC | Posted by Andrew deGrandpre
This week's cover story examines the commandant's new efforts to address misconduct in the ranks and restore the notion of engaged leadership.
The Marine Corps’ top general wants an end to the monkey business that, since the start of 2012, has cast a steady, unflattering light on an institution defined in no small part by the pride it exhibits in being a disciplined, moral fighting force.
“We are allowing our standards to erode,” Gen. Jim Amos, the service’s 35th commandant, laments in an internal memo distributed to all of his generals, commanding officers and sergeants major. Known as a White Letter, the sharply worded missive comes in response to “a number of recent widely publicized incidents” involving Marines misbehaving abroad.
Complacent leadership bears some of the blame, he says.
To recap: In January, a video surfaced showing grunts in Afghanistan appearing to urinate on dead Taliban foot soldiers. A month later, Amos apologized on behalf of the entire Marine Corps for photos of deployed scout snipers posing with a flag bearing the Nazi-era SS logo. At the same time, three Hawaii-based Marines were court-martialed in connection with the war-zone hazing and subsequent suicide of Lance Cpl. Harry Lew.
Since the White Letter was circulated, five Marines were implicated in separate prostitution scandals. One in Colombia and one in Brazil.
Amos is worried the fallout from these embarrassing incidents will eclipse the progress Marines have made in securing Afghanistan’s Helmand province, though he is quick to note that, overall, Marines have fought the war “in a way that meets the high, almost lofty expectations of the American people.” He has directed leaders across the fleet to get smart on specific regional directives governing conduct abroad, and get tough in ensuring the rules are crystal clear to rank-and-file personnel. The Marine Corps’ reputation is at stake, Amos says.
Additionally, the service will hold a daylong “ethics standdown” for all Marines in the coming weeks, and the commandant has launched a tour of bases and air stations to address his frustrations — and his expectations — and to point the way forward.
To learn what Amos has in store for Marines, pick up the current issue of Marine Corps Times. It’s on newsstands now. To read it immediately, click here and subscribe.
General: Marines targeting Afghan drug smugglers ahead of spring poppy harvest
April 16th, 2012 | Afghanistan Camp Leatherneck Embedded journalism Infantry Kajaki Marjah | Posted by Andrew deGrandpre
Members of with 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, patrol a poppy field in Habib Abad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on April 4. Marines are working to stem the flow of drugs out of the region by hitting stashes that already have been harvested. (Sgt. Andrea M. Olguin / Marine Corps)
We trust you’ve been reading — and enjoying — senior staff writer Dan Lamothe’s numerous dispatches from Afghanistan, where he and photographer James Lee are embedded presently with members of 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. Thanks so much for your continued interest in their work.
Today, over on Marine Corps Times’ home page, we’ve rolled out Lamothe’s first hard-news report from this trip to the war zone. It details aggressive efforts to curtail the flow of stored poppy out of Afghanistan ahead of the spring harvest, now just weeks away.
Before shipping out last week to 1/8′s area of operations in Kajaki, Lamothe spent several days at Camp Leatherneck, the Corps’ nerve center in southwestern Afghanistan. There, he met with Maj. Gen. David Berger, the head of 1st Marine Division (Forward), who provided a sitrep on Marines’ activities throughout Helmand province. A principal focus at the moment, Berger explained, is preventing old stocks of poppy from leaving the country. Poppy, of course, is used to make heroin and other narcotics, and its trade has long lined Taliban pockets.
As Lamothe reports:
Marine battalions in central Helmand have actively fought to stifle mobile smuggling, Berger said. In Marjah district, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., has had a standing request for helicopters and a heliborne raid force for more than a month.
“They have a very good system, intelligencewise, and they’ll have a very good idea of where one could happen,” Berger said. “So, you’ll have people geared up and ready to go. When the mobile bazaar happens, they’ll either hit the bazaar, or not hit the bazaar and be watching.”
Earlier this month, Marines used drones to track vehicles after they left a mobile bazaar, Berger said. The smugglers eventually parked, hid their vehicles and walked nearly a mile away from them to get some sleep. A raid force with Lejeune’s 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, reached the vehicles at first light and found about 3,000 pounds of cocaine, opium and heroin.
