Marine Generals Fired for Inadequate Security in Afghanistan

On September 30, Marine Corps Commandant General James F. Amos fired Maj. General Charles M. Gurganus and Maj. General Gregg A. Sturdevant for inadequately protecting Camp Bastion, “a giant base in southern Afghanistan that Taliban fighters stormed last year.”

According to The Washington Post, two Marines lost their lives in the attack as the enemy destroyed “almost an entire squadron of Marine AV-8B Harrier jets.”

The attack was carried out by 15 insurgents who were able to enter the NATO airfield.

Amos said the Generals “failed to exercise the level of judgement expected of commanders of their rank.” He said this lack of judgement was evident in their failure to deploy enough troops to guard the base and their seeming unpreparedness for a Taliban attack. 

Amos added: “It was unrealistic to think that a determined enemy would not be able to penetrate the perimeter fence.”

An investigation revealed at least one guard tower was left “unmanned” prior to the attack; that tower “was nearest to the Taliban breach.”

Gurganus “was the top Marine commander in southern Afghanistan at the time [of the attack]” and Sturdevant was “the senior Marine aviation officer.”

Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins.