Accountability In the Wake of Scandal

Published on October 21, 2004 By pseudosoldier In Current Events

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While it was at their own request, the commander of the 343rd Quarermaster Company, made famous by last week's refusal to go on a "suicide mission" that failed to get anyone killed, has been relieved of duty. Also note that five of the soldiers who were involved have been transferred to another unit (I read in an earlier article that it was 3 soldiers, and that they had generally been perceived to be the "ringleaders" of the event).

I think that this sort of accountability is a sort of backlash in the face of various commanders passing the buck during the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal. This has come about because, if you're in charge of a unit, you are ultimately responsible for the actions of the soldiers under you. Even as a lower NCO, the actions of the soldiers placed under your supervision reflect upon your leadership, good or bad, and they are your responsibility.

I hope that this Captain realizes that abdicating their command doesn't relieve them of the responsibility they incurred while serving in that capacity...

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