Up Periscope Category Archives — Page 79 of 108 — Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog Published by International Military Lawyer

More McChrystal gazing

July 7, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Army Times reports that:

The impolitic comments that torpedoed Gen. Stan McChrystal’s career were “almost all” made by his most junior staff — men who “make tea, keep the principal on time and carry bags” — who had no reason to believe their words would end up in print, according to a staff member who was on the trip to Europe during which the comments were made.

Two other sources familiar with the trip, including Air Force Lt. Col. Tadd Sholtis, McChrystal’s personal spokesman, said the quotes that appeared in a Rolling Stone article that got McChrystal in trouble were made in “off-the-record” settings.

Veterans unemployment rates

July 3, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Air Force (and the other) Times reports:

The unemployment rate for veterans rose slightly in June, to 8 percent overall and 11.5 percent for Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans, a sign that expanding programs aimed at helping veterans find work are not working in a stagnant job market.

June employment statistics released Friday by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics show the overall unemployment rate for veterans rose slightly from 7.8 percent in May. Still, the unemployment rate for veterans remains lower than the overall national rate of 9.5 percent.

Ms. Bligh may be soon adrift

July 1, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Navy Times reports that:

The former cruiser skipper who was relieved of command in January after years of “cruelty and maltreatment” toward her crew will be required to show a Navy board why she should continue her career, a Navy spokesman said Thursday.

Capt. Holly Graf, who was fired as commanding officer of the Yokosuka, Japan-based cruiser Cowpens on Jan 13, will go before a Navy Personnel Command “show-cause board” within the next few months to make her case for staying[.]

Up periscope

June 30, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Mountain Home News reports that:

The stepfather of the five-year-old child who accidentally shot and seriously wounded a Mountain Home high school student in February was convicted of reckless endangerment during a court-martial June 22[,] and sentenced to six month’s confinement and ordered to forfeit $500 pay per month for six months.

SignOnSanDiego reports:

Fouled by sports again

June 28, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Navy Times reports:

The AP

A sprawling financial scandal at the Naval Academy — involving extravagant parties and a “slush fund” — was an embarrassment that helped lead to an early exit for the school’s superintendent, Navy Times has learned.

Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler faced “administrative action” in April as a result of a year-long Naval Inspector General’s investigation, said Rear Adm. Denny Moynihan, the Navy’s top spokesman.

Graner decided

June 25, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

CAAF has decided United States v. Graner. Graner loses.

We granted review in this Abu Ghraib case to determine whether the military judge abused his discretion in (1) refusing to compel the Government to produce certain memoranda requested by the defense; (2) excluding the testimony of, and an e-mail
from, Major Ponce; and (3) limiting the testimony of a defense expert witness. We hold that the military judge did not abuse his discretion in any of these decisions and affirm the judgment of the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA).

Up periscope

June 23, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Army Times reports that:

Three officers given letters of reprimand for the deadly July 13, 2008, battle in Wanat, Afghanistan, have been exonerated and the letters withdrawn, the Army announced June 23.

Gen. Charles Campbell, who recently relinquished command of Forces Command and is preparing to retire, “withdrew, cancelled and annulled” the adverse administrative actions after reviewing findings from a Central Command-directed investigation and hearing from the three officers themselves.

Up periscope

June 22, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Army TImes reports that:

An Oregon Air National Guard senior master sergeant has been charged with stealing three motorcycles from the military and selling them on Craigslist.

North Country Times reports that:

Up periscope

June 21, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Rapid City Journal reports:

A jury of five officers found an Ellsworth Air Force Base airman accused of attempted murder guilty of aggravated assault Friday.

Senior Airman Vinicus "Vinnie" Santana received a dishonorable discharge, demotion to airman basic and was sentenced to three years in prison at the conclusion of a four-day court martial. He also forfeits all pay and allowances.

Up periscope

June 20, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Fox news reports that:

MyFox TampaBay.com

The AWOL soldier accused of trying to enter MacDill Air Force Base with weapons and ammunition in his car is not a terrorist and was merely “trying to impress” his girlfriend during the incident, his father said in an exclusive interview with FoxNews.com. . . . Officials said the couple tried to enter MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., on Monday in a Honda CRV that contained three handguns, three rifles and some ammunition.

WSMV.tv reports that:

A man suspected of deserting the Army was accused of abusing a 16-month old. The toddler is on life support.

Edwards AFB reports that:

A technical sergeant assigned to the 95th Security Forces Squadron was convicted by Special Court-Martial June 11. A panel of seven officers found him guilty of committing Adultery and he was sentenced to a reduction in rank to senior airman and 90 days of hard labor without confinement.

Air Force reports that:

Air Force officials issued guidance banning the knowing use and possession of any substance, other than alcohol or tobacco, that is ingested to alter mood or function.

Arguably many items sold at GNC at the Exchange and in the Exchange could qualify?

The islandpacket.com reports some more information on the Parris Island Marines:

A 26-year-old, gay Savannah man who claims two Beaufort Marines committed a hate crime against him last weekend was accused earlier this year of using racial slurs and trading punches with a black truck driver at a Georgia gas station. . . .

Savannah-Chatham Metro Police, the FBI and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort officials still are trying to piece together an incident involving the same man June 12 near the intersection of Congress and Bull Streets in downtown Savannah. They also are trying to determine whether pending misdemeanor battery charges against the two Marines accused of beating him should be elevated to federal hate-crime charges.

Witnesses told Savannah-Chatham Metro Police the two Marines thought the gay man winked at one of them. One of the Marines responded by punching the alleged victim in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.

Capital Flyer reports:

Over the past eight months, two flight engineers from the 99th Airlift Squadron, whose mission is to provide airlift support to distinguished VIPs including members of Congress, have been convicted by Special Courts-Martial of wrongfully using prescription medications. . . .

What makes these cases particularly frightening is that both of these flight engineers were on flying status and were flying missions during the time they were abusing prescription medications.

Note: Joseph was prosecuted for the flying status violation and found not guilty. I was his counsel.