Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller forced to forfeit $5,000 and gets letter of reprimand



The Marine Corps officer who criticized the military's top brass over the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan learned his fate on Friday. Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller will be required to forfeit $5,000 in pay and received a punitive letter of reprimand.

Earlier this month, Scheller was charged with six violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice:

  • Article 88: Contempt toward officials
  • Article 89: Disrespect toward superior commissioned officers
  • Article 90: Willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer
  • Article 92: Dereliction in the performance of duties
  • Article 92: Failure to obey order or regulation
  • Article 133: Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman

During his court-martial hearing this week, Scheller pleaded guilty to all six misdemeanor-level charges stemming from his blistering criticism of the military leaders in viral videos posted to social media.

Scheller's legal team spoke on his behalf during closing arguments at the court-martial.

"For two decades, warriors like Stu Scheller have given their youth, their health, their limbs and sometimes their lives to the cause of freedom. They did so willingly, believing they were fighting for a righteous cause and that senior leadership would have their back," said Timothy Parlatore, one of Scheller's attorneys.

"There has been a persistent, growing feeling that the focus is not on the well-being of the individual Marines and service members — or even mission success — but rather the continuation of an endless war that feeds the military-industrial complex where retired generals and admirals could go make their millions," the attorney added.

A judge sentenced Scheller to forfeit $5,000 worth of pay for one month. Scheller, who has served in the USMC for 17 years, faced a maximum punishment of forfeiting two-thirds of one month's pay for 12 months. "The judge said in open court that he would have docked Scheller's pay for two months, but he gave the Marine lieutenant colonel credit for time he had served in the brig," Task & Purpose reported.

Scheller was sent to military jail in late September for allegedly violating a gag order.

Scheller, who was deployed to Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2010, was relieved of his command of an Advanced Infantry Training Battalion at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for criticizing U.S. military leaders in August.

Scheller published videos on social media with scathing criticism on how the U.S. military was handling the Afghanistan withdrawal. Scheller demanded that senior U.S. military leaders be held accountable for the Afghanistan withdrawal, specifically the deaths of 13 American service members and the 18 who were wounded.

Military drops hammer on Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, announces six charges over criticism of commanders



The United States military plans to drop the hammer on Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, the Marine officer who criticized top military commanders for the role they played in the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.

What are the details?

The Marine Corps revealed last week that Scheller has been formally charged with six violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and will be tried before a special court-martial.

The charges against Scheller include UCMJ violations of:

  • Article 88: Contempt toward officials
  • Article 89: Disrespect toward superior commissioned officers
  • Article 90: Willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer
  • Article 92: Dereliction in the performance of duties
  • Article 92: Failure to obey order or regulation
  • Article 133: Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman

Capt. Sam Stephenson, a spokesman for Training and Education Command, suggested the charges are directly related to Scheller's violation of the military chain of command by airing his grievances on social media.

"In the military there are proper forums to raise concerns with the chain of command," Capt. Stephenson told the Marine Corps Times. “In a general sense not specific to any case, posting to social media criticizing the chain of command is not the proper manner in which to raise concerns with the chain of command and may, depending upon the circumstances, constitute a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice."

Scheller was released from military jail last Tuesday. He was sent to the brig for pre-trial confinement after allegedly violating a gag order that ordered him to stop publicly discussing his case.

Why so tough?

Scheller is in hot water, not only for publicly criticizing his commanders, but for repeated embraces of the word "revolution," according to legal documents leaked to Task & Purpose.

However, Tim Parlatore, one of Scheller's attorneys, told Task & Purpose that Scheller has never advocated for actual violence.

"At no time has Lt. Col. Scheller ever advocated any violent overthrow of the government or any other insurrection," Parlatore said. "He does believe that there does need to be a change in the leadership, both the military and the political class, which is what he was referring to in all of these things."

The military is also reportedly upset over Scheller's promise to file charges against Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr., the head of U.S. Central Command, over the terrorist attack outside the Kabul airport in August that resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and 169 Afghan civilians.

Scheller's next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, according to Task & Purpose.

Why Marine Stuart Scheller’s Insubordination Deserves An Investigation

It is an over-simplification to suggest that Scheller has been jailed because he demanded accountability from senior leaders or that he has been ‘punished for fighting for freedom.’

Marine officer who posted viral video now says he could face court-martial: 'Probably do some jail time'



Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who went viral last month after criticizing top military commanders over the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, said this week he could be facing a court-martial and jail time.

The claim came days after Scheller, who was "relieved for cause" one day after publishing the critical video, posted a letter to his Facebook page showing that he is resigning his military commission, effective on Sept. 11. Scheller's letter cited a "loss of trust and confidence," a reason that mirrored what the military told him after reprimanding him.

What are the details?

According to the Washington Examiner, Scheller posted an update on Wednesday revealing the military is investigating his situation, and he could face future repercussions.

"The Marine Corps will assign an investigating officer. Most likely a Colonel," Scheller said. "Once the investigating officer finalizes his recommendation, the Marine Corps will decide if they should pursue court-martial."

Scheller claimed that, if his case does go to trial, he would probably be found "guilty." Scheller did not state what military crime he is possibily being accused of breaking.

"I will be found guilty and will probably do some jail time," the Marine added. "This will provide me a valuable opportunity to read, write, and contemplate."

What did the military say?

Capt. Sam Stephenson, a spokesman for the Training and Education Command, confirmed Scheller "is currently under investigation." He did not, however, provide additional details about the investigation.

