Sergeant Major Archie resigns
According to the Marine Corps Times, Sergeant Major Archie resigned his position as the senior enlisted man at Parris Island a few days after he confronted a former Marine who was protesting in front of the base gate.
Marine Corps officials released this statement concerning Archie’s decision: “Understanding the Marine Corps has very high standards of personal and professional conduct for its most senior leaders, Sgt. Maj. Archie voluntarily stepped down as the depot sergeant major, and the commanding general regrettably accepted his retirement.”
I’ve said all that I need to say about this. Sergeant major was the type of Marine that the Corps will need in the difficult years ahead. It’s unfortunate that it came to this. Cooler heads were needed on both sides and I think the Corps is the real loser in the end.
Category: Marine Corps
Sucks that it happened, and yes, those young Marines needed his leadership. Damn shame that all those years of solid service are negated by one, “Aw, shit.”
Semper Fi, SgtMaj.
A regrettable outcome. He lost his cool. It’s the sort of incident that a lower-ranking individual might have been able to recover from, but given his position he probably felt that he had no choice.
I don’t believe he lost his cool. As a matter of fact; I think he showed incredible discipline and restraint. If he had lost his cool, he would have ripped the dude’s melon off and used it as a soccer ball.
What I do think is that we have become a nation of pussies, when a dressing down is held as a violent assault and the screaming and crying of a bunch of gaddam tenderhearts is enough to get a real man to resign.
OT nails it!
Can’t say it any better than an Old Trooper can. Nail meet hammer. Thanks OT and thank you SgtMaj for your service to your country and to your Corps.
OT, YOu are correct sir. Today’s military is for the kind and gentle. Raise your voice to junior personnel now and you put your own career at risk. Hold you head high Saregeant Major and tell them to kiss your azz as you walk out the door.
Word around PI is that he is going to file a discrimination lawsuit.
Sergeant Major Archie was a top Marine among Marines from all accounts I read of him and his career. The Marine Corp lost in this. I hope against hope he was not pressured by the local Marine PC office to step down. It is and will be hard to find more Marines like him and very few to fill his shoes of leadership.
The Marine Corps will be able to find people to fill the slot. How many can fill the role?
The Corps should have fought tooth and nail to retain a man like this.
Well isn’t this a fine, politically correct how-do-you-do.
We were not in his shoes nor do we know the background that this incident could have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Or he cou8ld have just *had enough*.
My best friend in my unit for more than 20+ years came back from a very difficult (For Air Force) deployment at Kandahar in Sept of 2013. He reported back to the unit 3 months later for his first drill weekend and then I received a retirement invitation in April. We had sweated and busted our ass for years and for him to walk away told me *volumes* about our Squadron leadership, the Wing leadership and their complete lack of support of our enlisted all the way up to a 26 year serving Chief Master Sergeant who had made himself a name across the Air Force Reserves.
Simply, he had had enough of the BS and walked.
It was much MUCH different when we had joined back in the late 1980s and IMHO (our military in general) it went downhill starting in the mid 1990s (Post DS/DS) and *rapidly* in the early to mid 2000s (Post/POST 9/11).
The only criticism I can give about the actions of Sergeant Major Archie is that at *no* time did I ever see KNIFE HAND presented.
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Unfortunately, as the Depot Sergeant Major Sgt. Maj. Archie was as much a public figure as he was a Marine leader. For any such public figure, becoming involved in an public incident like this is virtually always terminal. His departure was IMO a foregone conclusion; only the circumstances and timing were to be determined.
And yes: the USMC is the ultimate loser in this. They’ve lost someone who was by all accounts a helluva leader due to a single instance of losing his cool in public. Had he been in a less visible position, he might have survived.
Fair? Perhaps not. But as JFK put it: “Life is not fair.”
I think the Sergeant Major did just fine… his leadership should NOT have accepted his resignation.
Yes!!!! At least they could have handed back the request and told him to think it over. The Sgt Major should not have the only backbone in the unit.
Concur.
James I concur. The leadership problem lies in the current definition, not the traditional definition. Of course there are great leaders out there, but for so many its all about me, me, me”.
