Stuart Scheller

There are a lot of people on this website with bubblegum for synapses who, not surprisingly, unable to understand this article (or simply not interested in understanding it). But I consider Patrick to be a serious person, which is why I find his take here so puzzling. The article argues close to the opposite of what Patrick describes. It's not about the ethics of killing. Its explicit target is the "exclusively academic track" of ethics instruction that "mistakes sophistication for utility," which it says is often just "an opportunity for an academic to show how well-versed they are in philosophical literature." Katolin's entire thesis is that ethics should be pulled out of the civilian-philosophy classroom and rebuilt as warfighting doctrine measured by combat output. As such, I was amused that so many self-described PME critics on this site didn't like it. It makes the same criticism of civilian education they often do. Anyway, the author, a combat veteran, argues that ethics is operational: trust, cohesion, tempo, policy alignment, and moral resilience under stress. There is one part of Patrick's response that I agree with: his demand for harder examples. But that doesn't invalidate the article's argument, I wish he started from an accurate depiction of what the article actually says.

I'll correct that I served (I did not ... just been on the military beat since 2008, including a lot of trips to Afghanistan). I'm in hard news, so my job is not to debate. Nor should it be. It's to gather, verify and report previously undisclosed information that goes well beyond political talking points. That includes tough coverage of Secretary Hegseth, for sure, but it undeniably included the same of Austin, many general officers, and others. Anyone examining the fall of Afghanistan and the subsequent 15-6 investigation will surely find a lot of receipts to this effect. The record on this is clear and lengthy. Have a good one.

STATEMENT: Following the Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel’s recommendation and at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the United States Marine Corps has upgraded the valor awards for the Marines of Company G, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, who stood at Abbey Gate on 26 August 2021. After reviewing the original awards and determining that several had been inappropriately downgraded, these awards have now been upgraded to levels that more accurately reflect the extreme risk these Marines knowingly accepted and the lives they saved under direct enemy fire.   The Marines at Abbey Gate were positioned in the direct blast zone with minimal cover, fully aware of an imminent suicide attack, yet they held their ground to keep evacuation operations running. Their actions that day were heroic. The original awards did not reflect that reality. Today’s upgrades correct that injustice.   This outcome would not have happened without the personal leadership and commitment of Under Secretary of War for Personnel & Readiness Anthony Tata and Senior Advisor Stu Scheller who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure these Marines receive the recognition they deserve. Mr. Scheller personally shepherded this effort, driving the process forward until justice was done.   This outcome also demonstrates what the Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel was created to do: examine the full record, identify where the system failed our warfighters, and ensure accountability and fairness. The Department of War, under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, is committed to getting this right. We will not allow valor performed at the point of friction to be diminished by bureaucratic or administrative shortcomings.   To the Marines of Company G and to every service member who stood at Abbey Gate: your actions were seen, your sacrifice was measured correctly, and your valor is now properly recognized.   The Panel will continue its broader work to ensure the lessons from 2021 are learned and that we never again place our warfighters in positions where their courage is not fully honored.   We owe the American people, the families of the fallen, and every service member who served in Afghanistan nothing less than the truth and the corrections that truth demands.

STATEMENT: Following the Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel’s recommendation and at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the United States Marine Corps has upgraded the valor awards for the Marines of Company G, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, who stood at Abbey Gate on 26 August 2021. After reviewing the original awards and determining that several had been inappropriately downgraded, these awards have now been upgraded to levels that more accurately reflect the extreme risk these Marines knowingly accepted and the lives they saved under direct enemy fire.   The Marines at Abbey Gate were positioned in the direct blast zone with minimal cover, fully aware of an imminent suicide attack, yet they held their ground to keep evacuation operations running. Their actions that day were heroic. The original awards did not reflect that reality. Today’s upgrades correct that injustice.   This outcome would not have happened without the personal leadership and commitment of Under Secretary of War for Personnel & Readiness Anthony Tata and Senior Advisor Stu Scheller who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure these Marines receive the recognition they deserve. Mr. Scheller personally shepherded this effort, driving the process forward until justice was done.   This outcome also demonstrates what the Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel was created to do: examine the full record, identify where the system failed our warfighters, and ensure accountability and fairness. The Department of War, under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, is committed to getting this right. We will not allow valor performed at the point of friction to be diminished by bureaucratic or administrative shortcomings.   To the Marines of Company G and to every service member who stood at Abbey Gate: your actions were seen, your sacrifice was measured correctly, and your valor is now properly recognized.   The Panel will continue its broader work to ensure the lessons from 2021 are learned and that we never again place our warfighters in positions where their courage is not fully honored.   We owe the American people, the families of the fallen, and every service member who served in Afghanistan nothing less than the truth and the corrections that truth demands.

STATEMENT: Following the Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel’s recommendation and at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the United States Marine Corps has upgraded the valor awards for the Marines of Company G, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, who stood at Abbey Gate on 26 August 2021. After reviewing the original awards and determining that several had been inappropriately downgraded, these awards have now been upgraded to levels that more accurately reflect the extreme risk these Marines knowingly accepted and the lives they saved under direct enemy fire.   The Marines at Abbey Gate were positioned in the direct blast zone with minimal cover, fully aware of an imminent suicide attack, yet they held their ground to keep evacuation operations running. Their actions that day were heroic. The original awards did not reflect that reality. Today’s upgrades correct that injustice.   This outcome would not have happened without the personal leadership and commitment of Under Secretary of War for Personnel & Readiness Anthony Tata and Senior Advisor Stu Scheller who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure these Marines receive the recognition they deserve. Mr. Scheller personally shepherded this effort, driving the process forward until justice was done.   This outcome also demonstrates what the Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel was created to do: examine the full record, identify where the system failed our warfighters, and ensure accountability and fairness. The Department of War, under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, is committed to getting this right. We will not allow valor performed at the point of friction to be diminished by bureaucratic or administrative shortcomings.   To the Marines of Company G and to every service member who stood at Abbey Gate: your actions were seen, your sacrifice was measured correctly, and your valor is now properly recognized.   The Panel will continue its broader work to ensure the lessons from 2021 are learned and that we never again place our warfighters in positions where their courage is not fully honored.   We owe the American people, the families of the fallen, and every service member who served in Afghanistan nothing less than the truth and the corrections that truth demands.