Marines are not involved in any poppy eradication, for fear that doing so would alienate the local population, Berger said. The crops are fair game only after they’ve left the farmers’ hands.
Behind the cover: Marine lieutenant’s firing causes uproar over rules of engagement
April 16th, 2012 | Afghanistan Behind the Cover Capitol Hill Infantry Sangin | Posted by Andrew deGrandpre
This week's cover story, written by Marine Corps Times' Pentagon bureau chief, Andrew Tilghman, examines the case of 1st Lt. Josh Waddell, who was fired after his commander accused him of violating the rules of engagement in Afghanistan.
First Lt. Josh Waddell ordered his men to take out an insurgent last fall in Afghanistan, and that decision has come back to bite him pretty badly. Now, the 25-year-old finds himself at the center of a contentious debate over the rules of engagement and the potentially disastrous career implications for those deemed to have violated them.
When the incident occurred, Waddell was the executive officer for his company with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, which oversaw security in the Sangin district of Helmand province. He was subsequently fired from that job, given a lousy fitness report and told he would not be recommended for promotion. His father, a retired Navy SEAL commander, has gotten involved — and made enough noise to capture the attention of some in Congress, who are pushing for creation of ROE “review boards” that would afford troops an independent review of any administrative action stemming from alleged violations. But some worry that would serve to undermine the chain of command.
Also this week, staff writer James K. Sanborn has an exclusive first look at the Corps’ plan to develop new functional fitness tests, part of the service’s evaluation of opening additional ground combat jobs to women. The goal is to establish gender-neutral standards for physically rigorous tasks required of Marines whose primary mission is to close with and destroy. As we reported in February, the Corps is opening to women about 400 jobs in six types of battalions. Officials said then that this was a precursor to implementing broader changes. These new strength tests are a key piece to doing so.
This issue is on newsstands now. To read it immediately, click here and subscribe.
UFC hopeful and former Marine George Lockhart back in the MMA spotlight
February 28th, 2012 | MCMAP Mixed marital arts | Posted by Andrew deGrandpre
The Feb. 22, 2010, Marine Corps Times introduced Sgt. George "Loaded" Lockhart to the rest of the Marine Corps and the world.
Today, our friend and fellow military blogger Phil Creed posted a great story about the re-emergence of mixed martial artist and former Marine Sgt. George “Loaded” Lockhart.
Regular readers of Marine Corps Times will recognize that name. Lockhart was the subject of a cover story two years ago after the Marine Corps told him he could not accept Spike TV’s invitation to appear on “The Ultimate Fighter,” a reality show for up-and-coming MMA pros seeking a shot at UFC stardom. At the time, commanders in Quantico worried that Lockhart’s participation could reflect poorly on the institution, as some of the show’s past cast members were depicted acting immature and, well, kind of gross. That story took off online, even earning a shout out from Yahoo’s MMA blog, Cagewriter.
As a Marine, Lockhart ranked among the Corps’ most skilled hand-to-hand fighters, holding the elite job of instructor trainer at the Martial Arts Center of Excellence in Quantico, Va., where he was entrusted to teach fellow practitioners of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program how to coach and mentor others. But when the Corps denied a second invitation to appear on “The Ultimate Fighter,” Lockhart knew his days in MARPAT were numbered. He left the service last year to pursue his pro career.
And so far so good. As the After Action blog points out, Lockhart won a unanimous decision Friday night in Salt Lake City, beating Jarome “Hatchet” Hatch, in his first pro fight in more than two years. His career record now stands at 11-4 and his sights are set squarely on the UFC, where his friend and fellow Marine, former Capt. Brian Stann, has won mad respect and thousands of fans.
As Marine Corps Times reported on Lockhart over the past two years, we often heard from Marines wondering why the brass didn’t try to capitalize on Lockhart’s emerging celebrity status. A common argument from readers: Marine Corps Recruiting Command has a partnership with the UFC, so why not let a squared-away Marine such as Lockhart be the face of that relationship?
That’s a question worth pondering, particularly in light of the sport’s immense popularity among young military-aged men and the Corps’ growing acceptance of MMA. Will a day come when an active-duty Marine, with the chops to compete in the UFC, is allowed to do so?
