BGen Ménard relieved of Afganistan Comd & other fall-outs

[Old Sweat]

What was the term the Japanese used to use for businessmen who were moved into an out-of-the-way office and given no useful work to wait out the remaining years to their retirement?

Loosersan?

 

[McG]

Generally a reapeat of information already posted, but a found a few things interesting here:

Disgraced general stripped of planned appointment
CTV.ca
The Canadian Press
Thursday Jun. 17, 2010 11:24 AM ET

OTTAWA — The disgraced former commander of Canada's troops in Afghanistan has been given a staff position at National Defence headquarters.

Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard, under investigation for an inappropriate relationship with a female subordinate, was appointed Thursday as head of a personnel project.

Menard was removed as field commander in Afghanistan this month and ordered home after a female non-commissioned officer admitted to an affair.

Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, head of the army, said Menard was due to assume command of land forces in Quebec, but events in Afghanistan shook the military's faith in him.

"I made a command decision not to appoint Brig.-Gen. Menard ... due to the fact that the (Canadian Forces) leadership recently lost confidence in his capacity to command in Afghanistan," Leslie said in a brief statement.

"After careful consideration, I deemed this change was in the best interests of the army and Canadian Forces."

The Quebec posting goes to Brig.-Gen. Alain Tremblay, who takes command July 30.

Military police are still investigating Menard's case. Charges are possible because military regulations bar soldiers -- even married couples -- from having intimate relationships on deployment.

It's unclear when the probe will conclude, said Capt. Sandra Bourne, spokeswoman for the Provost Marshal's office.

"It's speculative at best for when it will be over. It's whenever it comes to a conclusion and they have all the facts and can do something with it," Bourne said.

The name of the female subordinate has not been released, but her identity is common knowledge around Kandahar Airfield, where nearly 3,000 Canadian troops are stationed.

Bourne said the woman has not been charged. Military officials say Menard was identified publicly because he held a high-profile job and relieving him required an explanation.

The scandal and hurried replacement in the field of Menard by Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance has rattled a military already reeling from the case of Col. Russ Williams, charged last winter with the murders of two Ontario women.

The bolded text seems pretty obvious.  I doubt there is a workplace in the world that could stiffle that gossip.

As for the last paragraph, that may be one of the most over-the-top exagerations I've ever seen.  Rattled by the General being replaced?  I don't think so.  Reeling because of Col Williams?  Definately not - though it would be fair to say we are disgusted and angry.

What was the term the Japanese used to use for businessmen who were moved into an out-of-the-way office and given no useful work to wait out the remaining years to their retirement?

As the lead for Military Personnel Management Capability Transformation Project, he may be out of common site, but that is not out-of-the-way.  The stuff he will be doing will impact on every CF member for years to come.  Imagine someone in a position to fix the reserve pay problems or (through a failure) to spread pay problems to the whole CF?  It is not just new software and databases - there will be review of much of the pers admin policies & procedures.  Last fall I heard the scope included things such as moving from the current 4 classes of reserve service (A, B, B/A, and C) to a simpler two class system. 

 

[RCDtpr]

As much as I don't care about Menard or his career I do hope that if he is charged the female is charged as well.  Takes two to tango

 

[Jungle]

OTTAWA - Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie, Chief of Land Staff, announced today that Brigadier-General Alain Tremblay has been appointed as the Commander of Land Force Quebec Area and will take command on July 30, 2010.

That is excellent news !! Congratulations to BGen Tremblay. 

 

[57Chevy]

Why has the female not been charged?
Does it not apply to both members involved? :
An oversight? :rofl:
I have my doubts.
                          ............peachy.............j-u-s-t....f#@&%n.....p-e-a-c-h-y

 

[PMedMoe]

I'm sure she'll be charged.  It just won't make the news.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Keep in mind Menard hasn't been charged yet either:

Military police are still investigating Menard's case. Charges are possible because military regulations bar soldiers -- even married couples -- from having intimate relationships on deployment.

 

[dapaterson]

So, will we move to a web-enabled version of PeopleSoft, or will DND's HR system move to AshleyMadison.com?

 

[Michael OLeary]

Nope, we're going to contract some unknown company which will promise to design and build a custom database to meet all of DND's personnel management needs.  It will cost millions and the project will last for years, long enough so that those who established the contract will be long gone by the time the new team is rewarded for canceling it.  Cost - millions. Useful product - Nil.

