Green Beret Gets Delay of Separation

Green Beret gets a delay of separation

Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland, who we reported on 21 September 2015, has been given 60 days to work more on his appeal by Army Secretary John McHugh. From The Army Times:The Green Beret getting kicked out of the Army for beating an alleged child rapist in Afghanistan has been given a 60-day reprieve, the Army said late Tuesday.Army Secretary John McHugh "agreed to postpone Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland's discharge from the Army for 60 days to allow him to file an appeal with the Army Board for the Correction of Military Records," the Army said in a statement.The decision was made after Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, spoke with and wrote a letter to McHugh. The decision was "out of respect for Chairman Thornberry's continued strong support for our military and his personal appeal," according to the Army statement.Martland and his then-detachment commander admitted to attacking an Afghan local police commander in Kunduz province in 2011. Martland, a Bronze Star recipient, wants to remain in the Army. He was flagged for involuntary separation through the Army's qualitative management program because of his role in the assault. Martland was scheduled to leave service no later than Nov. 1 after 11 years in the Army.Martland gained many supporters, including Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and the VFW. Many consider Martland a hero for his actions, especially in light of reports U.S. soldiers were told to overlook the sexual abuse of young boys, especially at the hands of the security forces, in Afghanistan.

Thornberry spoke by phone Tuesday with McHugh, according to a press release on the House Armed Services Committee website. They discussed Martland's case, and the conversation followed "several weeks of committee review of SFC Martland's service record and the Army investigation into the incident," HASC press release said.During their conversation, Thornberry expressed his view that Martland's discharge should be delayed until he can prepare an appeal with adequate military counsel, the release said.After the men spoke, Thornberry sent a letter to McHugh elaborating on the committee's inquiry, his recommendation to the Army, and his larger concerns regarding policies in place for U.S. troops to report human rights abuses.See the rest of the article from Army Times.[mwi-cat-listing cat="94" ppp="4" cols="4" desc="false" type="view" btn_color="black" ]