Marine Corps Whistleblower Is Now Facing Vengeance And Reprisals From His Superiors

Marine Corps Whistleblower Faces Vengeance From Superiors -- Washington Times

The Marine Corps officer who filed a complaint against the commandant for intervening in the Taliban urination cases against eight Marines is now the target of reprisals from superiors, his attorney says.

Retired Marine Col. Jane Siegel, who is representing Maj. James Weirick, said superiors have subjected the major to retaliations since it became known that he filed a whistleblower complaint against Gen. James Amos, the commandant and Joint Chiefs of Staff member.

“Headquarters Marine Corps is undercutting a hero,” Col. Siegel said. “He did the right thing, and they are trying to bury it and him.”

Maj. Weirick, a staff judge advocate at the Combat Development Command at Quantico, Va., accuses Gen. Amos of violating the military edict against unlawful command influence by urging guilty verdicts to the general overseeing the cases.

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My Comment:  This is going to get even more easier .... but bottom line .... regardless of what happens .... Maj. James Weirick's career is probably over.

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Marine Scout Sniper Speaks Out On The Urination Video Controversy

Marine Scout Sniper In Urination Video Controversy Speaks Out -- Washington Free Beacon

Sgt. Rob Richards selflessly fought America’s war on terror overseas three times in four years, was a respected Team Leader, recorded numerous kills, and risked his life each time, but that is not the story he will be remembered by. Instead, the media and Marines have chosen to depict Richards in a negative light, all due to an unfortunate mistake: Richards and his fellow Marines urinated on the enemy they had killed.

Over the duration of their tour in the summer of 2011, his platoon recorded more than 230 confirmed kills, and Richards’ team specifically, along with the aid of the tanks, recorded more than 70 kills.

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My Comment: This is not the first case of a video getting soldiers into trouble .... nor the last.

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The Shrinking U.S. Marine Corps

Amos' Marines Could Go Even Smaller, to 120,000 -- Aaron Haubert, Defense One

In his Sept. 16 commentary in Defense One, Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, makes the argument that the Corps would be right-sized at around 174,000 personnel. This comes not long after his office made the argument that a Marine Corps sized at 186,800 Marines was deemed fiscally impossible. I believe that the reason that the Marine Corps is having a difficult time finding the right size is that it remains tethered to the legacy formations of the past. It is possible for the Marine Corps to provide its vital services to the nation for between 120,000 and 150,000 Marines if it embraces a new approach to the future.

The ideal Marine Corps would encompass counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, stability operations and deal with anti-access/area denial attempts. Marines are expected to help train allied nations and quickly respond to humanitarian and other emerging crises, while still deterring aggression and, of course, defeat those who aren’t deterred. While accomplishing this, they must maintain a small foot print in a cost efficient manner. The Corps believes that the best way to accomplish these tasks is by being a littoral-focused amphibious organization with a combined arms Marine Air Ground Task Force, or MAGTF, at the heart of every unit. They believe that a scalable, forward-deployed and forward-engaged force with their own independent logistics backbone provides the best results. Additionally, the Marine Corps remains committed to fielding two Marine Expeditionary Brigades to conduct forced-entry amphibious assaults. This is the baseline to which any proposed Marine Corps must measure up.

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Update #1: Amos: America Needs a Robust Crisis Response Force -- Gen. James Amos, Defense One
Update #2: The Marines Need Funding for Today's Threats, Not a Pre-9/11 World -- Gen. James Amos, Wall Street Journal
Update #3: Commandant calls for new, smaller Marine Corps with 174,000 Marines -- Marine Times

My Comment: It all comes down to money .... and if sequestration continues, I do expect the US Marine Corps to get down to that 120,000 personnel level that Aaron Haubert is predicting.

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Coffee Is The Secret Weapon For The U.S. Marines

Battle-weary Marines of the 22nd Regiment drank coffee after heavy fighting on Einwetok Atoll in the Pacific Theater in February 1944. National Archives and Records Administration

The Marine’s Secret Weapon: Coffee -- New York Times

Every American knows the story of the Boston Tea Party and its implications on the Revolutionary War. Lesser known, but perhaps of greater relevance to a nation recognized more for coffee breaks than tea time, is the fact that America’s taste for coffee is inextricably linked to the history of its military.

We weren’t aware of it until just recently. But in hindsight, it made perfect sense that we would become obsessed with coffee when we joined the Marines. As we later discovered, we were part of a long line of men whose enthusiasm for the drink was closely tied to their experiences in the service.

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My Comment: Coffee is also the secret weapon for bloggers.

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