[June 13, 2025] [Updated June 15] The Sentinel received a bit of backlash from his YouTube video on an unqualified, two-star Marine General taking command of Marine forces in Korea. You can see his reaction here (see Link).
In any important leadership position, there is always one hard rule that is never violated. Well, not until recently. USMC (retired) LtCol Khan has highlighted the Marines putting an unqualified General in a high-level Command position.
Why does LtCol Kahn believe that this General is unqualified? It has to do with the hard rule that one must prove oneself in positions of increased difficulty. In the military, this means being in Command positions, as opposed to “staff” positions, which are seen as less difficult and with less responsibility.
In addition, there are units that we call “line” units, which are traditional combat units, whether they are Infantry, Field Artillery, Armored, or Combat Engineers. These line units require leaders to be highly qualified, smart, have relevant experience, and have proven leadership qualities. These line positions are coveted assignments and are highly competitive.
Support and Service Support units like Transportation, Logistical, Training, and the like are not line units. Those who spend their careers in these units are, except on very rare occasions, not qualified to serve in line units, much less command a line unit. And this is the crux of the accusation that Kahn argues that this General officer is not qualified.
He recently came across an appointment regarding Major General Valerie Jackson as Commander, US Marine Forces, Korea. Her first assignment was as a Communications Officer in an air wing. Then shortly thereafter, she went into the Reserve and later took charge of the Marine Corps History Division. In her Afghanistan deployment, she was a planner in a civil-military capacity. Then worked in the G6 Marine Airwing. Later, she commanded the 4th Civil Affairs Group, then to HQ Marine Corps.
After being promoted to Brig. General, she was appointed as a Deputy Commanding General in the CJTF, Horn of Africa. She was then promoted to Maj. General and CG of the 4th Marine Logistics Group, and finally made Commander of all US Marine Forces in Korea. Given that most of her positions were staff and she never served in a line unit, Kahn believes she is unqualified.
She doesn’t have the relevant line unit troop experience. This job is not OJT. You’re either ready immediately upon assuming command, or you’re unqualified. The SecDef has already spoken about the importance of our military bases in Korea. Can she cut it in a time of war? The answer is unknown, and an unknown is unacceptable.
Kahn’s question is simple: How did the senior leadership of the Marine Corps and DoD allow this to happen? Weren’t there other, more qualified candidates with command experience? Does she even speak Korean or Chinese?
Major General Valerie Jackson was a poor choice. To me, it looks like a DEI hire. They wanted to show their compassion for women and to say this was a “first.” I saw this many times when women were promoted to GO. Is this a gender issue? No, but the lack of qualifications is more prevalent in females, and for a variety of reasons.
Kahn says he thinks people were “sleeping at the switch.”
————
Please read my books:
Sir, thanks for the UPDATE.
Yuck! Hire the unqualified. Yuck!
Congrats to the US Army on their 250th Anniversary today, 14 June 2025.
Sad that our military is still selecting Generals based on the color of their skin or gender. Trump promised to change that horrific mindset. I know it will take time to eliminate the Woke mind virus. He can remove those responsible form”selecting” an unqualified female (without the requisite line combat experience) to be in charge of all the combat Marines in Korea. And she said “thanks, I’ll take the job” and knowing she’s not qualified. She should do the right thing and resign.
Expect little, get little.
Too many leaders are incompetent and we wonder why our military often fails in its mission.
Army Captain, well for my two cents worth, I have found that most of the poor leaders are sorted our at the lower levels when they begin their roles as leaders. For one reason or another, they are either not selected for promotion, or they quit. Either way, they’re gone. This is one of the points made here. In this case, this female GO keeps getting promoted for not screwing up and doing good paperwork. But that is not the measure of a good leader, except perhaps in the eyes of the Marine Corp HQ.
Yep, but nobody got removed during the Biden/Obama years, so all that deadwood accumulated.
WOW
I hope the U.S. military wakes up from its Wokeism pit in place by weak leaders like DEi-hire SecDef Lloyd Austin and commie-lover GEN Mark Milley.
“Commie-lover”. 😂🤣😁🤩😆🤣
Takes a long time to get rid of the mind-virus that four years of infection caused. The military needs to be more like the Marines. Kicking ass should be the new motto. Wimps need not apply. Excellent article Gen. Satterfield, exposing incompetence of modern day generals and admirals who lose wars. Why is that?
Yeah, that’s true but like Gen. S. has asked us, let’s make good articulate rebuttals and arguments, not innuendos that fly out the window randomly.
Goodness, tell us what you think, Fred.
Happy Flag Day.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Welcome Merrideth. Good to see you here and making a contribution. Be sure to get yourself copies of Gen. Satterfield’s books:
“55 Rules for a Good Life” https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
“Our Longest Year in Iraq” https://www.amazon.com/Our-Longest-Year-Iraq-Construction/dp/1737915510/
You’re going to enjoy both.