Shakeout of High Ranking Military Leaders-Truth!

Shakeout of High Ranking Military Leaders-Truth!

Summary of eRumor:

This is a forwarded email that contains an ABC report that alleged of a shakeout of military generals and admirals.
 

The Truth:

There was a report on October 11, 2013 by ABC’s Martha Raddatz of a major shakeout of military leaders owing to ethic policy violations or lack of leadership.   The report was introduced by Dianne Sawyer.  Click here for the article.

Another version of this eRumor contained a long list put together by Major General Paul Vallely.  We found articles posted on his website that said President Obama was purging the military – 197 officers in 5 Years.  Click here for original articles.

Some versions of this eRumor alleged that General Carter Ham was fired and they are unproven. Ham retired from the Army in 2013.  On October 31, 2012, a little over a month after the attack on the U.S. Embassy facility in Benghazi, the Department of Defense released a statement that said General Carter Ham was retiring after President Obama  nominated Army General David M. Rodriguez to succeed him as leader of Africom.  Rodriguez was approved by the U.S. Senate for the post in March 2013 and one month later General Ham officially retired.  TruthorFiction.Com reported his replacement in November 2012.  Click for report.

Not all the firings were directly done by President Obama as some versions of this eRumor may allege.   Major General Ralph Baker was relieved of his post on April 4, 2013 by General Carter Ham owing to alcohol and sexual misconduct charges.  This according to a April 5, 2013 article by Military.Com.

General Bryan Roberts was suspended for adultery and a physical altercation with according to a May 22, 2013 article by USA Today.  Roberts’s case remains under investigation.

The Department of Defense has posted an ethics guidance page on the Internet with resources for military conduct.   Click here for Ethic Guidance.

Posted 11/07/13   Updated 03/11/14