After his release from the brig, Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller was charged with six offenses.
Scheller will be facing a misdemeanor-level special Court martial for his viral videos, which blasted both civilian leadership and military leadership.
Maj. Gen. Julian D. Alford referred the charges to court martial on Wednesday, just one day after Scheller was released for violating an agreement not to use social media.
After posting videos on Facebook and LinkedIn, 13 U.S. military personnel were killed in the bombing attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Scheller was dismissed from his command at Camp Lejeune’s infantry-training battalions.
Scheller is accused in court of showing contempt towards officials, disrespecting superior officers, willfully disobeying an officer of superior rank, neglecting his duties, failing to follow an order or regulation and being unfit for office and gentleman.
Marine Corps believes that Marine Corps members should use their chain to voice concerns and not criticize leaders on social media.
Many have stood by Scheller throughout his case’s passage through military courts. This has allowed the outspoken officer to raise funds through Pipe Hitter Foundation.
After Eddie Gallagher, a former Navy SEAL, faced a court martial in 2019, Scheller was awarded funds by The Pipe Hitter Foundation. His parents have also defended Scheller, saying that he was simply demanding accountability from military leaders.
“All our son did was ask the questions everybody was asking, but they were too afraid to speak out loudly,” Scheller’s father, Stu Scheller Jr., said last week to Task & Purpose. He was asking for accountability. He was asking for accountability.
