Airmen who believe they can reform Brooke Army Medical Center from the inside should ask if their time and medical skills would be better spent in clinical work than wasted in command time under a system that forecloses accountability and buoys toxicity, Bode wrote. But his marital status was uncertain and said to be a touchy subject during his tenure as commander of the Warfare Center, which began in July 2017, the report said. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. On Oct. 21, the colonel was relieved of command due to a loss of trust and confidence in her ability to lead and maintain readiness of the men and women of the 14th Medical Group, Rita Felton, a spokesperson for Columbus Air Force Base, said on Oct. 22. Ellis had been in command for just four months. Russia Continues Dangerous Flights in Syria, Risking International Incident, Wisconsin Guard Wing Accepts First 3 F-35s, 18 KC-135s Line Up at MacDill, as USAFs Surge in Elephant Walks Continues, USAF Analysis: China Hopes The US Cant Afford Enough B-21s to Make A Difference, Department of the Air Force Saw Dramatic Rise in Sexual Assault Reports in 2022, 14 Airmen Become US Citizens in New Basic Training Naturalization Process, So Long, myPers: Airmen and Guardians Have Until April 30 to Retrieve Records, New PACAF Commander Tapped, Among Several Key Air Force Moves, New Space Force PT Gear Coming Soon; Service Dress Skirt Hits Space Symposium, Humorous Drawing of 1980s Air Force Life Still Rings True for Many Airmen, Space Force Recruiting Is Strong, but Army, Navy, USAF Woes Dont Help, The Air Force Is Offering Enlisted Airmen a $10,000 Bonus to Join the Reserve, A New Air Force-Wide Study Is Analyzing Suicides to Improve Prevention Efforts. Witnesses described Gersten as personable, charming, sensitive to womens issues, and one who frequently hugged or patted subordinates about the shoulders, the report said. He saw him give his then-wife a big hug and noted that they seemed very familiar. He said, I think you know what this is about. Maj. Boring is serving now as special assistant to Ogden commander Brig. Under federal privacy law, military officials are not required to disclose the reasons for removing or reassigning personnel. Col. Chris Boring, commander of the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group, was relieved of command on March 3 due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead and command a group, according to Hill. Ellis further clarified that her beliefs do not compel her to prevent, delay or undermine efforts to ensure the vaccines are available and administered to others, they just prevent her from taking it herself or actively promoting or administering it to others herself. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Get your daily fix of Air Force news delivered right to your inbox every day. Courtesy photo Lt. Col. Craig Perry and his wife, Caroline, at the Military Training Instructor . (Kemberly Groue/U.S. So we need to move on.. Maj. Gen. Peter Gersten also engaged in inappropriate personal relationships with two other women over a decade, the inspector general investigation found. Read Next: Top Navy Auditor Sexually Harassed Women for 20 Years, IG Finds. Friday, Mar 24. ", By Maj. Gen. Peter Gersten addresses ceremony attendees after taking command of the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center on July 13, 2017, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Apparently, the two civilians in question had already been vaccinated, but Bergin said the wing commander, Col. Graham, needed the order to be issued anyway, Ellis recalled. But while interest in, The Air Force is offering a $10,000 bonus for prior-service enlisted Airmen who join the Reserve and fill an open job, part of an effort to boost flagging recruiting numbers for the component. "Every commander, at every level, has the inherent responsibility to promote and safeguard that trust. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Published Feb. 7, 2020. The U.S. Air Force announced that Col. Gary Donovan, 552nd Operations Group commander, was relieved from command on Monday. The Army made it clear that the airmen were guests in the building, a retired master sergeant who left Brooke Army Medical Center in 2015, three years after the 959th Medical Group stood up at the joint base, told Air Force Times. Between October 2010 and June 2019, Gersten engaged in inappropriate relationships with several women, the IG found, and intended to act indecorously and indecently with them. Col. Jon Meredith is charged with two counts of abusive sexual contact and two counts of conduct unbecoming of an officer for his alleged actions, Lt. Col. Jennifer Bocanegra, a spokesperson for . At the end of the day, I ensured the orders were issued in a timely manner that didnt compromise my integrity or my religious beliefs and rights, Ellis, who first joined the Air Force in 1997 and has deployed to Afghanistan, told Task & Purpose. And they will ensure we remain the most lethal and ready force in the world.. More:Despite GOP claims, public did not favor carving up Oklahoma County. Earlier in August, Anthony Kuhn, a managing partner at the Tully Rinckey law firm, told Task & Purpose that commanders have several options for dealing with troops who refuse the vaccine, including issuing them a letter of reprimand or taking other administrative action; using nonjudicial punishment to push them to get vaccinated; referring troops to an administrative separation board for failure to obey an order; or even referring service members to courts-martial, as happened in the past when troops refused to get vaccinated for anthrax, Kuhn said. Ellis did not feel comfortable sharing the specifics of her beliefs other than they are sincerely held, she said, but this was the first time a vaccine violated her religious beliefs. Lt. Col. Meghann Sullivan takes the 5th Battalion, 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade guidon at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, June 28, 2021. