The Marine Corps Tuesday ousted the commanding and executive officers of the battalion that lost Marine Jason Rother in the California desert.
The action means the battalion`s entire chain of command has been disciplined for the Minneapolis man`s death during a training exercise in August. The 19-year-old lance corporal died of dehydration; his skeletal remains weren`t found until December.
Lt. Col. Edward Robeson, in charge of the 650-person battalion, was relieved Tuesday of his command and reassigned.
The battalion`s executive officer, Maj. T.L. Holm, also was reassigned. No further disciplinary action is being considered against either man at this time.
Their removal was based on the findings of a special investigation made public Monday. It blamed Rother`s death on poor planning and direction of the night exercise and a ”total breakdown” in the chain of accountability, which led to Rother`s not being reported missing until almost two days after he was stranded in the desert.
The Marine Corps previously had relieved Rother`s company commander and platoon leader of their duties, and it is court-martialing his squad leader and platoon sergeant. It also is considering court-martialing a lieutenant in charge of the road guides.
