Tag: UCMJ

Sergent Gary Stein faced a disciplinary panel which by all accounts has suggested that he be discharged from the Marine Corps. with an “other than honorable” discharge. The findings of the 13-hour hearing and an hour of deliberation will be presented to Brigadier General Daniel Yoo, the commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot, where Stein is stationed. He is expected to make a decision within 30 days, according to Major Mike Armistead, a Marine Corps spokesman.

The entire controversy comes from posting on Facebook where Sgt. Stein referred to President Barack Obama as the enemy and said that he would refuse any orders from the commander-in-chief. This is not the first time that he has done this. In 2010, he got in similar trouble with the Marine Corps and was advised to post a disclaimer that the Armed Forces Tea Party is not affiliated with the Armed Forces.

Saul Gonzalez formKCRW interviewed the Sergent and this is what he had to say:

So as you can see from the interview, he has no remorse for the things he has said, nor should he. He also needs to realize that the things that he has said cannot and will not be tolerated in the military. You do not criticize your senior officers let alone the highest ranking military member, the President of the United States. One of the reasons the U.S. military is the most successful and feared fighting forces in the world is their ability to fight for the flag on their shoulder and not the person who is giving the orders. As soon as the military starts to allow dissent amongst it’s members, the cohesive fighting force that we all know and love will cease to exist and America will no longer be able to project it’s influence and power.