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. A recent command-directed investigation substantiated allegations that Owens failed to establish and maintain a healthy command climate and created a toxic work environment. He agreed to do so, and on Oct. 15 he issued the order, Ellis said. Former Air Combat Command head Gen. Mike Holmes relieved Gersten of command in person at the Air Forces Corona meeting of top generals at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida on June 2, 2019. But witnesses told investigators that it became increasingly obvious that something was going on between them, and rumors spread about their sexting. One witness observed the sexting and said his girlfriend used code words to describe Gersten, such as big daddy, and saw some of the nude and revealing images exchanged. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby seemed to echo that sentiment in a statement on Monday. Boring is a special assistant to the logistics complexs commander, Brig. Those unvaccinated airmen will be in violation of a lawful order and subject to discipline under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the Air Force wrote in a news release. Dec 12, 2018 Lt. Col. Raymond Fortner was relieved of command of the 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana was relieved of command. Because if its limited to this vaccine, thats a bad argument, right.. So we need to move on.. She told investigators that her relationship with Gersten became flirtatious in May 2018. The 309th AMG is responsible for maintenance on aircraft from multiple military branches, including U.S. Navy and Marine Corps C-130Js, USAF F-22s, F-35s, F-16s, T-38s, and A-10s, according to a Hill release. Responsibilities. At the time, he called the assignment at Keesler awesome and he said he was excited to shape young minds there. Boring stepped into the role in June 2020 after the groups previous commander, Col. Randy Ackerman, also was relieved of command in May 2020. Ellis took command of the 14th Medical Group on July 7. The investigation into Boring is ongoing, he said, and declined to comment further. An investigation substantiated five of Bodes nine claims, he said, but the wing commander dismissed the IOs findings and substituted findings of her own that unsubstantiated all issues, unilaterally declaring that all was well.. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the number of service members who have a waiver is very, very small.. Before he arrived at the Warfare Center, the female officer was thriving and eager to learn, witnesses said. And, bring Air Force leadership under the same roof as their subordinates. It takes mutual respect to develop airmen, our most precious resource. Earlier in August, Anthony Kuhn, a managing partner at the Tully Rinckey law firm, told Task & Purpose that commanders have several options for dealing with troops who refuse the vaccine, including issuing them a letter of reprimand or taking other administrative action; using nonjudicial punishment to push them to get vaccinated; referring troops to an administrative separation board for failure to obey an order; or even referring service members to courts-martial, as happened in the past when troops refused to get vaccinated for anthrax, Kuhn said. An Air Force colonel who was relieved of command last month at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, claims she was fired after she refused to order her subordinates to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. When he returned to the Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, five days later to say goodbye to senior staff, he again acknowledged, I made a mistake.. The Air Force saw it differently. Airmen were held to Army rules that unnecessarily complicated their jobs and slowed medical procedures, the former respiratory specialist said Thursday. For fiscal 2022, the Department of the Air Force had the largest annual increase in the history of its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program,, They came from four continents and 10 countries, but by the end of the day on April 26, 14 men and women had two things in common: they were all Airmen, and they were all U.S. citizens. This hurt Gerstens ability to lead, the report said. Air Force). Gersten declined to speak with investigators. | "The position of command is a position of trust," said Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, commander of the Air Education and Training Command. Cum on over. They had multiple more encounters in his on-base quarters and her off-base home, among other locations. Top Air Force lawyer relieved of command. 475 students are trained at the school every year on average, as of 2016. The retired master sergeant argues that the Army and Air Force officials in charge are more concerned about self-preservation and looking good at promotion time than creating a healthy work environment for the troops under them. The Air Force and the Space Force had a significant increase in reports of sexual assault last year, according to figures released April 27. Col. Timothy Danielson, commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing based at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, was relieved by Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, commander of the 19th Air Force. Still, Kuhn hoped commanders would take a compassionate approach if any of their subordinates refused the COVID-19 vaccine. Gersten was relieved of command June 2, 2019, due to allegations of an unprofessional relationship. Hunter was introduced as the wings training commander in June 2021. He previously worked at Foreign Policy and Ufahamu Africa. An Army colonel at Fort Hood, Texas, was relieved of command on Friday as a result of an investigation that launched following her suspension last month, officials from III Army Corps confirmed. Air Force Col. Jason Allen, vice commander of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, was given interim command of the wing after Col. William Hunter was relieved as the units commander this week. Army Col. Ann Meredith has been fired from her position as 89th Military Police Brigade commander. In this photo from Aug. 25, 2022, Allen delivers remarks during an event at the base. To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force, said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in an Aug. 9 memo to the force. At the end of the day we want to make sure we do the right thing for the Air Force and for airmen, Felton said. "Our focus is on taking care of our airmen