Author Topic: Army Relieves 172nd Infantry Brigade Commander (Read 8913 times)

txradioguy · « **on:** January 05, 2011, 09:05:24 AM »

January 05, 2011
Stars and Stripes|by Seth Robson

GRAFENWÃ–HR, Germany -- The Army has relieved the commander of the 172nd Infantry Brigade, shortly before the unit intensifies its training for an Afghanistan deployment this summer.

Acting V Corps commander Brig. Gen. Allen W. Batschelet said Tuesday that Col. Frank Zachar was relieved of command on Monday, â€œâ€¦ due to loss of confidence in his ability to command.â€

Batschelet said there was no specific incident that led the Army to relieve Zachar.

â€œThere werenâ€™t any illegal, immoral or unethical activities,â€ he said. â€œHis [Zacharâ€™s] leadership style wasnâ€™t really effective and over time the command here lost confidence in his ability to command.â€

Attempts to reach Zachar on Tuesday night were unsuccessful.

The 172nd, which has roughly 3,500 personnel, is based in GrafenwÃ¶hr and Schweinfurt, Germany.

Zachar, who took command of the 172nd in May, served in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Before joining the 172nd, he attended the Army War College, according to the brigadeâ€™s website.

â€œHeâ€™s going to be reassigned commensurate with his abilities and rank,â€ Batschelet said of Zacharâ€™s future.

The 172ndâ€™s top enlisted Soldier, Command Sgt. Maj. Robert French, will also be reassigned as a result of the decision to relieve Zachar, Batschelet said. The 172ndâ€™s website lists Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick K. Akuna as the unitâ€™s interim command sergeant major.

http://www.military.com/news/article/army-relieves-172nd-infantry-brigade-commander.html

Rebel · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2011, 09:08:08 AM »

This was DocStew's old unit. ....wasn't in Germany at the time though.

Tucker · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2011, 10:01:40 AM »

I was in GRAFENWÃ–HR for a 30 field maneuvers. I slept of the floor of my deuce and a half. I was Signal and had a metal lab on the rear instead of a bed with canvass.

It was cold.

It was cool though. We watched the German military armored corps practice. No wonder why they lost the war.

I was in 3rd ID.

SSG Snuggle Bunny · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2011, 10:12:22 AM »

Quote from: Tucker on January 05, 2011, 10:01:40 AM

I was in 3rd ID.

Dog face

I was 1/69 AR, 2 BDE, 3 ID

Harvey Barracks, Kitzingen

Tucker · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2011, 10:19:00 AM »

Quote from: SGT Snuggle Bunny on January 05, 2011, 10:12:22 AM

Dog face

I was 1/69 AR, 2 BDE, 3 ID

Harvey Barracks, Kitzingen

HQTS and A Co.

703rd Maint

Harvey Barracks

71-72

BlueStateSaint · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2011, 10:49:31 AM »

1st Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Bindlach, FRG, July 87-April 88 (when I hit the tree).

NHSparky · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2011, 10:50:36 AM »

So, which is it--asshole or incompetent? Or both?

Eupher · « **Reply #7 on:** January 05, 2011, 10:53:49 AM »

Well, supposedly there were no ethics or behavioral issues that led to his being relieved.

From the sound of the article, it seemed as if he wasn't really there. Just sort of there, but not dialed in. As the CSM was relieved also, it sounds like a crappy command climate altogether.

IG allegations that proved to be unfounded? But still detracting from the mission?

Hard to say....

DumbAss Tanker · « **Reply #8 on:** January 05, 2011, 11:11:34 AM »

Shit happens, every so often an O6 does get relieved for reasons that are pretty opaque to the outside observer, it happened where I am last year actually but it wasn't a unit headed to combat so it didn't make any big news. Unless you were personally involved or it's some blow-up that plays out in the press, you're unlikely to ever know much of the full story on why it happened.

txradioguy · « **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2011, 12:54:09 PM »

Quote from: BlueStateSaint on January 05, 2011, 10:49:31 AM

1st Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Bindlach, FRG, July 87-April 88 (when I hit the tree).

War Eagle!

Toujours Pret brother.

5412 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2011, 06:01:22 PM »

Quote from: DumbAss Tanker on January 05, 2011, 11:11:34 AM

Shit happens, every so often an O6 does get relieved for reasons that are pretty opaque to the outside observer, it happened where I am last year actually but it wasn't a unit headed to combat so it didn't make any big news. Unless you were personally involved or it's some blow-up that plays out in the press, you're unlikely to ever know much of the full story on why it happened.

Hi,

Couple of things. I have a friend who I sent the article to who might know something about this. Should be interesting.

There are certain truths in life. One of the characteristics of leaders is followers want to follow. If there is a poor leader it will show up in the performance of the unit. There are times when top management just has to trust their instincts and this could well be one of them. If you do not think a leader can cut it for whatever reason, the prudent thing is to fix the problem before he leads a unit into battle.

