Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos has fired two major generals, citing leadership failures that led to the deaths of two Marines, wounding of eight others, and destruction of six AV-8 Harrier aircraft in Afghanistan last year. The two, Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus and Maj. Gen. Gregg A. Sturdevant, will be forced to retire. Gurganus was the commanding general of Regional Command Southwest and 1 Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). Sturdevant was commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Lt. Col. Christopher Raible and Sgt. Bradley Atwell died during the Sept. 14-15, 2012 attack on Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, by Afghan adversaries who wore friendly uniforms. According to an official Marine Corps statement, insurgents had been planning the attack for a year. Gurganus had overseen the reduction of his force to 7,400, down from 17,000, during the six months preceding the attack. His requests for additional troops, responsible for operations in a 36,000-square-mile area, were turned down. Despite recognition that Gurganus’ ability to operate in the area was inhibited by the reduction in strength, Amos placed the blame squarely upon him and Sturedevant. "Whether it be 17,000 or 7,400, the commander still has the inherent responsibility to provide force protection," Amos said Sept. 30. "It’s in our doctrine … regardless of where you are in a drawdown, you’re required to balance protection versus force protection."
