re: Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman says speaking out ended his 21-year military career

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'At no point in my career or life have I felt our nation's values under greater threat and in more peril than at this moment

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So he decided to lie?

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He is an Infantry officer who has never been a Platoon Leader, Company Commander and Battalion Commander.

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I was Air Force, so different I know. Never getting a command as an O-5 pretty much eliminates one from O-6. If you can’t successfully compete against your O-5 peers for a command how can you compete with those same officers who successfully complete a command tour?

And the lack of platoon and company command is a huge red flag. Honestly he appears to have been over-promoted just in making O-5.

And then there’s the treason. Even if an opposing viewpoint doesn’t see it as such it was clearly inappropriate for a low level officer (and O-5 is a low level inside the WH) to comment publicly on the CINC, and certainly to testify in a clearly partisan manner.

What should happen to him is in a 2nd Trump term, he should be recalled to active duty, face court martial for failing to meet standards as an O-5, then demoted and have his retirement withdrawn since he did not serve honorably for 20 years.

So he's doing it again? Some people just like flappin their gums for attention.

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FlySaint

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There are quite a few differences with the Army, so I'll address each of the points in your post individually.

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Never getting a command as an O-5 pretty much eliminates one from O-6. If you can’t successfully compete against your O-5 peers for a command how can you compete with those same officers who successfully complete a command tour?

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In 2004, the Army made (an extremely poor decision in my mind) the decision to equate certain positions in non-Maneuver branches as "Key Developmental Positions" by rank. Basically, instead of giving officers opportunities to command, they gave equivalent credit for positions that they deemed "of equal importance and responsibility". Not only that, but the branch managers rush to try to get you as little KD time as possible before putting you in "broadening assignments". I can only speak on behalf of my branch (Signal), but here are the KD positions:

Lieutenant: Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Battalion S6 (Captain's position, but branch does an extremely poor job of managing these and units fire them often)

Captain: Company Command, Battalion S6 (equivalent to A6), Brigade S6 (again, Major's position, but branch does a shitty job of managing), MITT Team Leader

Major: Battalion/Brigade S3/XO, Brigade S6, Division Network Operations Chief, Deputy Division G6

I was actually told I was too senior to hold a Company Command because I did 36 months of KD time as an S6 so I had to pursue a command in Recruiting in order to get my 20 months of Command time. Of my 20 years served, I've only spent 3 outside of S6 and G6 positions.

KD positions at the O5 and O6 level are a result of the Centrally Selected List (CSL) board. There's only about a 35-38% selection rate and you are most likely to be chosen the first time. (you have 3 looks before you're put into mandatory retirement and if you decline, you are put out) You cannot hold more than one CSL position.

Lieutenant Colonel: Battalion Command, Division G6

Colonel: Brigade Command, Corps G6

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And the lack of platoon and company command is a huge red flag. Honestly he appears to have been over-promoted just in making O-5.

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Here's another part where the Army differs. At about 3-6 years time in service, you are eligible for transfer in what's called a Functional Area. Once you are in a Functional Area position, every position is considered Key Developmental. In the case of my branch, there are two functional area positions, both in Functional Area 26 (26A - Telecom Systems Engineer, 26B - System Administrator). Very few functional area officers are even eligible for CSL (basically guarantees they cannot advance beyond Colonel)

Vindman was a Foreign Area Officer (48E - Eurasia).

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And then there’s the treason. Even if an opposing viewpoint doesn’t see it as such it was clearly inappropriate for a low level officer (and O-5 is a low level inside the WH) to comment publicly on the CINC, and certainly to testify in a clearly partisan manner.

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While not completely treason, it definitely constitutes a violation of Article 88, Article 89 (because he was told by a former rater to stop) and potentially Article 94 (Mutiny and Sedition)

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What should happen to him is in a 2nd Trump term, he should be recalled to active duty, face court martial for failing to meet standards as an O-5, then demoted and have his retirement withdrawn since he did not serve honorably for 20 years.

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This won't happen. The last officer prosecuted under Article 88 was in the mid-90's in the Clinton Administration and that was thrown out.

Very informative. In the Air Force O-5s without a squadron level command make O-6 in the low single digit range. I personally know of only one rated officer (i.e. flyer) that did so.

As for recall to active duty for the court martial I don’t see the need for Article 88. Failure to maintain standards due to disobeying after being directed by his chain of command to cease the activity against POTUS should be enough. And I have seen this happen to a USAF O-5.

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Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman says speaking out ended his 21-year military career

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Committing treason will have that effect. He should have been hung for all the lies he told Congress in his attempt to be the only evidence to impeach President Trump.

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Are part and parcel of the new Democrat Party. I don't see how progs sleep at night being aligned with these evil and bloodthirsty architects of our insane foreign policy.

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True enough. Just hope you realize the senior senator of your state is part and parcel of all of this shite. Damn, all y'all need to get rid of Lindsey Gramnisty. I think, if I were an SC resident, I'd vote for his demoncrap opponent in November. To be fair, he's (or is it she's) not the only one that needs to go.

He should have been court martialed. End of conversation