Broadwell removed from LTC Promotion List
CNN is reporting that Paula Broadwell, General David Petraeus’ biographer, has been removed the LTC promotion list. I guess she was a Major in the Reserves, and, you know, the high standards that the Army expects from their officers these days, and Broadwell has been found lacking, I guess. So I guess that pretty much ends any career that she’d been looking hoping to complete.
She should have waited until she was a full bird colonel and a unit commander before she began engaging in nefarious activities, like the men do.
Since the Petraeus scandal broke, Broadwell has been under investigation by the Army for having classified information in her home without permission. She was initially on the list of approved promotions back on August 28, 2012. But under Army regulations “if new information comes to light” within six months of a promotion date it could make the person ineligible. Broadwell was deemed ineligible for promotion because she is under investigation for a matter that could result in her being punished by the Army, the official said. The promotion is revoked until the matter is resolved, the official said. If cleared, she would be eligible again.
Category: Big Army
Good!
Duty, honor, country!!!
What about ole Tits Kelley. I mean Jill….no, I mean Tits.
“Conduct Unbecoming”
She may also end up a captain, since that was the last rank held honorably. This is what you get for giving up command in order to stay on staff.
The article seems to indicate that it’s the classified information at her home, not her affair with the General, that got her removed from consideration for promotion.
@#5 — Either way, its deserved. We have enough stupid O-5’s as it is.
Depending on precise details of her Reserve career, this could end up costing Broadwell her USAR pension, even if the Army Reserve doesn’t boot her administratively or court-martial her.
Reservists at the grade of O4 who are non-selected for promotion to O5 can stay until they have 20 years commissioned service. That’s 20 years of total commissioned service – not 20 years of service qualifying for Reserve retirement.
Broadwell is a 1995 USMA grad. If she’s served continuously since in either the active or Reserve components, that means she’s coming up on 18 years total commissioned service this year. If she’s served continuously (e.g., went into the reserves from active duty vice separated and later reentered), she’ll hit 20 years of commissioned service in 2015.
However: if she has any years that don’t qualify for Reserve retirement, she won’t have the 20 qualifying years she needs to qualify for a USAR pension at that point. And having a year of non-qualifying time while going to school or establishing a civilian career after leaving active duty isn’t too uncommon.
Bottom line: she may have really screwed herself here long-term.
Hondo–lemme check…nope, dry eyes here.
Humping the boss and getting caught never pays, oh unless you sleep with Clinton I guess…
@7 Bottom line: she may have really screwed herself here long-term.
Pun intended Hondo?
Maybe I’m missing something. I’m a male in my mid-thirties who has five children, so I’m no small fan of intimacy. That said, my duties combined with my wife’s obligations have often kept us apart for lengthy periods of time. There have been women who made clear their desire to be with me, some of whom I would be more than glad to oblige under different circumstances, but I’ve yet to succumb to such pettiness.
Yet, I have a friend who has fathered children with multiple women, some of whom are not exactly good “catches” (one has had five children with four different fathers, as well as multiple abortions and miscarriages starting at age twelve). That same friend’s current wife left her husband of thirty years to be with him–a convicted felon twenty years her junior who also happened to be her daughter’s boyfriend when they first started their affair (he’s my friend, but he’s no angel). Such “pleasures of the flesh”, and I use the term loosely (no pun intended :)) go far beyond my ability to understand.
General Petraeus used to be someone I admired as the CG of the 101st. I’m not easily impressed by officers, but he seemed to be that rare example of a modern-day warrior as opposed to a ticket-punching politician. To think that he sacrificed his reputation for some temporary pleasure is beyond me.
The same goes for Broadwell. I know little about her besides the fact that she is one of those rare field-grade officers that managed to remain somewhat attractive. Still, the fact that she would cheat on her husband with a married man speaks volumes about her lack of scruples. She seems to have doubly screwed herself (again, no pun intended) by taking home materials she had no business having outside of work. Unlike many others, I had to jump through hoops to get my clearance, and I damned sure ain’t gonna risk it by violating security regulations.
@7. Hondo, maybe Broadwell will “find out” she’s “gay”, and the powers that be will make sure that she gets her pension?
