Two Marine generals were asked to leave their positions as high-ranking officials on Monday, after a 2012 attack in which Taliban members invaded a coalition air base in southern Afghanistan, leaving two Marines dead and at least a dozen aircraft damaged.
Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos told the Los Angeles Times that he requested Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus and Maj. Gen. Gregg A. Sturdevant to retire from the force, after they did not "take adequate force protection measures," in addition to not practicing the "level of judgment expected of general officers."
The firing of senior generals does not happen often - a senior officer who spoke with the LA Times said no generals have been forced into retirement after an issue with the enemy since the Vietnam War. Commanders from lower posts have, however, been asked to leave after less serious infractions.
Maj. Gen. Gurganus functioned as overall commander of the U.S. forces in southwestern Afghanistan when 15 insurgents disguised as American soldiers managed to cut through a vacant fence and gain access to the NATO air base at Camp Bastion. The Taliban group used bombs to blow up Marine Harrier fighters, along with eight other aircraft, in an attack described by officials as the biggest loss of supplies and machinery since the war started 12 years before.
After four hours of battle involving over 100 U.S. and British troops, the insurgents were killed. Lt. Col. Christopher Raible, a Harrier squadron commander and Sgt. Bradley Atwell were killed after the assault, the LA Times reported.
Following a probe into the event, Pentagon officials found out that the two Taliban members managed to access the base after slipping through an unattended guard tower; fewer officers were employed to patrol the perimeter of the base, despite Gurganus' call for more troops to keep an eye on the base.
British officials were in control of the airbase, but Amos maintained that it was Sturdevant's responsibility to keep watch of enemy activity.
"Marines can never place complete reliance for their own safety in the hands of another force," Amos stated during his explanation of the decision to fire the former officer.
Gurganus was also censured because he "bore final accountability for the lives and equipment under his charge," Amos continued.
Gurganus, who was recently nominated for a promotion to lieutenant general, will no longer be eligible for a raise in status. He wrote a statement shortly after his firing, in which he expressed gratitude to the U.S. forces.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve beside and lead Marines for over 37 years," he wrote. "I will treasure that forever. I have complete trust and confidence in the leadership of our corps and fully respect the decision of our commandant."