"The Marine Corps is not providing any additional information regarding Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller. His situation is currently under investigation and being handled appropriately by his chain of command, and therefore, we cannot comment further," Stephenson said, the Examiner reported.

"As Marines decompress from the gravity of events in Afghanistan over the week, it is important for those struggling to speak with their fellow Marines, their chain of command, or seek counseling," he added.

Anything else?

Scheller also revealed this week that he was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation, which he seemingly passed.

"I was ordered by my commanding officer to go to the Hospital for a mental health screening. I was evaluated by the mental health specialists and then sent on my way," Scheller said on Monday. "I am moving forward with my resignation. I, like many of you, am very scared. But courage isn't the absence of fear, it's the ability to overcome it. At the end of the day, if I stand with accountability and integrity, the system can't beat me."

Marine officer speaks out after firing, issues new warning to top military leadership: 'Every generation needs a revolution'



The Marine officer who was fired after speaking out against top military leadership for the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal has issued a new warning to those same leaders.

What is the background?

Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller went viral last Thursday after posting a video online demanding accountability for senior military leaders who helped President Joe Biden facilitate the now-deadly Afghanistan withdrawal.

In the video, Scheller explained that he had questions for his "senior leaders," and inquired whether those leaders bucked details of the White House's Afghanistan withdrawal plan, such as the decision to surrender Bagram Air Base.

"Did anyone do that? And when you didn't think to do that, did anyone raise their hand and say, 'We completely messed this up?'" he said.

Later in the video, Scheller directly blamed "senior leaders" for letting down the country. He called out Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, and Marine Commandant Gen. David H. Berger.

"The reason people are so upset on social media right now is not because the Marine on the battlefield let someone down," Scheller said. "That service member always rose to the occasion and has done extraordinary things. People are upset because their senior leaders let them down and none of them are raising their hands and accepting accountability or saying 'we messed this up."

On Friday, Scheller revealed on Facebook that he had been "relieved for cause based on a lack of trust and confidence."

What is Scheller saying now?

The decorated Marine spoke to the New York Post and issued a warning about accountability coming for top military leaders.

"The baby boomer's turn is over," Scheller said. "I demand accountability, at all levels. If we don't get it, I'm bringing it."

According to the Post, Scheller also quoted Thomas Jefferson, saying, "every generation needs a revolution."

The New York Post also spoke to Scheller's father, Stuart Scheller Sr., who described his son as "the real deal, a Marine's Marine."

"People will follow him to the ends of the earth. He has put his life on the line for fellow Marines so putting his career on the line like this does not surprise us," Scheller Sr. said. "It's interesting that no one [in the military] has answered his call for accountability. Their answer was to fire him I guess. It's a sad day for America."

Marine in viral video demanding US military leaders be held accountable for Afghanistan withdrawal is relieved of duty



A Marine went viral for a Facebook video demanding senior U.S. leaders be held accountable for the Afghanistan withdrawal, specifically the deaths of 13 American service members and the 18 who were wounded. Less than 24 hours after posting the scathing video ripping top U.S. military leadership, the Marine in the video that has hundreds of thousands of views has been relieved of duty.

Marine Lt. Gen. Stuart Scheller posted a blistering video to Facebook and LinkedIn on Thursday. Scheller, who has been in the USMC for 17 years, questioned the decision-making by top U.S. military leadership, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, and Marine Commandant Gen. David H. Berger.

Scheller noted that one of the 13 U.S. service members who died at the terrorist attacks in Kabul was someone with who he has a "personal friendship with."

"I'm not making this video because it's potentially an emotional time," Scheller said in the video. "I'm making it because I have a growing discontent and contempt for my perceived ineptitude at the foreign policy level and I want to specifically ask some questions to some of my senior leaders."

"I'm not saying we need to be in Afghanistan forever, but I am saying, did any of you throw your rank on the table and say, 'Hey, it's a bad idea to evacuate Bagram Airfield, a strategic airbase, before we evacuate everyone?' Did anyone do that? And when you didn't think to do that, did anyone raise their hand and say, 'We completely messed this up?'"

Scheller read an Aug. 18 letter from Gen. David H. Berger, the commandant of the Marine Corps, regarding the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Scheller disagreed vehemently with the message of the letter and blamed "senior leaders" for letting the country down.

"The reason people are so upset on social media right now is not because the Marine on the battlefield let someone down," Scheller stated. "That service member always rose to the occasion and has done extraordinary things. People are upset because their senior leaders let them down and none of them are raising their hands and accepting accountability or saying 'we messed this up.'"

Scheller admitted in the video that he has a "lot to lose" by posting the video. He noted that he was willing to risk "my current battalion commander seat, my retirement, my family's stability" to say what he wanted to say, and provide him "some moral high ground to demand the same honesty, integrity, accountability from my senior leaders."

On Friday afternoon, Scheller announced that he was relieved of his services.

"I have been relieved for cause based on a lack of trust and confidence as of 14:30 today," the father-of-three said in a Facebook post. "My chain of command is doing exactly what I would do… if I were in their shoes."

"I appreciate the opportunities AITB command provided," he added.

"America has many issues… but it's my home… it's where my three sons will become men," Scheller wrote. "America is still the light shining in a fog of chaos."

Scheller was stationed at the School of Infantry East at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In June, he took over the post as the AITB commander. According to his official USMC profile, Scheller was deployed to Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2010.