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Iraq-Jordan

Commander asks to be relieved of command

2004-10-21

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The company commander of a U.S. Army Reserve unit whose soldiers refused to deliver fuel along a dangerous route in Iraq has been relieved of her duties, the U.S. military said Thursday. The decision to relieve the commander of the 343rd Quartermaster Company came at her request and is effective immediately, according to a statement from the 13th Corps Support Command. It was authorized by Brig. Gen. James E. Chambers. "The outgoing commander is not suspected of misconduct and this move has nothing to do with the guilt or innocence of anyone involved," the statement said.

Right or wrong, if your soldiers screw up, it's your fault. If she did request to be relieved on her own, good for her.

The commander, whose name is being withheld by the military to protect her privacy, will be reassigned to another position commensurate with her rank and experience, the U.S. military said.

Like checking to see that all the rocks lining the parade grounds are correctly painted.

Eighteen soldiers from the 343rd Quartermaster Company, based in Rock Hill, S.C., are under investigation for refusing to drive a fuel convoy from Tallil air base near Nasiriyah to Taji north of Baghdad. The mission was later carried out by other soldiers from the unit, which has at least 120 soldiers, the military said.

Posted by:Don

#5 They'll give her another command, but it's very unlikely she'll ever be promoted again. Permanant Captain.

Posted by: mojo 2004-10-21 5:48:48 PM

#4 I have seen Captains who are forced to relay orders that they know don't pass the common sense test. This may be one of those cases or she might have lost control of her command (not unheard of). She is doing the right thing in either case. I won't even mention that LLL former 'Intel' Officer. Did I mention that 99% of all Military Intelligence is processed by ENLISTED people and NOT officers? Let that sway your opinion when someone claims to be an 'Intel' Officer.

Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2004-10-21 10:41:52 AM

#3 Having dealt with this type of unit before, I strongly suggest that the Captain was not at fault, and that instead, some staff officer at her HQ, I would guess a Major, is behind this nonsense. A SUPCOM or COSCOM task org is bizarre, mostly detachment, company and individual battalions operating directly under the command. A conglomeration of odd-man-out combat support and combat service support units cobbled together as a pseudo-division. This results in mid-level staff managers acting as battallion or brigade commanders--with results that you can easily imagine. On top of it, the rule still applies that the worst junior staff officers gravitate to divisional HQ.

Posted by: Anonymoose 2004-10-21 10:06:19 AM

#2 Many CO's could learn a thing or two from the integrity displayed by this officer. Whether or not she could have prevented it, she ahs accepted full responsibility the only way that she really can.

Good officer, but not perfect.

Posted by: Jame Retief 2004-10-21 9:58:44 AM

#1 Karpinski could learn a thing or two here

Posted by: Frank G 2004-10-21 9:51:17 AM

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