Video: Gen. John Allen motivates soldiers after deadly attack fueled by Koran burning
February 25th, 2012 | Afghanistan General officers | Posted by Andrew deGrandpre
On Friday, Marine Gen. John Allen, the commander of all coalition forces in Afghanistan, visited a forward operating base in eastern Nangarhar province, where the day prior a man protesting the Koran-burning scandal shot and killed two U.S. soldiers. It’s a passionate address and a unique look at this Allen’s leadership style.
You can watch the video below. To learn more about Gen. John Allen, check out Marine Corps Times’ profile.
Behind the cover: Cutting 20,000 Marines
February 7th, 2012 | Behind the Cover budget Force Structure Review Manpower | Posted by Andrew deGrandpre
Throughout the Corps, anxiety is high as Marines and their families wait to learn how the commandant intends to execute massive force cuts ordered in January by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. And their uneasiness certainly is justified. The reality is that over the next five years, the service will purge some 20,000 from the active-duty force — about as many as it added during the latter part of the last decade to sustain operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
This week’s cover story, which was co-reported by Marines Corps Times’ senior staff writers Gina Cavallaro and Dan Lamothe, examines how the drawdown is expected to take shape and what means the service will employ in reducing overall end strength by 3,500-5,000 personnel a year, as the top Marine, Gen. Jim Amos, has forecast. It analyzes future force structure also, and how budget cuts will drive the elimination of units and diminish certain capabilities. As Marine Corps Times first reported last week, officials now are looking beyond last year’s force structure review, which accounts for about 15,000 personnel cuts, with thoughts of axing some light armored reconnaissance assets and an additional infantry battalion while dialing back planned expansion of the Corps’ special operations command.
A companion piece, reported by staff writer James K. Sanborn, looks at the future of the Marine Corps Reserve. Although it’s not targeted for personnel cuts, smaller budgets could influence training deployments in the coming years, according to the Reserve’s three-star commander.
All in all, it’s vital career news for Marines everywhere. The issue is on newsstands now. To read it immediately, subscribe to our digital edition.
Behind the Cover: Did Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter cover a grenade to shield his buddy?
January 16th, 2012 | Afghanistan Awards Behind the Cover Marjah | Posted by Andrew deGrandpre
UPDATE: An updated version of this story has now been posted online here.
You may recognize this face. That’s Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, who was severely wounded in Afghanistan in 2010 when insurgents chucked a hand grenade onto the roof where he and another Marine, Lance Cpl. Nick Eufrazio, were posting security.
In the months since the attack, as Carpenter has undergone numerous surgeries to address his injuries, he has become an ambassador, of sorts, for the Marine Corps and its wounded warriors, inspiring family, friends and fellow Marines with his undying optimism in the face of a difficult recovery. He has dined with Vice President Joe Biden, attended events hosted by the commandant — and even mugged for photos alongside college cheerleaders and UFC star Brian Stann.
Eufrazio, by contrast, weighs 100 pounds and is unable to speak. He resides in a Florida veterans hospital that specializes in caring for patients who’ve sustained traumatic brain injuries. These men’s stories, writes Marine Corps Times senior writer Dan Lamothe, is “a classic example of the cruelty of war.”
Carpenter came to our attention last year, when we received word that the state legislature in his native South Carolina honored him with a resolution claiming he “took the full blast from an enemy hand grenade in seeking to save a fellow Marine.” He and Eufrazio are the only two eyewitnesses to what happened that day on the outskirts of Marjah. Carpenter says he can’t remember what happened in the moments right before the attack. Eufrazio can’t communicate. The Corps continues to investigate the incident, officials say, and it’s unclear whether all of their questions ever will be answered.
But if Carpenter did try to protect his buddy from the blast …
… that would put him in some exclusive company.
This story is not to be missed. It hit newsstands Monday. You also can subscribe online to read it right now.
Behind the Cover: KIA bracelets
October 10th, 2011 | Behind the Cover Military appearance | Posted by Andrew deGrandpre
This week, Marine Corps Times’ staff writer James K. Sanborn uncovers efforts across the Marine Corps to crack down on troops in uniform who wear bracelets bearing the names of friends killed in combat.
