Posted on 06/10/2014 12:25:45 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
PARRIS ISLAND (WTOC) - The highest ranking enlisted Marine at Parris Island has stepped down from his position following last week's alleged assault with a former Marine.
Parris Island released the following statement early Monday afternoon:
Understanding the Marine Corps has very high standards of personal and professional conduct for its most senior leaders, Sgt. Maj. Archie voluntarily stepped down as the depot sergeant major, and the commanding general regrettably accepted his retirement.
People all over the country have reacted to this viral video between protester and former Marine Ethan Arguello and Depot Sgt. Maj. Paul Archie.
The altercation began because Aguello was wearing his drill instructor hat, known as a campaign cover, while protesting President Obama's decision to release five Taliban detainees for U.S. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
The video quickly went viral through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Comments included "Ethan Arguello was OUT OF LINE for wearing the Eagle, Globe and Anchor!" as well as "This Sgt. Maj. should be demoted to private!"
A YouTube video was made by a Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan Gaines.
"Personally, I disagree with what the Marine did, I think it was in bad taste, I think in a way it brought discredit to the Marine Corps. Now with that being said, he was well within his f***** rights to do that. That's what I call bad leadership, that's what I call not setting the example, that's what I call lack of bearing, lack of wisdom and just lack of f****** professionalism," Gaines said in the video.
Many TV stations and online publications, like Business Insider and the Marine Corps Times, have also picked up the story.
Three days after the incident, Parris Island issued this statement:
"We hold all Marines to a very high standard of personal and professional conduct. For that reason, we remain very concerned over the charges against the Depot Sgt. Major and are cooperating fully with the town of Port Royal in their investigation."
Arguello continues to protest every morning along U.S. 278 in Bluffton. He said he has no regrets about what happened.
Wear distinctive parts of a uniform only while the full uniform is being worn. For example, the green beret would be considered a distinctive part of a uniform and should not be worn unless the full uniform is being worn.
Wear only 1 of your uniforms when you are honorably discharged. All other uniforms and uniform parts remain the property of the armed forces. You may wear 1 uniform for the purpose of getting home. You must discontinue wearing the uniform after 3 months have passed from the date of your discharge.
BTW the punishment can be a fine or 6 month. The Marine Campaign Cover can only be worn by Drill instructors on active duty and then only with complete uniform.
Are you talking about the Sgt Major or the former Marine protester?
7003. CAMPAIGN (SERVICE) HAT
1. The campaign hat may be worn with the duty uniform by Marines listed below, and is not authorized for leave, liberty, or in formation with troops, except as required for drill instructors. It will not be worn with the Blue Dress “A”/”B” uniforms. Service cap branch of service insignia will be worn in the center front ventilation eyelet. Hats, brims, chinstraps, and hat cords will be kept in a neat and serviceable condition. No deviation from the original shape and design of the hat is authorized.
a. Enlisted Marines. The hat is felt, Montana peak-type, with a 5-1/4-inch deep crown, 3-inch wide stiff brim, evenly formed, and thoroughly pressed. The hat is trimmed with a grosgrain ribbon and bow, has four round eyelets in the crown for ventilation and two oblong eyelets for leather chinstrap which is fitted with leather sliding keepers and a tongue-type center bar buckle.
b. Officers. To be identical to the enlisted hat except that the chinstrap is three-piece leather with a snap hook and fastener at two ends, and an adjustable tongue-type center bar buckle on the center piece. Officers will wear a scarlet and gold hat cord consisting of two rows of scarlet and gold cord held together by a sliding keeper, covered with scarlet and gold material of the same design as the cord. Each end of the cord projecting beyond the sliding keeper is finished with an acorn.
2. The hat is authorized for wear by the following personnel only:
a. At Recruit Depots/recruit rifle ranges when approved by the Commanding Generals.
(1) Assigned male and female drill instructors
(2) Sergeants major, recruit training regiments
(3) Recruit company first sergeants
(4) Primary marksmanship instructors conducting recruit marksmanship training
(5) Chief marksmanship instructors
(6) Line NCO’s and coaches
(7) Range officers (MOS 9925)
b. Drill instructors at Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School
c. Range officers (MOS 9925) at Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico.
d. Members of the USMC rifle and pistol teams (Regular/Reserve) funded by HQMC.
