Army Times reports: “Four soldiers from Fort Bliss, Texas, who are serving in Iraq under Multi-National Division-South have been charged with cruelty and maltreatment of their subordinates, officials announced Aug. 21. The charges were preferred Aug. 19 against Staff Sgt. Enoch Chatman, Staff Sgt. Bob Clements, Sgt. Jarrett Taylor and Spc. Daniel Weber. All four soldiers belong to B Troop, 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, at Fort Bliss. The men are accused of treating five soldiers in their platoon inappropriately, officials said. The alleged mistreatment consisted of verbal abuse, physical punishment and ridicule of the subordinate soldiers.”
I usually have only great things to say about the Army’s NCO Corps, but this incident made me want to comment otherwise. I wonder if this type behavior is a reflection of the type NCO being produced within the Army over the past several years, in relation to many not being able to attend professional development courses due to OPTEMPO and other reasons. Whatever, leaders of the unit involved caught it and have taken action. Maybe that’s a sign of better things to come.
If convicted, these four people (note I did not refer to them as Soldiers) ought to receive maximum punishment allowed.
