The Few, the Proud, the White: The Marine Corps Balks at Promoting Generals of Color

[rangerrebew]

The Few, the Proud, the White: The Marine Corps Balks at Promoting Generals of Color



By Helene Cooper

    Aug. 31, 2020

WASHINGTON — All things being equal, Col. Anthony Henderson has the military background that the Marine Corps says it prizes in a general: multiple combat tours, leadership experience and the respect of those he commanded and most who commanded him.

Yet three times he has been passed over for brigadier general, a prominent one-star rank that would put Colonel Henderson on the path to the top tier of Marine Corps leadership. Last year, the Navy secretary, Richard V. Spencer, even added a handwritten recommendation to Colonel Henderson’s candidacy: “Eminently qualified Marine we need now as BG,” he wrote.

But never in its history has the Marine Corps had anyone other than a white man in its most senior leadership posts. Colonel Henderson is Black.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/31/us/politics/marines-race-general.html

[rangerrebew]

So our intrepid reporter believes people should be promoted because of the color of their skin, black skin that is.  I suspect she used her own facts and conclusions to say the Colonel should be promoted to General.  If you've been passed over 3 times, especially at a time when they are looking to promote blacks, it is time to get out because your career is over.

[Fishrrman]

Consider the source of this "news"...

[Hoodat]

By reading the article, it is clear that the liberals at the NY Times believe a person should be judged based on the color of their skin rather than the content of their character.

[sneakypete]

Chances are they don't want to promote him is because he is a "AA Hire". He got good write-ups from his former commanders because they knew what would happen to their careers if they were critical.

[SZonian]

Officers seeking promotion to O-7 and above must meet several pre-requisites such as an age limit requirement and Joint Duty Assignment.  Specifically, all General Officers must adhere to the mandatory retirement age of 62; thus, officers seeking promotion to O-7 and above must be younger than 62 years old.  Also, prior to earning a promotion to O-7 officers need to have completed a Joint Duty Assignment tour in which the unit they were responsible for commanding was made up of service members from two or more branches of the U.S. military.

In addition, officers seeking promotion into the General Officer or Flag Officer ranks will be reviewed by a specific promotion board primarily concerned with promotions within the General Officer ranks.  These promotion boards take into consideration past accomplishments and leadership roles plus the needs of the branch of service the officer supports.

Finally, the promotion board makes a recommendation to the President of the United States.  If the President accepts this recommendation they will nominate the officer for promotion.  However, once the President communicates this nomination, the U.S. Senate must confirm it in order for the promotion to be approved.  This process includes promotions from O-6 to O-7 and O-7 through O-10.

https://officerassignments.com/general-flag-officer-promotions/