Amy Graham relieved Cmdr. A Marine spokesman confirmed Scheller Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Commander of the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine visited the units defending the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk Oblast on 3 March. The report says that Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, the commander of the 8th Air Force, relieved the two commanders due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties. Cmdr. A Marine officer has been relieved of duty after he was seen in a viral video demanding accountability from military leaders following Thursday's attack in Dustin Lonero, from the littoral combat ship Coronado, was assigned as the Montgomerys skipper until a permanent replacement is named. Two commanders among those relieved of duty at Minot Air Force Base. Lt Col. Matthew Lohmeier, 11th Space Warning Squadron Commander, was relieved of command in May after controversial remarks on a And I agree. The services often don't disclose specifics of why commanders are relieved of their duties, typically citing the federal Privacy Act, which protects military records, and relying on the vague phrase "loss of trust and confidence" instead of detailing the specific reasons behind a shake-up, including whether there was misconduct. WebCmdr. FORT HOOD, Texas Fort Hood announced Thursday that Col. Michael Schoenfeldt was relieved of his duty because of a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command. Air Force Global Strike Command added that, in addition to the two commanders, four subordinate leaders were fired by other officials at Minot. "These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our Nation's nuclear mission," Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, said in an Air Force Global Strike Command press release Monday. Your News Leader is reaching out to MAFB Public Affairs for more information, including temporary leadership, and will update this story as we learn more. In a Facebook post Friday afternoon, Scheller said he had been relieved of his duties and would leave the Marine Corps. The Air Force did not specify why commanders had lost confidence in all six individuals. Crozier was relieved of duty April 2 following the leak of a letter he wrote to those higher up in his chain of command. Their names were withheld to protect the privacy of the individuals in the initial statement but later released. Commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces arrives in Bakhmut for second time in six days. Choose which Defense.gov products you want delivered to your inbox. BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. The Navy did not elaborate on the circumstances of the firings, but two Navy officials said the officers removal had resulted from their handling of a sexual harassment investigation. The 35th Signal Brigade, a separate brigade of the 18th Airborne Corps, is stationed at Fort Gordon. "These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our Nation's nuclear mission," said Gebara. Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, relieved Col. Gregory Mayer of the 5th Mission Support Group and Maj. Jonathan Welch of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, both based at Minot Air Force Base. Additionally, four additional subordinate leaders were relieved by commanders assigned to Minot Air Force Base. The enlisted advisers for the five Department of Defense branches called on Congress to help them advocate for military Col. Gregory Mayer, the commander of the 5th Mission Support Group, and Maj. Jonathan Welch, the commander of the 5th VA medical patients who have gone to a non-VA emergency room since 2010 can get their out-of-pocket coinsurance costs Russia has declared that a group of saboteurs from Ukraine crossed into its territory and attacked border villages, a raid Copyright 2023 Military.com. The U.S. Air Force announced that Col. Gary Donovan, 552nd Operations Group commander, was relieved from command on Monday. Lew Guerrero; Navy Rear Adm. John Menoni, the commander of Joint Region Marianas; and Navy Capt. A B-52H Stratofortress aircraft assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, arrives May 4, 2021, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Six leaders from the North Dakata base have been relieved over a lack of confidence, the Air Force said Monday. 2023 www.augustachronicle.com. Greg Steele/U.S. Two Commanders and four leaders were fired, however no specific reason was given. Phillip Lundberg, the executive officer, were both relieved of duty in a rare termination of two high-ranking officials. 0:05. The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security. Two commanders and four subordinate leaders at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, have been relieved of command, according to a terse news release from Nov 8, 2022. Cmdr. Maj. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Col. Gregory Mayer, the commander of the 5th Mission Support Group, and Maj. Jonathan Welch, the commander of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, were both relieved of their jobs, a Minot Air Force Base spokeswoman confirmed to Military.com on Tuesday morning. Previous command removals at Minot AFB included the dismissal of the 91st Missile Wing Operations Support Squadron commander in 2021 and the 69th Bomb Squadron and 91st Security Forces Group commanders in 2018. All rights reserved. He joined Military Times in 2020. Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller relieved of duty today for posting video criticizing military leaders for failing to take responsibility for disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. "These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our Nation's nuclear mission," said Gebara. Mayer, Welch and four subordinate leaders were relieved of command "due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties," the Air Force said. Surface Division 21 Commodore Capt. The U.S. Army is currently investigating the allegations., Waryas also confirmed the Army Criminal Investigation Division is one of the agencies investigating the alleged misconduct, adding that Depreo is presumed innocent until a court or commander finds them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.. In the end, the email and the letters sent by Captain Crozier were unnecessary. Small and agile with crews of about 80 sailors, Independence-class littoral warships like the Montgomery have a futuristic-looking, all-aluminum trimaran design. