Over the weekend, we discussed the story of Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller. He was the Marine who went on Facebook in a video where he criticized the botched troop withdrawal and evacuation plan and demanded accountability from the military’s leadership in answering for the deaths of the troops we lost last week. In response, the Marines relieved him of his command. That didn’t mean he was out of the Corps, or at least not yet, but the prospect was certainly on the table. Now, despite knowing that he’s going to lose his entire pension and future security of his family, he’s taking the choice away from the Marines and taking matters into his own hands. He’s resigning his commission and leaving the military effective immediately. (NY Post)

A US Marine Corps veteran who was relieved of his command for chastising his bosses over the botched Afghan withdrawal has decided to call it quits.

Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who came under fire after the bombastic Facebook post last week, said on YouTube Sunday that he’s sticking by his guns and resigning his commission — walking away from a $2 million pension after 17 years of military service.

“I could stay in the Marine Corps for another three years, but I don’t think that’s the path I’m on,” Scheller said. “I’m resigning my commission as a United States Marine effective now.

Scheller went on to say that he is, “forfeiting retirements, all entitlements, I don’t want a single dollar. I don’t want any money from the VA. I don’t want any VA benefits. I’m sure I’m entitled 100 percent.”

Obviously, Scheller is entitled to make his own decision after seventeen years serving his country in uniform, spending his entire career at war. You might argue it would have been better to stick it out and fight to change the system from the inside, but all of you veterans out there know that the military is almost entirely immune to change. And when change does happen, it usually starts in Congress, not from challenges being made among the rank and file.

His future plans have left me a bit confused, however. What exactly is it that he’s hoping to accomplish and how will he make up for all of the financial benefits that he’s now surrendering? In his most recent video, he says that he “does not want donations from supporters.” But in the next breath, he goes on to say that if any fundraising does happen, he would like the money to go to his wife. Doesn’t that kind of work out to the same thing?

He then goes on to thank all of his supporters, including “all the rich philanthropists, I appreciate your support and I’m gonna need your support.” But he’s not clear what sort of support he needs and what he will be doing. He leaves a rather chilling hint, however, when he says, “Follow me, and we will bring the whole f—ing system down. We’re just getting started.”

Bring what whole system down? The Marines? The Pentagon? I get that Scheller is angry right now and it’s hard to blame him. He’s angry about the botched evacuation. He’s angry about his lost brothers and sisters in arms. And he’s probably not too thrilled about being relieved of his command just for demanding accountability. But aside from working to promote new, better leadership in both our civilian and military ranks, I’m not sure what more he can accomplish along these lines. We’ll keep tabs on this story and perhaps he’ll make all of this more clear once he’s finished moving back to the civilian world.