JBLM C-17 Pilot Pleads Not Guilty; Acquitted
12-15-2012, 04:01 AM
#22
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Originally Posted by Albief15
I remember watching the AF and JAG team go after the mechanics after the 1995 Spangdahlem F-15 crash. Made me sick.... There were problems, but well above the level of any TSgt. Glad to hear of the acquittal.
12-15-2012, 06:52 AM
#23
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Posts: 829
From other boards, those who say they know him personally say he's a great guy and pilot. He seems willing to use judgment to accomplish the mission from this incident. If I were squadron leadership of a C-17 unit, I'd recruit him. If he were to approach the squadron I am in now for a job, I'd hire him.
12-15-2012, 08:12 AM
#24
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Joined APC: Aug 2011
Posts: 484
Originally Posted by LivingInMEM
He seems willing to use judgment to accomplish the mission from this incident.
Truthfully, the AF long ago made the decision they'd rather a pilot follow their objective, binary, nested if-then decision-making AFI rather than use their experience and judgment in the subjective and dynamic environment we operate in to accomplish the mission.
Personally, I 'blame' Fogleman. He introduced his concept of accountability over the blackhawk shootdown, but retired in protest when they hung Schwalier out to dry over Khobar (I respected him for that) leaving it incomplete. So, he never really saw his concept through and Ryan turned this into the one mistake AF. Couple this with a very micro-managing political administration and we grew a few generations of officers and NCOs who wouldn't make a decision unless it was run up the flagpole first.
Now, people don't know how to make decisions and the few that do and will get branded as cowboys or gruff or non-team player or whatever and everyone watches them for any perceived error so they can make an example of them.
So now we court martial guys over an interpretation of the regs. Tragic that the jumper died, no question, but to go after the AC for these types of charges is ludicrous.
12-15-2012, 08:28 AM
#25
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
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Posts: 39,293
Originally Posted by LowSlowT2
So they're jumping squares and they're going to shoot the pilot for an off-DZ drop. Idiots.
I've been dropped off course in trees and buildings with rounds...hard not blame the pilot for that, especially on low jumps (although we always thought it was hilarious, and would rush to take pictures of our bros dangling in trees before they could climb down).
12-15-2012, 08:30 AM
#26
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Posts: 39,293
Originally Posted by LivingInMEM
From other boards, those who say they know him personally say he's a great guy and pilot. He seems willing to use judgment to accomplish the mission from this incident. If I were squadron leadership of a C-17 unit, I'd recruit him. If he were to approach the squadron I am in now for a job, I'd hire him.
12-15-2012, 10:30 AM
#27
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Joined APC: Nov 2012
Position: QFI
Posts: 11
Originally Posted by LivingInMEM
My best day in the USAF was when I gave up my AMC patch for an ACC patch. This is just another instance of soldiers/airmen being charged with crimes for making mistakes (this may not have even been a mistake in the traditional sense - i.e. it wasn't causal). Whether it be the F-16 manslaughter trial (2 U.S. Pilots Charged With Manslaughter in Errant Bombing - NYTimes.com), the Green Berets ridiculously charged (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/us...ring.html?_r=0), Lt Col Chessani (Michael Savage credited with making Haditha case difference), etc; it's all a matter of sacrificial lambs diverting attention from leadership and their failures whether it be poor ROE, sending troops in with poor training, or just setting soldiers up for failure by giving complex missions with no topcover. Notice that the leadership never faces trial.
12-15-2012, 01:47 PM
#28
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Posts: 151
Originally Posted by RCAFJULES
Bad example with Schmidt as he is as guilty as the day is long! He wanted an excuse to kill something and he found it. The result was four dead Canadian soldiers and more injured! I don't doubt at all that guys get hung out to dry but not it that case.
12-15-2012, 02:18 PM
#29
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Joined APC: Nov 2012
Position: QFI
Posts: 11
Originally Posted by AirGunner
A Non Judicial Punishment action is not an admission of guilt nor is it a conviction. Furthermore, all charges were later dismissed against Schmidt. All emotion aside, this incident was sad and tragic...any incident of Blue on Blue fratricide is...However, the guy wasn't convicted of anything...which means under the eyes of the law here the US..he's not guilty.
12-15-2012, 03:15 PM
#30
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Joined APC: Oct 2005
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Posts: 1,126
Originally Posted by RCAFJULES
AG- I understand your point and I don't want to get into a big debate but I just want to say one thing. Just because a person doesn't get convicted doesn't mean they are innocent. As you mentioned very sad and tragic all round.
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