and civilians as we rebuild the command climate in the 317th Airlift Wing.. from around the world. ARLINGTON, Va. Col. Michael D. Murphy was one of the Air Force's top legal eagles. My religious beliefs prevent me from taking the vaccine, actively promoting the vaccine, and from administering the vaccine to others myself. There's no more reliable source for news about your Air Force. Some people will be court-martialed., WORCESTER, Mass. The Active-Duty Air Forces troubles meeting its recruiting goals have been well documented, as leaders and recruiters struggle, The Air Force expects the final report of a sweeping, first-of-its-kind suicide analysis board in the next few months, as the department looks to refine its prevention and response efforts. To clarify, my religious beliefs prevent me from taking the vaccine, actively promoting the vaccine, and from administering the vaccine to others myself (Im a nurse), Ellis said in a text message. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the number of service members who have a waiver is very, very small.. A colonel at Tinker Air Force Base has been relieved of his duties after aninvestigation found he failed to foster a culture of safety and berated crews for not flying training missions on short rest. While a single senator cannot prevent confirmations, a hold significantly delays confirmations because the Senate needs to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkish forces have killed the leader of the Islamic State group during an Copyright 2023 Military.com. May 2019-June 2020, Commander, Task Force Medical, Afghanistan and 455th Expeditionary Medical Group, Bagram AB, Afghanistan . Earlier this month, Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, commander of the 19th Air Force, relieved Col. Timothy Danielson at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, "for a loss of trust and confidence" in. Another witness reported seeing the two flirting, and once also saw the woman while intoxicated during an event hosted at Gerstens home make a sexually suggestive remark to Gersten. Still, Kuhn hoped commanders would take a compassionate approach if any of their subordinates refused the COVID-19 vaccine. CNN Two US Air Force commanders and four of their subordinates at a key nuclear base in North Dakota were relieved of duty this week after their units failed an inspection designed to. The wing is the single largest employer on the Mississippi coast and hosts the Second Air Force and 403rd Wing of the Air Force Reserve. She began acting buddy-buddy with colonels who outranked her, as if they were peers, witnesses said, and her professionalism went from lackadaisical to non-existent. She began acting aggressively to the staff and behaved as if she had more authority than she actually did. I cant express to you the level of disappointment I have right now., More:All-Hispanic flight crew takes off at Tinker AFB to mark National Hispanic Heritage Month. BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --. Col. Jay Bertsch, a commander at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea, Col. Douglas DeMaio, commander of the Alabama Air National Guards 187th Fighter Wing, and Lt. Col. Kenneth Beadle, commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, were all removed due to a loss of confidence in their leadership. The vaccines, he said, will protect you and your family. Hunters dismissal is the latest in a series of Air Force firings in recent months. All Rights Reserved. Commander of Cannon Air Force Base medical squadron relieved, Defense electronic health records rollout is halfway done, even as VAs is delayed, Dozens of VA medical centers slated for closure, total rebuilds under new infrastructure plan, An absolute slap in the face: Medical group superintendent kept her job after investigation found she created a toxic workplace. On Oct. 21, the colonel was relieved of command due to a "loss of trust and confidence in her ability to lead and maintain readiness of the men and women. Still, she stressed that the relationship was consensual and positive. The vaccines, he said, will protect you and your family. Zamone Z Perez is a rapid response reporter and podcast producer at Defense News and Military Times. On Oct. 21, the colonel was relieved of command due to a loss of trust and confidence in her ability to lead and maintain readiness of the men and women of the 14th Medical Group, Rita Felton, a spokesperson for Columbus Air Force Base, said on Oct. 22. Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association, 1501 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. The deadline for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members is Dec. 2, and while 96.2% of the active-duty and 92.8% of the total force had at least one shot as of Oct. 18, that still leaves up to 12,500 active-duty airmen who may face possible dismissal from the service as of Tuesday. Gersten and the female officer who was his girlfriend also texted each other nude and partially nude photographs of themselves. The video features song, dance, lots of talcum powder, and a big male genitalia puppet. This is what our airmen deserve and expect.". The 14 individuals were the first to complete a new streamlined naturalization process, The Air Force is shutting down the personnel services website myPers as part of an ongoing effort to modernize the branchs digital human resources platforms. Air Force Col. William Hunter, commander of 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, was relieved of command this week. The report said that Gersten also engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a second civilian woman between 2010 and 2015. She was relieved of command over "loss of trust and confidence in her ability to lead and maintain readiness," according to the service. He previously served as the 31st Maintenance Group Commander at Aviano Air Base in Italy. (SrA Joshua Kleinholz/Air Force). Col. Chris Boring (center), 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group commander, Utah's U.S. Rep. Blake Moore and Hill leadership discuss F-16 aircraft maintenance during a visit to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Feb. 16, 2021. 