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Waryas declined to verify details of the alleged incident, which Army Times could not independently confirm. Alexander reports on the U.S. military and local news in Europe for Stars and Stripes in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Col. Gregory Mayer, who ran the 5th Mission Support Group; Maj. Jonathan Welch, the If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. The Air Force relieved 6 leaders assigned to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. (Michael Richmond/U.S. Legal Statement. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Depreos relief is linked to an incident that occurred at the battalions Dec. 14 holiday ball at a casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana, according to a source familiar with the move. We stand with you brother. Actions were already underway to acquire [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]-compliant off-base hotel rooms for the crew before he sent that email.". The broadened review includes all personnel who worked on, guarded, supported or operated ground-based warheads, Global Strike Command announced last week. (Master Sgt. Two commanders among those relieved of duty at Minot Air Force Base. ", Both Crozier and Baker failed to move sailors off the aircraft carrier as quickly as they could have, and failed to move them to a safer environment more quickly, Gilday said. The 18th Airborne Corps-aligned lieutenant colonel did not respond to Army Times request for comment before this storys publication deadline. Montgomery were relieved of command in a rare punishment, reportedly over their handling of a sexual harassment case. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla, the 18th Airborne Corps Commander, stated there was "a loss ofconfidence" in Foulk's ability to command after the misconduct probe was conducted. Moreover, if Captain Crozier were still in command today, I would be relieving him.". Market data provided by Factset. Capt. Col. Gregory Mayer, commander of the 5th Mission Support Group, and Maj. Jonathan Welch, the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, were dismissed from their jobs along with four of their subordinates, a base spokesperson told Stars and Stripes on Monday. "In reviewing both Admiral Baker and Captain Crozier's actions, they did not do enough, soon enough, to fulfill their primary obligation. The secretary also commended Guam Gov. Ken Anderson, relieved Cmdr. Marc Crawford, the commander of Braithwaite also expressed condolences for Navy Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr., a USS Theodore Roosevelt aviation ordnanceman, who died April 13 of COVID-19. The names of the subordinates are not being publicized by base leaders. All rights reserved. (U.S. Air Force). Apr 29, 2021 A high-ranking officer in the Army's 10th Mountain Division was relieved from duty following an investigation in allegations of misconduct. We have full confidence in the soldiers and leaders of the 35th Signal Lion Brigade and hold all leaders accountable for their actions, Kurilla said in a statement. Navy Fires Warships Top Two Officers, Citing Loss of Confidence, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/30/us/politics/uss-montgomery-captain-fired.html. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. He was relieved of his duties as commander of the 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado on Friday, May 14, by order of Lt. Gen. Steven Whiting. Army veteran Allison Jaslow also is the first LGBTQ leader of a major veterans service organization. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, relieved Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier of command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron, 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The new ships have experienced engine problems and other flaws, which Navy officials now say they have ironed out. Ex-soldier, a neo-Nazi, gets 45 years for plot to ambush his own unit, Issues with the Armys Europe-based equipment trigger readiness alarms, Veterans Affairs drops mask requirement for all agency medical offices, Finnish Armys winter uniforms make US Army digs look like trash bags, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, Black Vietnam vet at last getting his due: Medal of Honor, Junior NCO promotions have collapsed heres the data, and why, Army artillery officer dies during assignment in Thailand. In the case of the San Diego-based Montgomery, Commanders Zamberlan and Lundberg will be reassigned to desk jobs at the headquarters of the Pacific Fleets Naval Surface Force. To protect the privacy of the individuals, further details will not be released. Mayer took command of the 5th Mission Support Group in June last year. "The much broader, deeper investigation that we conducted in the weeks following that had a much deeper scope. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Had I known then what I know today, I would have not made that recommendation to reinstate Captain Crozier. Sailors wait in line to dispose of trash in a waste room aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, June 17, 2020. In addition, Navy Rear Adm. Stuart Baker's pending promotion to two-star rank has been put on hold, pending further review, Gilday said. Gregory McWherter was a two-time commander of the elite precision Navy flying team. TWO MORE REPUBLICANS IDENTIFIED AS HAVING AIR FORCE RECORDS IMPROPERLY RELEASED TO DEM-LINKED RESEARCHER, A B-52H Stratofortress takes off. Two commanders and four subordinates at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, an installation that is crucial to America's nuclear triad, have been fired from their jobs, reportedly after officials lost faith in their ability to perform their mission. An official website of the United States Government. Phillip Lundberg, the vessels executive officer, were relieved by Capt. