U.S. MARINES - Lt. Col. Stu Scheller

Please view the video linked below.

"Marine Officer Who Blasted Leaders over Afghanistan Withdrawal Is in the Brig" by Konstantin Toropin, Military.com 9/28/2021

Lt. Col. Stu Scheller, the Marine officer who posted a viral video demanding accountability from military leaders for the failures in Afghanistan, is now in the brig, Marine officials confirmed Tuesday.

Scheller is "currently in pre-trial confinement" while he awaits an [UCMJ] Article 32 preliminary hearing, Marine Corps spokesman Sam Stephenson said in a statement.

"The time, date, and location of the proceedings have not been determined," he added.

Marine Corps officials said there are no specific charges "preferred" or initiated against Scheller.  Instead, the hearing is to consider whether charges of contempt toward officials, willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer, failure to obey lawful general orders, or conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman should be recommended to his commander for action.

The service did not provide details to Military.com of any orders that Scheller may have failed to follow, or officers he may have disobeyed.

Although an Article 32 hearing is often compared to a grand jury in the civilian legal system, legal experts note that the analogy is not entirely apt.  Defendants at these hearings have legal counsel present, who are able to preview and challenge the evidence against their clients.

Scheller has had a brief but tumultuous time in the public eye since his first video went up on social media on Aug. 26, 2021.  After being relieved of command, he posted a second, puzzling video three days later that featured cryptic threats to "bring the whole f---ing system down" and a public resignation of his commission.

The second video prompted concerns over his well-being.  After it was posted, the Marine Corps announced in a statement that it had taken steps to "ensure the safety and well-being of Lt. Col. Scheller and his family."

Scheller wrote on Facebook that, when he came to work following the second video, he "was ordered by my commanding officer to go to the Hospital for a mental health screening."

"I was evaluated by the mental health specialists and then sent on my way," he added in the post.

Since then, the Marine officer has continued to post videos, status updates and other musings on social media.  According to Scheller, he made those posts despite the advice of friends, family and lawyers.  In Sept. 16 posts on Facebook and LinkedIn, he wrote that he would make a public recommendation of charges of dereliction of duty against Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command.

A long post made Sept. 25 ended with the line, "Col Emmel please have the MPs waiting for me at 08:00 on Monday.  I'm ready for jail." Scheller's last post to date was made on Facebook the next day.

Public criticism of the military can cost officers their careers.  In May, a Space Force commander was fired from his post for comments made during a podcast promoting his new book, in which he claims Marxist ideologies are becoming prevalent in the U.S. military.  More recently, Lt. Col. Doug Hague publicly declared he was resigning from the Army over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

U.S. MARINES - Major General Relieved of Command for Racial Slurs

 "Marine 2-Star Under Investigation for Racial Slur Has Been Relieved of Command" by Gina Harkins, Military.com 10/20/2020

COMMENT:  Being retired military (Navy 22yrs) I know regardless of result of the investigation this ends Maj. Gen. Stephen M. Neary's carrier.

Excerpt

A Marine general officer was removed from a high-profile post overseeing troops in Europe and Africa as an investigation continues into claims that he used a degrading term about Black people in front of his troops.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Neary was relieved as head of Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa on Monday by the service's top general.  Commandant Gen. David Berger lost trust and confidence in Neary's ability to lead, the service announced Tuesday.

Neary did not immediately respond to a request for comment about his relief.  He remains under investigation after reportedly using the N-word while his Marines were conducting physical training while listening to rap music outside the command's headquarters in Germany, Stars and Stripes reported earlier this month.

After the word was used in one of the songs, Neary asked junior Marines how they would feel if he said it, a lance corporal told the paper.  Black, white and Latino Marines "were jolted when the general said the word," according to Stripes, which spoke to individuals who witnessed the event.

"He lost respect right there," a Marine told the paper.

Though the investigation into the allegations remains ongoing, Capt. Joe Butterfield, a Marine spokesman at the Pentagon, said the probe's initial findings led Berger to lose confidence in Neary's ability to lead the command.

Neary assumed duties as commander of Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa in July.  The command oversees hundreds of Marines assigned to locations across Europe and Africa.

Col. James Iulo will serve as the acting commander until a replacement is determined, according to the Marine Corps.  Information about Neary's current assignment was not immediately available.

The investigation follows a military-wide effort to end racism in the ranks as cities across the country continue seeing protests following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody earlier this year.

The Marine Corps in June became the first service to officially ban Confederate flag displays on base, and Berger said last month that signs of racism in the service must immediately be rooted out.

"Nothing crushes cohesion faster," he said at a September event hosted by Defense One.  "...  It just starts to tear apart the fabric at the tactical level.  We can't have that."

Defense Secretary Mark Esper in July outlined a series of steps each service should take to eliminate discrimination, prejudice and bias in the ranks.

"Hard work remains, and we will continue to learn as we move forward," Esper said.