As long as the reason is not political, I applaud the higher ups for making what had to be a tough call. His career is now over and likely he will be passed over for promotion and on his way out.

regards,
5412

ExGeeEye · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2011, 06:28:39 PM »

HHC 1st Bn, 4th IN Regt (the OPFOR), Hohenfels Training Area, 1992-1995.

The Box!

Mayor of Ubungsdorf (a MOUT village in The Box) for a week in the spring of '95.

BlueStateSaint · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2011, 05:36:43 AM »

Quote from: txradioguy on January 05, 2011, 12:54:09 PM

War Eagle!

Toujours Pret brother.

Always Ready, Always First! WHen I was there, we were still Panther. When the RXO became the SCO (planned, no one was relieved), it changed to Eagle, then War Eagle. (Said SCO later went on to command 3d ACR . . . and was relieved there. Something about being a "bad command environment.")

DumbAss Tanker · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2011, 08:38:53 AM »

"War Eagle" - also the name of the 3rd Bde/101st when I was with it in the mid-80s...the point when all the battalions in the Brigade were flagged over to 187th - Rakkasan!

txradioguy · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2011, 09:26:33 AM »

Quote from: DumbAss Tanker on January 06, 2011, 08:38:53 AM

"War Eagle" - also the name of the 3rd Bde/101st when I was with it in the mid-80s...the point when all the battalions in the Brigade were flagged over to 187th - Rakkasan!

They are in Kandahar right now.

As for the 172nd CO...I talked to my counterpart in that Brigade today...he told me that in all honesty the Stripes story tells the entire thing about what happened.

COLC · « **Reply #15 on:** January 06, 2011, 12:46:46 PM »

I am an old, fat retired Army Aviator and had a great career. I have known Frank Zachar for many years and have run many miles with him. I can tell you the news comes as a complete shock. A two or three BZ pick throughout his career, he'd be the last one I would think of to be relieved. I'd bet there's a story behind this and one we'll never be privy to.

DumbAss Tanker · « **Reply #16 on:** January 06, 2011, 01:40:25 PM »

Welcome, COL C; what did you fly?

NHSparky · « **Reply #17 on:** January 06, 2011, 01:57:06 PM »

Judging from the comments at Stripes, if you weren't one of his "boys", you basically got shit on, both when he was at Reilly and then in Germany.

DumbAss Tanker · « **Reply #18 on:** January 06, 2011, 04:05:16 PM »

Trust me Sparky, there is nothing super-unusual about that. There are plenty of two- and three-stars you could say exactly the same thing about; of course, there are also many who live and breathe much more commendable leadership standards, too.

COLC · « **Reply #19 on:** January 06, 2011, 06:13:30 PM »

I was a Black Hawk pough

COLC · « **Reply #20 on:** January 06, 2011, 06:15:39 PM »

Quote from: DumbAss Tanker on January 06, 2011, 01:40:25 PM

Welcome, COL C; what did you fly?

Getting my "sea legs" on this blog....I was a Black Hawk pough

docstew · « **Reply #21 on:** January 06, 2011, 10:21:06 PM »

Quote from: Rebel on January 05, 2011, 09:08:08 AM

This was DocStew's old unit. ....wasn't in Germany at the time though.

I've since run into several people who were there when this COL was in command... maybe I'll ask if he was a turd

DumbAss Tanker · « **Reply #22 on:** January 07, 2011, 08:21:03 AM »

Quote from: COLC on January 06, 2011, 06:15:39 PM

Getting my "sea legs" on this blog....I was a Black Hawk pough

Cool! I've ridden in a few over the years, but my eyesight was never up to mil aviation standards for actually flying anything (Which was a big disappointment when I was a teenager)...but then I go back to there still being a few Hueys around and having C-Rats for chow, I haven't *quite* retired from the RC yet, but it's coming up very quickly.

COLC · « **Reply #23 on:** January 08, 2011, 08:02:14 PM »

Quote from: DumbAss Tanker on January 07, 2011, 08:21:03 AM

Cool! I've ridden in a few over the years, but my eyesight was never up to mil aviation standards for actually flying anything (Which was a big disappointment when I was a teenager)...but then I go back to there still being a few Hueys around and having C-Rats for chow, I haven't *quite* retired from the RC yet, but it's coming up very quickly.

I understand that about the eye site. Nearly 20 of us went in for our flight physicals during OCS and only seven of us left there for Ft Rucker. Eye site got the rest of them and were rebranched. Good luck to you!

Rebel · « **Reply #24 on:** January 10, 2011, 01:40:36 PM »

Blood pressure kept me out of 153A school. 140/80 is the max. Mine was initially high, so I was ordered on a 3-day, twice a day. It averaged 143/80 and I was permanently DQ'd due to establishing a history. The establishment of history was due to the 3-day, twice a day....something the doc could have warned me about beforehand.

I'd have quit smoking and tried again in 6 months if I'd have known.

News:

Author Topic: Army Relieves 172nd Infantry Brigade Commander (Read 8913 times)