Christine Wormuth, Secretary of the Army, has suspended the four-star General who commands the Army Materiel Command. She also sent him to the Department of the Army Inspector General for an investigation. Wormuth accused General Charles Hamilton of using his influence to place a female subordinate in a position that would guarantee her promotion to the rank of colonel.
Army General Charles Hamilton, who oversees Army Materiel Command, Pressured Assessment Panel to Help Career of ‘Ineffective’ Officer https://t.co/42Itnq7yRn
— Bob Hein (@the_sailor_dog) March 20, 2024
It is important to understand that the selection for battalion command is very important. Only around 25 percent of eligible officers will be selected as alternates or secondary commands.
In 2019, the Army added a new twist to its Battalion Command Assessment Program. It includes a 5-day program that includes a psychological assessment and a physical exam. The 360-degree evaluation is where peers and subordinates rate the candidate.
An unnamed female lieutenant colonel who was General Hamilton’s executive assistant and military assistant was selected for the battalion commander. She received a score of “0-5” during the selection process because she exhibited “counterproductive traits”.
Hamilton sprang into action.
Hamilton requested that the lieutenant colonel’s paneling be changed. According to Army officials, this was an unprecedented move.
Col. According to a memo, Townley HEDRICK Chief of Staff for the Command Assessment Program informed the lieutenant colonel that her repanel would be due to “technical issues”.
There is uncertainty about the technical issues which would lead to a reassessment of a panel. Hamilton praised Hedrick’s “important role” in reassessing the lieutenant colonel.
Hamilton called Maj. Gens., according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation. An Army official said that panelists must be anonymous to avoid lobbying. To ensure this, they are finalized hours before the event.
O’Brien wrote Hamilton texted and called senior assessment staff, including Hedrick and O’Brien, repeatedly during the morning before the second panel to inquire about the results.
At noon, the second panel met. A person who has first-hand experience of the case said that the vote was 2-3. Both the leadership and counterproductive qualities of the lieutenant colonel were considered “ineffective”.
Hamilton inquired about the results several more times throughout the day until well past 9 pm. It is unclear when the results were communicated to Hamilton.
Hamilton was successful in lobbying the panel through the leakage of their names and phone numbers.
Remarkably, Hamilton was the subject matter of a memo by the director of the program. What is even more amazing is that he caved into the pressure and gave this officer a second opportunity.
This was an attempt to exert pressure. He said that Hamilton was a very powerful man. It was a violation of integrity to select the best officers as leaders for units. “He should have been aware of the consequences. ”
If generals call up members of the board to promote their favorites, the system will fail. This was understood by everyone once upon a time.
She failed two selection boards in 48 hours. She was on the list for command selections despite being less qualified.
Military Times broke the story on Tuesday. The Army Secretary removed Hamilton from the list for promotion and suspended him on Friday.
In my experience as an Army IG investigator, I have not met anyone who has ever done something major without a series of small steps leading to it. How could anyone miss it and do nothing?
This kind of dry decay is what brings institutions to their knees. Many officers will leave the service if they do not feel confident about the selection process.
I hope the Army secretary will take this issue seriously and set an example. It is unlikely, however, because of the current political climate within DOD.