This protester was a distinctive part of the Marine Corps Uniform.
The hat can only be worn with the complete uniform. If this person is not on active duty it’s a Federal Offence and can result in 6 mo. in federal prison.
When I was Stationed at The Pentagon a discharge officer worn his uniform to a party and it cost him $500.00.
His bad luck was that a JAG officer that new him and know he was discharged was at the same party.
Now there is filmed evidence of this crime because the SGT/MAJ was able to get it on film. The Recruit Depot should have all ready filed a complaint.
So let them file one. That doesn't justify the Sgt. Major or anyone else taking the law into their own hands unless they are willing to suffer the consequences.
The SCOTUS ruled that wearing a uniform and awards that you are not entitled to, whether civilian or former military is allowed.
Maybe the protester committed a crime but the Sgt Major and soetoro did far worse.
Local Army surplus store sells fatigues, caps, boonie hats. Are these legal to wear?
Not a bit strange. Just fail to pay homage to Obama in front of a black person and see what happens.
It's 'cuz all us Cracka's is racist.
“Mission Accomplished.”
He’ll get Chuck Hagel’s job in a couple of weeks...
how is grabbing a hat an “assault”? from the verbiage I thought he pummeled the guy
Ii support this protester too, he has every right
This Marine was protesting a much bigger action than the wearing of a Smokie Bear. The Sgt. Major should have been shaking his hand. I’m not even sure the military could successfully prosecute a civilian for wearing a campaign hat!!!
I agree....but stealing a hat is another story!!
You got that right. The SGTMAJ stepped on his tool bigtime and showed a distinct lack of bearing and professionalism. An affirmative action hire and nothing more.He will be hired by acorn within the week.
“This penchant in this day and age for people to lose their income due to a mistake, is way overkill in too many instances.”.....
Would you say the same thing about Odumbo, Holder and the rest of the ilk in the administration? They certainly “qualify”.
“This penchant in this day and age for people to lose their income due to a mistake, is way overkill in too many instances.”.....
Would you say the same thing about Odumbo, Holder and the rest of the ilk in the administration? They certainly “qualify”.
“......the best thing was to ask him to take retirement, and let everyone walk away.”...
This happens more often than anyone can imagine and not only in the Marine Corps.
Thank you for making that point. For the uninitiated and/or lazy out there, let me detail the various status that Marines can hold according to the gospel of me:
Active Duty Marine - Marine on active duty.
Marine Reservist - Marine in reserve status who can be called up to active duty.
Retired Marine - Marine who either spent 20+ years of active duty service time, of was medically retired.
Marine Veteran - Marine who successfully fulfilled his contract and was discharge without prejudice. Individual Ready Reserve Marines fall into this category, even though they can still be called to active duty if need be. IRR is sort of a grey area, up until the point the Marine Corps wants you back.
and finally
"Former" Marine - an individual who was discharge, with prejudice, from the Marine Corps for whatever reason.
It is acceptable to call anyone in the first 4 categories a "Marine". They earned the title through their actions and behavior. There is some debate as to whether Retired and Veteran Marines can have their current status revoked and be placed in to the Former category. There is no official panel to address the issue, so it is more a personal judgment call, rather than anything official. Also, an individual can be a POS while being in any of these categories. It's a personal choice, rather than something that is dictated by your status. The "former" Marine category does have a higher percentage of them than the others, though.
Sir, I must disagree: “It wasn’t about the hat”! It was all about the hat!
Check out this man’s biography! I know this man by reputation and personally meeting him. This guy is consumed with a “Drill Instructor” image that is beyond belief. His every word is spoken in the phony dialect and voice of a Drill Instructor.
Note that he was a Admin Clerk! I’ve met hundreds of these guys who view their life through the prism of Parris Island. But this guy is in a “League of this Own” when it comes to glorification of the Drill Instructor image.
Had this SgtMaj encountered this protestor, without the campaign cover, he would have not gotten out of his car or commented. In Fact; I’d bet he could not even tell you any specifics about the issue this American Citizen was protesting.
Assault only requires a belief by the person being assualted that they may be harmed. A swung fist without contact is an assault. An approach within range during a tirade can be an assault.
There may not have been consummation of the assault. Assault consummated by a battery means contact was made. Legal terms of art. Most people assume only battery is an assault, but assaults don’t require battery.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.