Free Republic

It's all over for Chief Master Sgt. William Gurney. Other than a shortened prison sentence, he could have gotten up to 16 years, the former top sergeant at USAF Material Command, Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio, was hammered into the ground. The 27-year Air Force veteran received a 20-month prison stretch; bust from E-9 to E-1; a dishonorable discharge (severely impacting his ability to find meaningful work after he gets out of the slammer); loss of retirement pension and all pay and benefits. The top-ranking NCO had been hauling down $74,588 a year. If he had lasted three more years in...

CAMP PENDLETON -- Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent of Camp Pendleton has come a long way from a childhood as one of eight youngsters in his family to the recently promoted Marine sergeant major, the top enlisted position in the Corps. As the 16th sergeant major in the Marines' history, Kent will advise Marine commandant Gen. James Conway on the concerns of enlisted Marines, sailors and their families. The selection means Kent will be joining Conway at the Pentagon after serving as sergeant major of the I Marine Expeditionary Force since 2004. The job of sergeant major, a post in both...