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The two officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the continuing inquiry. All rights reserved. Anyone can read what you share. Davis Winkie is a senior reporter covering the Army, specializing in accountability reporting, personnel issues and military justice. Greg Erwin), Operatives who duped Air Force into releasing service records committed identity theft: Rep. Don Bacon. All rights reserved. The 91st Missile Wing, also located at Minot, oversees 150 Minuteman III missiles in underground launch facilities spread across an 8,500 square-mile missile complex. The commander and second in charge of the U.S.S. Lieutenant Colonel Scheller posted on Facebook that he has been relieved of duty and will leave the Marine Corps for cause based on lack of trust and confidence Story tips can be sent tolouis.casiano@fox.com. 2023 Stars and Stripes. Lt. Col. David Burnham, the deputy commander of the 35th Signal brigade, will assume interim command responsibility. Col. Michael Maginness will be stepping in as interim Mission Support Group Commander, MAFB Public Affairs said. Lt. Col. Jon-Paul Depreo was relieved as commander of the 46th Engineer Battalion, a separate battalion of the Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based 20th Engineer Brigade, according to a statement from Fort Polk spokesperson Shelby Waryas. Two commanders and four others have been fired from units at Minot Air Force Base, a strategic nuclear installation in North Dakota, Air Force Global Strike Command officials said. An Air Force biography about Mayer's career has been removed from the base's website, but an archived copy on the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine shows he took on his role as commander of the 5th Mission Support Group in June 2022. Gebara relieved the Commanders of the 5th Mission Support Group and the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron. The report indicates that four subordinate leaders were relieved of their duties by commanders assigned to Minot Air Force Base. Brett E. Crozier, the ship's former commander, will not be reinstated, Navy Adm. Michael M. Gilday, chief of naval operations said at a Pentagon news conference. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Julian Davis, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Will Bennett, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil, https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/Coronavirus/, Navy Secretary and Chief of Naval Operations Brief Reporters. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt flies a replica of Capt. "Eighth Force continues to safeguard global combat power and conduct around-the-clock strategic deterrence operations in a safe, secure and effective manner," Gebara said. Lt. Col. Jon-Paul Depreo, former commander of the 46th Engineer Battalion, pictured at the battalion's military ball on Dec. 13, 2022 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Oliver Hazard Perrys Dont Give Up the Ship flag as the Theodore Roosevelt approaches Apra Harbor, Guam June 3, 2020. The Pentagon services typically release the names of commanders when announcing reliefs for cause. Additionally, four additional subordinate leaders were relieved by commanders assigned to Minot Air Force Base. The Air Force has relieved six leaders assigned to a North Dakota base in charge of nuclear missiles and bombers over a loss of confidence, the military branch said Monday. Pair of commanders within 5th Bomb Wing fired Monday, UPDATE: Bismarck Police Release re incident at BHS, North Dakota schools and law enforcement agencies receive false threat Thursday, Teen killed in collision with train in Mountrail County, News release from Williston Police Department, Two men convicted of murder in 2021 shooting death, Closed Caption Inquiries - (701) 255-5757. Market data provided by Factset. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Simon McKeon was relieved as commanding officer of the guided-missile cruiser Normandy on Tuesday. Gilday said it is the findings of the more detailed investigation, rather than the existence of the leaked letter, that have prevented Crozier from being reinstated as commander of the Roosevelt. "Captain Crozier's primary responsibility was the safety and the well-being of the crew, so that the ship could remain as operationally ready as possible," he said. Two top-ranking officers on a U.S. Navy vessel were relieved of duty on Thursday due to a "loss of confidence in their ability to command," the Navy announced. Augusta Chronicle. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In the letter, he asked for more assistance in dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19 on the ship. In April, the admiral in charge of naval aviation maintenance depots, Rear Adm. Trent DeMoss, was removed from command pending a Navy inspector general inquiry into sexual harassment complaints. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. A lieutenant colonel commanding an engineer battalion at Fort Polk, Louisiana, has been fired amid a criminal investigation, an installation spokesperson confirmed to Army Times. America is still the light shining in a fog of chaos. Richard Zamberlan, the commanding officer, and Cmdr. Instead, he will be reassigned to other work. Col. Gregory Mayer, the commander of the 5th Mission Support Group, and Maj. Jonathan Welch, the commander of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, were Jozsef Papp. Based on facts found in the report, which Gilday and Navy Secretary Kenneth J. Braithwaite characterized as both thorough and fair, Gilday said his initial recommendation that Crozier reinstated was proven wrong. Kathryn J. Dawley as the skipper of the Hawaii-based guided-missile destroyer Hopper for what officials said was a poor command climate and bad crew morale. