Opinions

Parnell shares responsibility for guard fiasco

As someone who is both a lawyer and a military chaplain, allow me to address Kevin Clarkson's commentary printed in Monday's Alaska Dispatch News.

First, I agree with Kevin that this entire fiasco should not be used for political gain -- or loss. What has sadly been lost, especially since Gov. Parnell finally released portions of the 200-plus-page report from the Office of Complex Investigations, then cranked up the "I won't get fooled again" spin, including a private grandstand meet with Alaska National Guard members. What has been lost is the focus of most, if not all the courageous whistleblowers who have tried to call attention to the problems for years: Justice. Justice first and foremost for the victims. Accountability for the victimizers. Justice -- for named and unnamed, male and female victims of assaults on person and character. Justice -- for each and every Alaskan who expects and deserves more -- more from all our leaders -- civilian, military and the one unique person who wears both those hats, our governor.

Also lost -- or ignored by Kevin and others -- is this. The issue is not simply "did the governor take ANY action when 'made aware' of this culture of abuse, reprisal and more," it is, "Did the governor take enough or appropriate action?"

With a nod to Kevin and his legal education, it's the "reasonable governor" test. What the facts actually show is that, on numerous occasions, over a period of years, courageous people (including but not limited to chaplains) came forward with enough evidence of that culture of abuse to warrant the governor pulling out all the stops to address it.

He could have appointed a special prosecutor -- quietly, behind the scenes, to uncover and address any roles guard leaders may have played in establishing or allowing that culture to exist, which in turn would have kept the focus out of the public and political arena and on victims and victimizers. Again, "apparently" the governor finally did "do something," but his actions still fell far short of what a "reasonable governor" would do. (Indeed, Rep. Don Young "did something" to generate discussion around suicide, but his actions fell far short of what a "reasonable representative" would do.)

Then there is the matter involving "chain of command." When addressing military leadership's role in failings of troops, the initial process is not so much concerned with discovering or allocating appropriate "blame" upon those leaders (although further investigation may reveal additional punitive actions are in order), the goal is to hold those leaders accountable for certain things that happened while they were in command. Certainly, the actions of "a few bad actors" such as three troops getting DUIs in a year, do not warrant firing senior leaders of that military unit. But when a culture or a climate of fear and abuse and retaliation is supported by "reasonable" evidence, that's a different matter.

Many times, active duty military leaders (I'm most familiar with the U.S. Air Force, since I spent more than 20 years as an Air Force chaplain) have been fired -- if, say, an Airman 1st Class mistakenly loads a nuclear missile that is flown to Louisiana, or cheating on tests occurs at a missile base or public, inappropriate Christian proselytizing happens at an Air Force Academy. Even "good and decent" men and women get caught up in those firings, as was the case when the head civilian at the Dover Port Mortuary was fired after the Air Force colonel in charge "allowed" ashes of military heroes to be tossed in a landfill. (I spent six months at the mortuary -- I know both of them very well.) When compelling evidence of a climate or culture of abuse, disrespect, fraud and worse is exposed, those in charge should be relieved of command, either because of incompetence (as in NOT knowing such a culture existed), or complicity.

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Finally, we come to the "three chaplains." More courageous people came forward, including other chaplains, but a "trinity" put it all on the line as advocates for those unable to be heard. If, in fact, Gov. Parnell truly understood the process that led to the chaplains requesting and receiving an audience with "the governor," he would indeed have pulled out all the stops -- ASAP -- in order to address the situation.

I know all the chaplains involved; I know they spent a great deal of time wrestling with what was going on and what to do about it. They would have been "out and about" in their units, assessing morale -- both speaking with the troops in more public settings and individually in counseling sessions. They would have discussed among themselves if there were a few "rabble rousers" out for personal gain and throwing stones, or if what was happening truly revealed that ugly culture. And they would have lain awake at night -- and, dare I say it, prayed for guidance -- especially when the decision that guard leadership was part of the problem became clear to them. And then, they LAID their careers, their reputations, their positions, on the line by seeking help from their commander-in-chief, Gov. Parnell. (And you can bet that the "chaplain shunning" I tasted during my career continues unabated for those who came forward -- to this day…)

We chaplains do indeed take the matter of confidentiality 100 percent seriously. That doesn't mean our hands are tied in reporting and attempting to reform a culture of abuse. I held weekly Senior Chapel Staff meetings on Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson from about September 2009 until shortly before I retired in 2013. I invited guard chaplains to attend those meetings, and almost every week at least one Air Guard or Army Guard Chaplain was present. And, almost every week, from about September 2010 until I retired, at least one comment, frustration, example or "sleepless night" concerning guard leadership and the culture being allowed to fester was aired, usually in my office following that meeting. Specific names and dates? I don't have them. "Evidence" of that ongoing culture and climate? Received.

We Alaskans expect and deserve more -- more from our leaders -- civilian, military and the one unique person in our Great Land who wears both of those hats, our governor.

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Keith Muschinske, was the senior installation captain for Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. He lives in Eagle River.

The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.

Keith Muschinske

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Keith Muschinske, was the senior installation captain for Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. He lives in Eagle River.

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