- Article
- Comments ()
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, Joint Chiefs chairman, both publicly admonished Gen. Mixon for urging opposition to one of President Obama's pet projects.
Their stern language led some to believe Mr. McHugh might discipline Gen. Mixon, whose letter stirred sympathy among the rank and file.
But the secretary told a group of defense reporters recently the matter was handled quietly with phone calls to Gen. Mixon from himself and Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, reports special correspondent Rowan Scarborough.
"I think it is both the chief of staff of the Army's and my judgment that he went beyond what can be fairly described as the norms of command in those kinds of circumstances," Mr. McHugh said. "His actions, at a minimum, exceeded the spirit of the directive that the chief and I sent out on the way ahead a number of weeks ago."
Mr. McHugh said Gen. Mixon confessed that he had crossed the line.
Gen. Mixon "recognizes it was inappropriate for him to become an advocate and to try to shape the opinion of the force rather than to reach out and ascertain the opinion of the force, [and] that he has said he is perfectly capable and willing and will make every effort to carry forward within the manner we expect in the future," Mr. McHugh said.
Air Force suicides
Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, said the service is facing a "surge" in suicides in a May 4 speech to a conference of senior enlisted airmen.
"This includes active, Guard and Reserve airmen, as well as Air Force civilians and family members," Gen. Schwartz said. "We have more suicides so far this year than we did last, which itself exceeded each year before that. We collectively in this room have to act to arrest this trend."
He urged the airmen to care for their fellow airmen, noting that "now is the time."
"Make it your business to identify stress and failed relationships among your people," the general said. "Encourage our people to ask for help, and intervene in cases where they are reluctant to do so. Do not for a single moment accept the needless loss of a teammate as the cost of doing business. It isn't — not now, not ever."
According to the Air Force website, the suicide rate for 2009 was 12.5 suicides for every 100,000 airmen.
The problem is not limited to the Air Force.
The Marine Corps in 2009 had the highest suicide rate in the military, with 24 per 100,000. The active-duty Army had 21.7 per 100,000. Analysts attribute the high rates for the Army and Marines to those services' roles in ground combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Navy also has suffered from high suicide rates. Its suicide rate for 2009 was 13.8 per 100,000 sailors.
Post a comment
There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!
Please login or register to post a comment