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. WASHINGTON The Navy has fired the commander and the second in charge of the littoral combat ship Montgomery because of a loss of confidence in their ability to command, the service said on Thursday. UPDATE (3/1): Report: failed nuclear inspections led to firings within 5th Bomb Wing. Marc Crawford, the commander of the Navys Surface Division 11, the Navy said in a statement. A colonel at Tinker Air Force Base has been relieved of his duties after an investigation found he failed to foster a culture of safety and berated crews for not flying training missions on short rest. Space Command. Crozier was relieved of duty April 2 following the leak of a letter he wrote to those higher up in his chain of command. It is my belief that both Admiral Baker and Captain Crozier fell well short of what we expect of those in command. The shake-up in leadership also comes as Air Force officials are now investigating whether service members in a wide assortment of jobs who have served at any of the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile bases, including Minot, are at risk for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers. The firings come as the Air Force is expanding a review of whether nine instances of blood cancer found in officers over decades are linked to nuclear silo work. The engineer officer took over the Steel Spike battalion in June 2021, according to unit social media. The Navy has dealt with other command issues related to sexual harassment in recent months. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 0:57. ", An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. The firings were "due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties," according to the Monday press release. BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. From January 2013 through February 2014, 22 commanders were relieved, 21 in 2013 alone, Navy officials said. On December 10, 2021, Commander, Naval Surface Squadron 14, Capt. The Air Force didn't identify the commanders, but an Air Force spokesperson confirmed their identities to Task & Purpose. Minot Air Force Base houses two of the three wings of whats known as the nuclear triad the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "Our mission is foundational to our Nation's defense, and we remain committed to the success of that no-fail mission. Biographical details about Welch's career were not immediately available. "These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our Nation's nuclear mission," said Gebara. A brigade commander at Fort Gordon has been fired following allegations of personal misconduct, the Army announced Tuesday. Depreo previously served in various engineering-oriented staff roles across the Army, including in Iraq, the Pentagon and Germany. Manman Dejeto/Agence France-Presse Getty Images. Brett Crozier, who Greg Erwin). The relief comes on the heels of local authorities arresting five soldiers stationed at the Louisiana post on rape charges. The Montgomery has in recent years patrolled contested waterways like the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea in what Navy officials say is a signal to allies and adversaries that the United States is committed to protecting free and open international waters. By Geoff Ziezulewicz. The commander of a US aircraft carrier that has been hit by a major outbreak of coronavirus has been relieved of command for showing poor judgment days after Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, relieved two commanders today from their positions of leadership at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete Cmdr. "I am satisfied that it was conducted in an extremely thorough and fair manner," he said. The littoral combat ship Montgomery has in recent years patrolled contested waterways like the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. Col. Gregory Mayer, shown in an official photo from 2022, was recently dismissed from his position as commander of the 5th Mission Support Group at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. The commander of Norfolk Naval Shipyard has been relieved of duty related to the yards ongoing performance struggles in repairing and modernizing nuclear The Air Force has relieved six leaders assigned to a North Dakota base in charge of nuclear missiles and bombers over a loss of confidence, the military branch said Monday. A Navy official told USNI News that he was relieved due to subtantiated sexual harassment concerns. Col. Gregory Mayer, center, accepts the command guidon of the 5th Mission Support Group on June 30, 2022, at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. Mayer is one of two It is unusual for the Navy to relieve a ships commander, much less its two top officers, for any reason. Cmdr. "Their outstanding efforts greatly contributed to the health, safety and recovery of the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt," Braithwaite said. "Moreover, I fully support its findings and recommendations, and I'd like to take this time to commend the investigation team led by [Adm. Robert P. Burke] under the direction of our chief of naval operations [on the work that they did, under very demanding conditions.". Blue Angels commander Capt. Nearly all of them (82 percent) remain in the Navy Col. Gregory Mayer, center, accepts the command guidon of the 5th Mission Support Group on June 30, 2022, at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. Mayer is one of two commanders at the base who were recently relieved. Air Force). Baker, the commander of Strike Group 9, was Crozier's immediate superior. "Our mission is foundational to our Nation's defense, and we remain committed to the success of that no-fail mission. Copyright 2023 KFYR. Lieutenant Colonel Scheller posted on Facebook that he has been relieved of duty and will leave the Marine Corps for cause based on lack of trust and confidence America has many issues but its my home its where my three sons will become men. Its unclear at this point who will take over interim leadership of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron. The decision was made by Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, which oversees the Air Forces fleet of nuclear-capable strategic bombers and comes amid heightened scrutiny of the U.S. military's nuclear readiness. ORIGINAL STORY (2/27): MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (KMOT) Leadership with the 8th Air Force relieved a pair of commanders within the 5th Bomb Wing Monday, along with four subordinates, according to a report from Global Strike Command.