 

[dapaterson]

That is excellent news !! Congratulations to BGen Tremblay. 

Yes.  An intelligent, insightful, hard-working man whose recent contributions to the Army are not well known - but he spent the last 4 years or so keeping the requirements folks noses to the grindstone, pushing out kit to the soldiers on operations.


...to give you an idea of how good he is, I've even heard members of the PPCLI say good things about him ...

 

[OldSolduer]

...to give you an idea of how good he is, I've even heard members of the PPCLI say good things about him ...

You have to be joking here!!  ;D

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Nope, we're going to contract some unknown company which will promise to design and build a custom database to meet all of DND's personnel management needs.  It will cost millions and the project will last for years, long enough so that those who established the contract will be long gone by the time the new team is rewarded for canceling it.  Cost - millions. Useful product - Nil.

Gee our department did almost just that, mind you we are pretty small so it's $100,000 spent for a product which we can't update old files and can't add new applicants.

 

[SeanNewman]

I concur that BGen Trembley is incredible and very deserving of the job (not that a measly captain is qualified to say who is qualified/not).

I have seen him present a couple times on the state of projects, procurement, and the budget and he is both a genius and personable.  He just seems to "get it".

 

[The Bread Guy]

This from the CF:

Charges Laid Following Brigadier-General Ménard Investigation

CFNIS NR – 2010-11 - July 12, 2010

OTTAWA – The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS), which is the investigative arm of the Canadian Forces Military Police, has concluded its investigation relating to allegations of inappropriate conduct and has charged Brigadier-General Daniel Ménard and Master-Corporal Bianka Langlois. The investigation was initiated in May 2010 and is related to the Canadian Forces Personal Relationships and Fraternization directives.

Brig.-Gen. Ménard was charged with:

    * two counts of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline contrary to section 129 of the National Defence Act (NDA), related to alleged inappropriate conduct as outlined in the Canadian Forces Personal Relationships and Fraternization directives;

    * one count of obstructing justice contrary to section 130 of the NDA, pursuant to section 139(2) of the Criminal Code of Canada; and

    * one count of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline contrary to section 129 of the NDA, laid in the alternative to the obstructing justice charge.

Master-Corporal Langlois was charged with:

    * one count of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline contrary to section 129 of the National Defence Act, related to alleged inappropriate conduct as outlined in the Canadian Forces Personal Relationships and Fraternization directives.

The charges were laid following allegations made in May 2010 while Brig.-Gen. Ménard was the Task Force Commander in Afghanistan.

(....)

- 30 -

 

[Tank Troll]

Good glad to see both are being charged.

 

[armyvern]

Good glad to see both are being charged.

Me too; it is as it should be.

 

[SeanNewman]

Obstructing justice...hmmm.  That part will be interesting.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Obstructing justice...hmmm.  That part will be interesting.

Simply obsfucating, stalling or being diverting in your answers, during interview, will get you that one. Say "I don't recall" enough, and there it is. IF, and this only a hypothetical, he tried to conceal the identity of his partner in flagrant delectico, that would be reason enough for that charge. Especially if they read him the definition of obstruction and he continued to be stubborn.

There is nothing sinister or uncommon about it at all. It's a normal part of the 'interview' process.

 

[SeanNewman]

That opens up a giant can of grey zone, though.  What's to stop a person from saying "I don't remember" forever?

I understand that this is still a charge and not a conviction, but I would hope that a person would have to be pretty flippant before getting charged with that.  As in being downright uncooperative or deceptive.

You can prove that someone is being mean or has lied to you.  How can you prove that someone is obstructing your case if he's politely looking at you and saying "I can't remember that"?

 

[Fishbone Jones]

That opens up a giant can of grey zone, though.  What's to stop a person from saying "I don't remember" forever?

I understand that this is still a charge and not a conviction, but I would hope that a person would have to be pretty flippant before getting charged with that.  As in being downright uncooperative or deceptive.

You can prove that someone is being mean or has lied to you.  How can you prove that someone is obstructing your case if he's politely looking at you and saying "I can't remember that"?

I'm not getting into a big discussion on this. Suffice to say, when the interviewer feels he has 'reasonable and probable grounds' it becomes an option. That's as far as I'm going on this.