Commands in North Carolina, California and Japan have ordered Marines to remove their KIA bracelets, as they’re not permitted under existing uniform regulations — and there’s nothing to stop others from following suit. To date, there has been no formal call to amend the rules, Marine officials tell us.
It should come as no surprise that many Marines are livid. A call for opinions posted in late September on Marine Corps Times’ website generated more than 200 responses and 1,000-plus “likes” on Facebook, where the topic was vigorously debated for days.
Particularly puzzling: Marines are authorized to wear bracelets honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action. Yet unlike past conflicts, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have not produced the staggering numbers of POWs and MIAs. More than 82,000 U.S. troops are still unaccounted for dating back to World War II, according to Defense Department figures. Today, there are two: Army Staff Sgt. Ahmed K. Altaie, missing in Iraq since 2006, and Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured by Taliban forces in Afghanistan in 2009.
Don’t miss this story, Marines. You can find it on newsstands now, or you can subscribe here to read it instantly.
Behind the Cover: The plan to overhaul military retirement
August 1st, 2011 | Behind the Cover budget Manpower | Posted by Andrew deGrandpre
Listen up, Marines!
This week’s cover story is a must-read for all — from the lowliest privates to tomorrow’s general officers. Marine Corps Times Pentagon correspondent Andrew Tilghman lays out in stark detail an aggressive new plan to revamp the military retirement system, one that would dump today’s 20-year model in favor of something akin to a corporate 401(k).
The proposal, pitched by an influential Pentagon advisory board, calls for everyone to receive at least some retirement cash when they leave the service. Even Marines who complete just one enlistment and get out as lance corporals would clear about $20,000.
Career-mind troops planning to stay in for 20 years or more would take a massive hit, however. Replacing the current pension system with a civilian-style 401(k) would result in retirement packages worth hundreds of thousands of dollars less, on average, according to the Defense Business Board’s plan.
Also in this week’s print edition, senior staff writer Dan Lamothe outlines two abrupt announcements from Marine Corps headquarters: one freezing housing allowance requests for single NCOs and below; the other implementing new top-end service limits for sergeants. Both changes mean that day-to-day life is about to change drastically for the Corps’ junior leaders.
To read up on these and other important stories, pick up a copy of this week’s Marine Corps Times — on newsstands now. Or you can subscribe online here and get instant access to our digital edition.
Behind the Cover: Snitching and the Corps’ drug problem
July 5th, 2011 | Afghanistan Behind the Cover Gear General officers | Posted by Andrew deGrandpre
This week in Marine Corps Times, junior Marines and noncommissioned officers debate one general’s controversial initiative to eradicate illegal drug use in his command. Dubbed “Not in My Corps,” Brig. Gen. William D. Beydler’s new campaign encourages rank-and-file troops within Japan’s 1st Marine Aircraft Wing to inform a superior if they see anyone in their unit getting high.
Some troops call that snitching and a call to violate the trust Marines must have for one another at the small-unit level. But the commandant praises the effort, and the three-star head of all Marine forces in Japan says commands across the Corps should use it as a model to confront drug use within their own ranks.
What’s your take?
Other must-reads:
* Senior writers Gina Cavallaro and Gidget Fuentes team up for a comprehensive account of one force reconnaissance platoon’s epic — but little-known — battle three years ago against hundreds of insurgents in the Afghan village of Shewan. Amazingly, these Marines didn’t lose a single man during the encounter, which lasted several hours, and in the process dealt a crushing defeat to the enemy. Cavallaro reports from Afghanistan, where she linked up with that platoon’s former commander, who illustrates in fantastic detail how this unit overcame seemingly impossible odds.
* Staff writer James K. Sanborn quizzes Lt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik, commander of Marine Corps Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., about what Marines should expect once U.S. forces begin leaving Afghanistan later this year. He also spotlights a new piece of gear that “looks like a camouflage diaper but could save your future children.” These external groin protractors were first fielded by the Brits in an effort to lessen the severity of genital injuries sustained in bomb blasts. Now the Corps is rushing them to units down range to supplement the protective underwear some Marines have been wearing for the last few months.
* And much, much more.
Check it out on newsstands this week or subscribe here to read the newspaper online right now.