Leadership (Current): The ability to get what I want because I made enough rank to make the others respect me.
Leadership (Traditional): Leadership is the sum of those qualities of intellect, human understanding, and moral character that enables a person to inspire and to control a group of people successfully.
This reminds me of the policy of killing the bear that kills the human. Given enough time, and continued artificial selection, we will end up with Grizzly Bears that have the temperament of French Poodles. The idiots won this round, at a good man’s expense… but we all suffer the logical outcome.
Bad analogy and good point. We kill the bears that kill the humans because they’re problem bears, not because we’re trying to breed docile bears. The buggers are anything but docile. I agree wtih your last statement, however.
Truly, one ‘aw shit’ will destroy a thousand atta boys.
I respect the fact that he had the integrity to step down. That’s not a great example to set from younger NCOs and Marines. He knows he screwed up and at that level, he only had one choice.
Evidently, the protestors were protesting the Bergdahl swap. It appears the Sergeant Major’s beef was the fact that the asshole was wearing a campaign cover. If the dude was a former Marine Corps drill instructor he should have known better.
So we’re going to feed a good leader and a fine NCO to the PC wolves. Dandy.
Actually, the protestor was a (former) DI, or so he claimed…
He was true to the end. He didn’t whine and cry and whimper. He did what he did and, I have no doubt, would do so again–maybe with a headbutt this time. He can walk out standing tall, knowing that those who still admire a man’s man wish him well and appreciate his honorable and distinguished service. His decision to retire is, to me, regrettable but damn admirable.
2/17 Air Cav…Well said.
You’re absolutely correct in what you said Jonn, but here’s the thing. How much is any decent person supposed to take without reacting? Our country is being turned into another global shithole, and we, the people who care the most, are strait-jacketed through socially excepted mores by the very people who are destroying it. We’re held to the higher standard to the point that we’re rendered impotent, while the freaks are out in force demanding their needs and wants be provided with no questions asked. How long is anybody with any sanity left supposed to just shut up and take it?
End of rant. Back to our normally scheduled programming.
Well, only a true professional would step down to honor the Corps with humility of leadership and many will lose from this. I am retired Army and it seems we in uniform always make and understand sacrifice in our chosen life. The Sergeant Major will be fine of course but if this shit doesn’t change soon we will be a bunch of punk enforcers like the Police in the movie Demolition Man.
Unfortunate, but not unexpected. Both parties in that incident were wrong, but SgtMaj Archie was wrong for the right reasons.
The Marine Corps loses, but that’s become a trend over the last five years.
He took the high road and manned up!
He will be fine.
He voluntarily resigned and it was regrettably accepted.
He will go on to lead Marines again!
He’ll land on his feet, and be an incredible asset wherever he ends up going. I for one would follow this man to hell and back and ask for seconds.
This man, ladies and gents, is what we call a LEADER. He’s a far too rare creature in today’s world.
Agreed and well said.
Jonn – if SGM floats his resume your way, please PM me a copy. I can get in line behind other TAH readers who want to hire this man of outstanding character.
Skills for today’s jobs? We can train that.
Character and commitment? We can only select for that. SGM Archie’s pinkie finger has more character and commitment than 10,000 hippie douchefags.
Looks like the story may not end with his retirement:
Parris Island sergeant major charged in alleged assault during protest
The sergeant major at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island was arrested Friday, accused of assaulting a protester outside the base Thursday, according to the Port Royal Police Department.
Sgt. Maj. Paul Archie, 44, turned himself in to police and was charged with third-degree assault and battery.
http://www.stripes.com/news/marine-corps/parris-island-sergeant-major-charged-in-alleged-assault-during-protest-1.287637
Punk former DI is not helping his cause.
A great protest has turned into his “look at me” moment.
What would Chesty Puller have done? That should tell you where The Marines are heading
Yep. He is still doing the right thing, even when doing something else might be easier. My kudos remain with the Sergeant Major. Marine all the way.
My impulse is to salute the man. A simple, “Thank you” might be better for his display of proper military bearing.
As always, I’m saddened to see my Corps going down the PC road. My old gunny used say that Marines were SUPPOSED to be rebels and hotheads, like MGySgt Lou Diamond.