475 students are trained at the school every year. These objections were included in my religious accommodation request.. In July, three sorties were canceled over concerns about crew fatigue, according to Military.com, which provides news to service members, veterans and their families. Ellis first received her commission in the Air Force in December, 1997, according to her command biography. But after their relationship started, witnesses said her performance took a nosedive. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Army Special Ops Command welcomes first female command sergeant major, UN envoy says Sudans warring sides agree to negotiate, Russia missile attack on Ukraine injures 34, damages homes, Turkey claims its forces killed ISIS chief in Syria, Committee votes on major defense policy bill expected in May, Your next tech and incoming AI | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.28.2023, Home Improvement Loans What are my options? 14th Medical Group, I am so humbled and honored to be your commander, Ellis said at the change of command ceremony. Gen. Gerstens acts are dishonoring and disgracing to him personally, the IG wrote about the inappropriate relationships, and concluded his conduct was unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. Ellis said the specific reason was because she did not issue the vaccination order herself. He agreed to do so, and on Oct. 15 he issued the order, Ellis said. We do not typically discuss the specifics of personnel actions outside of the chain of command, Felton said on behalf of wing commander Col. Graham on Thursday. He explained that any request for a religious exemption would go through rigorous scrutiny to determine if the religion in question is legitimate and why a service members faith is opposed to this particular vaccine. All rights reserved. He is based in Washington, D.C. 2023 Stars and Stripes. -- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. March 1, 2023, 12:18 PM. By By HQ ARPC Public Affairs. He would not say anything more about why Ackerman was fired. Soon afterwards, he said, she grew distant from him, though he first chalked it up to the requirements of her new job. Owens has been temporarily reassigned to the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess while he awaits another assignment. Contact us today to schedule your consultation. Brooke Army Medical Center is a joint Army-Air Force organization with more than 240,000 beneficiaries in the San Antonio region. An Air Force colonel sounded the alarm on what he called widespread Machiavellian maneuvering and counterproductive bureaucracy as he resigned from command at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas the militarys largest health care hub. You can contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone at 8885294543, by e-mail at info@tullylegal.com or by clicking the button below: Ready to book your consultation? Their relationship began to degrade good order and discipline at the Warfare Center, the report said. All rights reserved. Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 1, 2006 Colonel April 1, 2014 Brigadier General Aug. 2, 2020 (Current as of September 2022 . Air Force Col. Katheryn Ellis was relieved of command of the 14th Medical Group at Columbus Air Force Mississippi on Thursday, according to the Columbus-based 14th Flying Training. Are the rules different for the general officer as it is for us, because if that wouldve been me, I wouldve been crushed as a commander.. Maj. Gen. Koscheski, 15th Air Force commander, said in a statement the 552nd Operations Group needs men and women who foster a culture of dignity and respect. Money Minute, What's next for experimental AI projects in the C4ISR sphere, Army identifies 3 soldiers killed in Alaska helicopter crash, Army grounds helicopter fleet for force-wide safety stand down, Army fielding new tactical feedback tool with fitness program features. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessica Haynie). The incident comes weeks after a commander of a lead training wing was removed from his post, also due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Col. Chris Boring, commander of the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group, was relieved of command on March 3 due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead and command a group, according to Hill. I would hope that those leaders are stronger leaders and instead of trying to make an example out of somebody that they would actually have some empathy and push the administrative response, but we know that is not always going to be the case, he continued. The former senior NCO recalled instances when Army officials allegedly neglected to tell airmen of a rape in the locker room; at least one instance when an airman faced false allegations of sexual assault as retaliation for trying to make changes; and when airmen were denied leave for at least a year during skills upgrade training, then again if their work didnt meet Army standards rather than the Air Forces. She told investigators she wanted their relationship to go further, but understood it could not. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessica Haynie). The Army did not comment further on the investigation, citing a service policy that protects administrative information. Rose L. Thayer is based in Austin, Texas, and she has been covering the western region of the continental U.S. for Stars and Stripes since 2018. 2023 Stars and Stripes. One day, he said, he showed his then-wife a picture of Gersten and asked if she was seeing him. The website will no longer be accessible to Airmen and Guardians starting April 30, and the old features used in myPers are being migrated to, The Air Force is poised to get a new commander in the Indo-Pacific, as the Pentagon announced April 24 that President Joe Biden has nominated Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Schneider to lead Pacific Air Forces. If this environment continues, we will likely see another Walter Reed Army Medical Center 2007 scandal/incident.. Boring took command of the group last June, Mullican said. 17. The military did not answer questions about multiple formal investigations mentioned in Bodes letter. Because she felt the order conflicted with her religious beliefs, Ellis consulted with the base legal office the morning of Oct. 13 to figure out what to do next.