Issue: Marine Special Operations Company ordered to redeploy from Afghanistan

Summary

A Marine Special Operations Company from 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, was recently ordered by the Commander, Special Operations Command, Central Command, to redeploy out of Afghanistan following events that reduced the MSOC’s ability to conduct effective counter-insurgency operations in the area. Due to these events, the 2d MSOB Commander lost trust and confidence in the senior leadership of the MSOC and, after extensive consultation with the Commander, MARSOC, relieved the MSOC Commander and Senior Enlisted Marine of their duties April 3, 2007.

Q1: Were members of the Marine Special Operations Company officially relieved of their duties?
R1: Yes. The Company Commander and Senior Enlisted Marine of the MSOC currently deployed in the CENTCOM area were relieved of duty April 3, 2007.

Q2: Who made the decision to relieve them of duty?
R2: The Commander of the 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion, LtCol. Paul D. Montanus, after extensive consultation with the MARSOC Commander, MGen. Dennis J. Hejlik, made the decision to relieve the MSOC Commander and Senior Enlisted Marine of their duties.

Q3: Why were they relieved?
R3: The Commander of the 2d MSOB lost trust and confidence in the MSOC leadership.

Q4: Were these Marines relieved in connection with the allegations that members of the MSOC reacted with an uneccesary escalation of force in response to an ambush March 4?
R4: The MSOC was involved in events, including the March 4 ambush, which caused the 2d MSOB Commander to lose trust and confidence in the leadership of the MSOC. Further details are not available for public release at this time pending decisions regarding potential administrative or disciplinary action.

Q5: What are the names of the Marines who were relieved?
R5: The relief of these Marines was an administrative action. In the interest of protecting their privacy, MARSOC will not release their names to the public.

Q6: Who replaced the MSOC Commander?
R6: The officer selected to take command of the MSOC is a member of the 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion. However, in order to preserve the safety and security of MARSOC personnel, it is our policy not to identify specific unit members below the battalion level.

Q7: What will the MSOC do next?
R7: The MSOC will continue its deployment in support of SOF operations in the CENTCOM area as needed until it completes its scheduled deployment.

Q8: Will any legal action be taken against the Marines who were relieved or any other members of the MSOC?
A8: No determination regarding further administrative and/or disciplinary action has been made at this time.

Him and his 1stSgt

One can only wish for an official release of the findings of the investigation.

It does seem quite unfortunate that guys with (one assumes) exemplary service records prior to this are probably looking at their careers being ended by means of an administrative action they have no recourse to contest, challenge or otherwise have their day in court, so to speak (or literally).  If they did something wrong, I can certainly see the higher command relieving them, but "command lost faith in them" sounds pretty dubious, and rather thin on facts to back up their decision.  The decision should have been accompanied by whatever the official findings were.  This still sounds like more political damage control.

This whole thing has been a mess and an unfortunate stain on USMC special ops.  I sincerely hope that they can turn things around there.  I'm sure we'll get the full story about what happened in Afghanistan eventually, but for now we need to reserve judgement and let it play itself out.

I've seen it B4 in the Marine Corps.  The "We've lost faith" firing, B4 the case is even settled.  Actually I should have seen it coming, anytime the MC perceives something as casting bad light on it, heads roll.

In the Haditha case commanders from Plt-BN were relieved and the Rgt CO was reprimanded over a case involving a re-inforced Rifle Squad.

During the Push to Baghdad MajGen Mattis relieved  RCT-5 CO for one of his Companies taking too long to secure an objective, not acting aggressive enough in inspiring his Jr Offs to more aggressively seize objectives.  Sounds like a Crock.

 

But maybe this was a good thing, who knows? 

Also I have to apologize, the removal of MSOC-F was due to recommendation by 2nd MSOB CO, LtCol Montanus, who recommended to SOCCENT CO MajGen Kearny the entire Unit be sent back to the 26th MEU pending further orders.

This sounds like an extreme amount of bs. "We lost faith" is an extreme excuse...I read that as "The media and political powers that be will hound us if we do not relieve these guys of command".

 

Very unfortunate for MARSOC, who otherwise have performed superbly.

I really don't think its a media or political thing per se, thats why I apologized.  Like I said B4 I've seen the "We've lost faith" B4 thats why I put the phrase in Quotes.  I've seen it for small things that don't make the press.  I've seen Company CO's in the Infantry relieved for "We've lost faith in their ability to lead" over serious incidences at the Barracks involving Enlisted Marines in their command. 

 

Incidences that would've never made the press.  It doesn't happen often but it does happen, which is why I said I should have seen it coming.  The times that I've seen it, its not so much a Damage Control for those on the Outside(like us), but for those within. 

 

Its usually Procedural, not Performance based.

 

I also said it could overall be for the best.  Not saying that the Unit did anything wrong that WE know of, but the in coming CO is going to come in with an Iron Fist.  Not to hamper OPs, but I can tell you from exp. Pre/Post-OP and all other Procedures will be thoroughly hammered into every Operator in that Company, b/c maybe a top-down overhaul of Procedure was needed.

 

And Believe me that new CO is going to Protect his *SS.   B/C thats mainly what he's responsible for, Management.  Which is policy, procedure, and efficient/effective employment.