I forgot to mention in the post that the Sergeant Major put the Corps’ interests ahead of his own. But I see that most of you already said that.
A lot of time incidents like this end up being like onions. Once one layer is pulled back more and more is discovered.
Being a Sr Enlisted 9999 is a very political environment. Archie was among a handful of Sgt Majors who could be considered for Sgt Major of the Marine Corps.
His peers, along with general officers that were championing them have the scoop on everyone of them.
All of them have something in their careers that could be questionable.
There is no doubt that Archie did what he did without his CO’s consent or knowledge. Third degree Assault( it will probably get tossed) and theft pretty much forced the CO’s hand. The guy looking like a crazed bully on the internet didnt help.
Sgt Majors don’t “resign”. They are relieved. He was called on the carpet and told to go put in his papers.
Bad issue all the way around. Both men are right within their belief systems, but the only one really to lose is the Marines in that of an obviously devout leader. His “decision”, I’m confident had an “or else” attached to it. Semper Fi SGM!
The sergeant major did nothing wrong. From the raw video, I cannot even discern a headbutt as it was reported in the media. He got in the man’s face, as the ex-gunny deserved for violating the uniform code (active or retired, he still carries the values of the Corps with him whether he likes it or not). SgtMaj Archie’s head seems to make just enough contact with the brim of the DI cover to knock it off Arguello’s head.
First and foremost, Sergeant Major Archie total accountability and responsibility is his profound leadership as the senior enlisted advisor to the Commanding General in regards to all enlisted Marines serving on Parris Island. Having said that, he deprived his Marines of his profound leadership and experiences in allowing himself to get involved in any situation outside the confines of the Depot. On the other hand, the former Marine protester had no business wearing any military clothing, hats or insignia wearing civilians clothing nor did he respect his Corps by protesting an issue which did not pertained to our great Corps of Marines-the institution nor mission! It’s obvious that the former Marine was absent either at sickbay or visiting the exchange when he was required to be in attendance at his Customs & Courtesy class covering issues of proper military and civilian obedience to Corps values and disciplines. When a Marine conducts themselves in an inappropriate conduct on and off the military installation, it affects everybody serving in uniform. Sergeant Major Archie’s duties and leadership responsibilities stopped at the main gate of Parris Island and definitely should not have involved himself either personally nor militarily in any political unrest or protest outside the confines of his areas of responsibilities-doing so, puts the Corps in bad light and tarnishes the image of all Marines onboard MCRD, Parris Island to the public. Sergeant Major Archie failed his Marines in undertaking his personal feelings to an incident or situation that should of been avoided. Likewise, the former Marine should of never undertaken a protest of any incident/situation which was nationally an issue authorized by the President-“right or wrong”, to any area outside the confines of a military installation. He himself did great embarrassment to himself and our great Corps of Marines in respect to our flag and any items of military uniform when involved in any activities of protest! In the end…..there were no winners-neither the Corps, SgtMaj Archie or the former Marine. A national issue regarding any decisions made by the President should of remained at home and never publicly display our personal… Read more »
“Likewise, the former Marine should of never undertaken a protest of any incident/situation which was nationally an issue authorized by the President-”right or wrong”, to any area outside the confines of a military installation.”
Thats where you are dead wrong. A former memember of the military is a CIVILIAN, plain and simple. He is by law banned from attending a political protest. As a matter of fact FORMER members of the military, or even civilians can wear uniforms or parts of uniforms as long as they aren’t violating stolen valor laws.
Is it tacky? yes. Perhaps it can be seen as disrespectful, but its not illegal.
Should read NOT By Law banned from poitical protest.
As a former hat myself and having been retired from the Marines for 10 years I have to say it’s sad to see that the SgtMaj couldn’t control his emotions, but working in Parris Island you are under the microscope, he knows that and you can’t try to bulldoze civilians like that. On the other hand, that moron that was protesting and wearing the Campaign cover was totally out of line, he sounded bitter and I feel he disrespected the SgtMaj by getting in his face, pointing and yelling at him. In the end I have to respect the SgtMajor’s decision to resign.