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Marine Corps officer files whistle-blower complaint with DOD
Fayetteville Observer ^ | March 10, 2012 | Drew Brooks

Posted on 03/10/2012 7:01:43 AM PST by DJ Taylor

A Marine Corps officer has filed a whistle-blower complaint with the Department of Defense alleging that he was retaliated against for voicing concerns about a commander who put U.S. troops in danger in Afghanistan.

Maj. Fred C. Galvin of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, currently stationed in Okinawa, Japan, filed the complaint earlier this week through a former Fayetteville lawyer.

Galvin, a 24-year Marine Corps veteran, had been facing the potential end of his military career until Thursday.

That's when he went before a Marine Corps Board of Inquiry at Camp Butler, Japan.

The board was charged with determining if Galvin should be separated for "failing to demonstrate acceptable qualities of leadership ... failing to achieve or maintain acceptable standards of proficiency" and having a "record of marginal service."

Galvin's civilian lawyer, Mark Waple of Wilmington, said the three-person board unanimously ruled that the allegations were not substantiated.

Galvin is asking the Department of Defense's inspector general for a full investigation into events that occurred in Afghanistan in June. He alleges that Marines were needlessly put at risk one day that month by close supporting fire during a firefight.

(Excerpt) Read more at tfp.org ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; marinecorps
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Battalion Commander was "willing to sacrifice the lives of these Marines for the greater good."

Chesty Puller is alive and well in our current USMC.

1 posted on 03/10/2012 7:01:48 AM PST by DJ Taylor
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To: DJ Taylor

My Bad http://fayobserver.com/articles/2012/03/10/1162500?sac=fo.local


2 posted on 03/10/2012 7:03:29 AM PST by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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To: DJ Taylor

What happened to the Charge of the Light Brigade?


3 posted on 03/10/2012 7:14:18 AM PST by mnehring
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To: DJ Taylor

24 years and only a Major? Hmmm...


4 posted on 03/10/2012 7:18:18 AM PST by onedoug
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To: onedoug

He may be a Mustang


5 posted on 03/10/2012 7:25:47 AM PST by Starwolf
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To: onedoug

24 years and only a Major? Hmmm...


Not sure how they ‘do it’ today, but possibly he was Enlisted first then took a commission?

Even so, with downsizing etal, he probably is on a ‘passed over list’, which would put his ‘career’ in jeopardy.


6 posted on 03/10/2012 7:27:18 AM PST by xrmusn ((6/98) Don't ask me to steal FOR you and chances are pretty good I won't steal FROM you.)
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To: onedoug
"24 years and only a Major? Hmmm...

My guess is he's a "Mustang" with at least 10 years service as an NCO before OCS. He just doesn't look "Prissy" enough to be a "college boy" officer and that would explain his deep concern for his Marine's lives.

7 posted on 03/10/2012 7:30:36 AM PST by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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To: DJ Taylor; All
More info on this incident here, Sacrifice Marines for 'the greater good'?
8 posted on 03/10/2012 7:35:10 AM PST by Girlene
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To: DJ Taylor

24 and Major ALREADY?

Has the PC idiocy infiltrated the military this bad?

Am I missing something?

First you have to ba a 2nd Lt., then Lt., then Captain, THEN Major.

If the media is embracing this individual I am guessing he is a PC liberal over-promoted and now whining.

[disclaimer: I did not read the story- I wanted to see how close I could get, with YEARS of experience watching libtard media handling of the military]

How’d I do?


9 posted on 03/10/2012 7:51:22 AM PST by Mr. K (Were the Soviet-Era propagandists as gleefully willing as our Lame-stream Media?)
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To: Girlene

Good article. Sounds like a hearts and minds COIN enthusiast commander is screwing a good officer. The commander dithered for 50 minutes, asking about civilians in the area, etc. Then dropped the 500 pounder in lieu of precision hellfires that were available. Then the fight went in for for more hours with no more fire support for recon.
The remark about sacrificing marines for the greater good was made to the major the next day. And it was when he was explaining why he was so overly hesitant to approve fire support. That he was willing to kill marines to save a few Afghan civilians.

Just a guess, but hellfire helos probably had to depart for fuel while he dithers for 50 min. By the time he decided to actually support the men, a 500 pounder was probably his only option. So yes, the commander did needlessly endanger them.


10 posted on 03/10/2012 7:54:04 AM PST by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office)
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To: onedoug

The Major is in his 40’s.


11 posted on 03/10/2012 7:58:28 AM PST by Rebelbase
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To: Mr. K
How’d I do?

Uh, not very well. Maybe you should read the article before posting stupidity?

From the article: Galvin, a 24-year Marine Corps veteran...

This means he has 24 years of service. Everyone else who has posted understood what this means...except you of course.

12 posted on 03/10/2012 8:00:28 AM PST by OldCorps
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To: Mr. K
24 and Major ALREADY?

24 year Marine Corps veteran. Possibly a mustang ... (former enlisted).

13 posted on 03/10/2012 8:02:50 AM PST by BluH2o
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To: BluH2o

wow - i totally misread that

*sigh* [...heads for more coffee]


14 posted on 03/10/2012 8:08:14 AM PST by Mr. K (Were the Soviet-Era propagandists as gleefully willing as our Lame-stream Media?)
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To: OldCorps

bite me jerk face

I specifically STATED what I was doing


15 posted on 03/10/2012 8:09:24 AM PST by Mr. K (Were the Soviet-Era propagandists as gleefully willing as our Lame-stream Media?)
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To: Mr. K
LOL! You asked how you were doing and I gave you an accurate answer. Truth hurts you I guess.

Have a nice day and as we always say to idiots...

Thank you for your interest in military affairs.

16 posted on 03/10/2012 8:18:18 AM PST by OldCorps
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To: Rebelbase

I know for a fact that Maj. Galvin is a Mustang, because I served with him from 95-96.


17 posted on 03/10/2012 8:30:42 AM PST by Seamus Mc Gillicuddy
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To: DJ Taylor
Chesty Puller is alive and well in our current USMC.

You forgot your /sarc tag. Be careful of that because you end up looking like a moron.

FRegards,
LH

18 posted on 03/10/2012 8:41:20 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Seamus Mc Gillicuddy
I know for a fact that Maj. Galvin is a Mustang, because I served with him from 95-96.

I know what you mean, but I thought "mustangs" went the WO route?

19 posted on 03/10/2012 8:42:55 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: DesertRhino
So yes, the commander did needlessly endanger them.

Sounds that way to me. Seems Major Galvin wasn't willing to go along with the "winning heats and minds" strategy at the price of his Marines' lives.
20 posted on 03/10/2012 8:43:31 AM PST by Girlene
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