The 47,000-strong senior Marine commander at Camp Pendleton, California, with nearly 30 years of service, has been fired for “losing confidence” in his abilities.
- Sergeant Major Terence Whitcomb has been relieved of his duties as Senior Commander of the 1st Naval Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton
- The military cites his sudden departure “due to a loss of confidence and confidence in his ability to perform his duties”.
- It is not known what his duties were, but as leader of the 1st Expeditionary Force, he was responsible for almost a quarter of the Marine Corps’ active forces.
- It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post
- Whitcomb has been a Marine since 1993 and became a senior sergeant in 2011, but took on his last role in 2021.
- He has won several prestigious medals in his 29-year career, including the Merit Medal
A senior Marine chief at Camp Pendleton, who led a team of 47,000, was fired for “losing confidence” in his ability to do his job.
Sergeant Major Terrence Whitcomb was relieved of his duties as Senior Commander of the 1st Naval Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton in California on Wednesday by Lieutenant General George Smith.
The military cites his sudden departure “due to a loss of confidence and confidence in his ability to perform his duties”. It is unclear what Whitcomb’s responsibilities involved or what he did to create mistrust. “Loss of trust and confidence” can include a wide variety of reasons.
The military also did not mention who will take on the role of Whitcomb.
Whitcomb, a “distinguished alumnus” of the 1957 Naval Senior Military Academy, was responsible for a quarter of the active service of the Marines.
Sergeant Major Terence Whitcomb has been relieved of his duties as Senior Commander of the 1st Naval Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, California
He joined the Marines in 1993 and took up his current rank as Sergeant Major in November 2011, serving in both Camp Pendleton and the United Arab Emirates. He became Senior Sergeant of the 1st Naval Expeditionary Force in September 2021.
The first naval expeditionary forces were the largest forces in the Marines and had a long history of combat deployment. It is based in Camp Pendleton and based on the 3rd Marine Air Wing. It includes the West Coast Airborne Task Force and consists of Marines and Sailors.
He also served as a training instructor, administrative chief and staff member during his 29-year career and was sent to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and 2007. He was deployed as part of a naval air mission with special Destination Force in the Middle East between 2016 and 2018
Whitcomb (right, with former Commander-in-Chief General Robert Castelvi) won many awards during his 29-year career, including the Medal of Merit, the third most prestigious award given by the Department of Defense.
The military said he had been fired “due to a loss of confidence and confidence in his ability to perform his duties”. It is not clear what his duties are and what led to his dismissal
In his nearly 30-year career, he has won the Medal of Merit, the third most prestigious award presented by the Ministry of Defense; the Medal of Honor of the Navy and Marine Corps – an award given to servicemen who have performed an outstanding deed – which he has won four times; and a medal for the achievements of the Navy and Marines, which is awarded for combat or non-combat achievements that are exceptional for a lieutenant commander or higher. He won this three times.
DailyMail.com contacted Camp Pendleton and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force for comment.
Lt. Gen. George Smith (pictured) relieved Whitcomb of his duties Wednesday
Earlier this month, police found the body of 28-year-old Sarah Celeste Otero at the bottom of a cliff in a remote part of Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California.
Officials said they noticed her car abandoned at a rest stop near Camp Pendleton on Feb. 8, spokeswoman Jennifer Atenza said.
The medical examiner has not yet ruled on the exact cause of death, but no unfair play is suspected.
She struggled with depression and had a history of drug abuse, but has been sober for the past two years.
Otero had told her stepfather that she would go to a local gym on January 28 to see a friend, but FOX News reported that the friend was unaware of such plans and Otero never arrived.
Camp Pendleton is located in Southern California and is home to the 1st Naval Expeditionary Force =
Advertising