UpNorth: If she doesn’t have 20 qualifying years, I kinda doubt it. The Reserve Components are rather sticklers for that. And while I’d have to look it up to be sure, I believe the requirement for 20 qualifying years of service to receive a non-regular retirement is specified in Federal law and is thus not subject to waiver. As it sits now, IMO she’s at risk of losing that pension three ways. The first is if the USAR decides to courts-martial or administratively separate her for misconduct. If there’s clear evidence that she knowingly and willingly improperly kept and stored at her home materials she knew to be classified, that could happen. However, it’s also the one where authorities have the most leeway. My guess is a GOMR in her permanent file rather than courts-martial or separation; too much bad publicity in going the latter route. An Article 15 is also a possibility. The GOMR or Article 15 would trigger the second possible issue. If her removal from the 2012 USAR LTC list is allowed to stand, that means she’ll be looked at again this year. A USAR promo board also flags officers for “show cause” for retention. IMO it’s doubtful, but such a GOMR or an Article 15 might end up getting her flagged for “show cause”. That could also get her administratively separated short of 20. The third issue comes into play if she has continuous servic any of which is non-qualifying time. A 2x nonselect for LTC can only stay in the USAR until 20 years total commissioned service. (I’m guessing she’s pretty much a lock to be a 2x nonselect if it’s proven there was sufficient evidence of wrongdoing for her to have missed selection the first time around had that information been known at the time.) If all of her 20 years of service at that point are qualifying service for Reserve retirement, she’d qualify for a USAR pension as an O4. If not, she’d be out of luck – no 20 qualifying years means no USAR pension. If this last happens, I can empathize… Read more »
I guess I should have left a “snark” tag on my post? Anyway, thanks for the explanation.
UpNorth: yeah, a tag or smilie would have helped. I don’t always “get it” when someone is joking without one. That’s one reason I use (smile) a lot in my comments. (smile)
All she has to do is drag this out to the 18 year mark and she is a lock unless she is prosecuted. Admin separation will be impossible after 18 years. Also, she could also resign her commission, become enlisted for the remainder of her 20 years and still retire highest grade held.
And, do NOT underestimate the incompetence of the USAR Officer Corps to violate her rights in some way in the course of the investigation and she walks. I’ve seen it happen all too many times when they go on their Command directed 15-6 and they screw it up procedurally and wind up torching the investigation as invalid. The law in intricate and exacting and ordinary non-JAG officers usually assigned to do AR 15-6s rarely have the exepertise to avoid procedural mistakes that become due process violations and result in the case getting tossed out. Then, all thye have is threats and pressure, which, given her ego, may mean nothing.
Based on my experience with the results of AR 15-6 investigations, I say she walks, due to some error. They will make it seem like the CoC did its job on the 15-6, but she will walk, most likely with her retirement intact.
SGT Ted: I think you’re confusing apples and oranges here, leading to an invalid comparison. You appear to be referencing the “18 year sanctuary” rule discussed here: http://www.armyg1.army.mil/militarypersonnel/ppg/hyperlinks/ADOBE%20Files/ASA%20(M&RA)%20Memo%20dtd%2020080811.pdf 18 year “sanctuary” only applies to those individuals who achieve 18 years of active duty service. A member of the USAR who does this can, on application, be placed in sanctuary status. THey are then formally ordered to active duty, PCSed to where needed, and integrated into the Active Component. They also qualify for retirement under active-duty rules – e.g., completion of 20 years of total active duty with an immediate pension. However, that 18 year sanctuary policy does not apply to retirements under Reserve component rules – e.g., 20 qualifying years of service with retirement pay received at age 60. Reserve component retirement is governed by very different rules. It is true that once you’ve achieved 18 years of active duty service, you can generally only be separated for cause or if the separation is approved by the SECAR/SECNAV/SECAF. However, Broadwell does not have 18 years active service. Much of her service is USAR service performed while not on active duty. Her retirement, if any, will thus be determined under Reserve component rules. Those rules are different. Being a USMA graduate without prior service (her current age makes it very doubtful that Broadwell served as an enlisted soldier prior to entering USMA). Therefore, she does not have former enlisted status and cannot revert to a previous enlisted capacity. She’d have to enlist instead – which may be problematic. I believe Broadwell is beyond the age at which she is eligible for enlistment (she’s currently 40). It is entirely possible any AR 15-6 ROI will not be suitable for use in a courts-martial, or may result in findings insufficient to support her immediate administrative removal from the USAR. However, don’t automatically assume that will be the case. I have personally seen a member of the USAR investigated and as a result released from active duty a few months shy of 18 years of total active duty service. And remember: the standard of… Read more »