But in a woke military leadership where campus cancel culture trumps honor and tradition that didnt save him. Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David H. Berger delivers remarks at a press briefing about the Marine Corps and COVID-19, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., March 26, 2020. The roster of personalities includes every living former commandant, along with a slew of other retired four-star generals revered within the Corps. General Bergers formal military education includes the U.S. Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course, U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and U.S. Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting. Bergers plan challenges the Corps culture because it seems to shift its function from offense to defense and trade manpower for technology, Hoffman said. These opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Jewish Press. (Courtesy), Private First Class Zachary Zeff at his graduation. uuid:f0bfbba6-b66b-11b2-0a00-e09fac020000 Ukraine, Russia or New York, Florida? "You don't need a Marine Corps, unless it can give you something that no one else can," Berger said at the time, according to a Marine Corps news release. New warship to be named after pivotal Battles of Fallujah . After making colonel, Berger led Regimental Combat Team 8 in Fallujah, Iraq, earning the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" device for exceptional leadership on that deployment. It was simply his last summer as a civilian, a summer that included a Birthright trip followed by a visit with his older sister in Tel Aviv. Biography and Sociology: Berger on Religion as Choice rather than Fate In late March, Berger was nominated to pin on a fourth star and serve as the 38th commandant of the Marine Corps. endobj "He's seen American policy at the strategic level, he's been an operational commander clearly, and he's been well educated about strategy and military history, so he brings all those things to bear in this position as commandant," she said. A couple thoughts. That has carried forward throughout Berger's career. He has commanded Marines in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring. endobj From 2009 to 2011 he served at Headquarters Marine Corps as the director of operations in plans, policies, and operations. Or, as Zeff put it, You make sure the platoon gets it done in a timely manner.. 17 0 obj After the horror, he claimed that he wanted an honest, open critique of what happened in Afghanistan. These new cancel culture values borrowed from college campus safe spaces were all about punishing political dissent and had nothing to do with the task of actually winning battles. The 38th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, General David H. Berger, and the 19th Sergeant Major of the U.S. Marine Corps, Sgt. The two first studied together at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, where Berger earned a master's degree in international public policy. Mathew Meyer was also with Berger at 3/7. An influential group of over two dozen retired generals has launched a counteroffensive against plans to transform the Marine Corps, and is using their clout in a high-power pressure campaign to get Congress to slam on the brakes. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. Craparotta", "I Marine Expeditionary Force Leaders: Lieutenant General David H. Berger", "Woodbine, Md. "I never saw him the least bit intimidated by rank, attitude or ego -- something very uncommon among junior officers.". The day before Bergers call for an honest and open critique, he showed what would happen to any officer who dared to offer honest and open critiques. Over 80,000 Jews are estimated to have served in the US Armed Forces since 9/11. endobj Several of the generals met with Berger on March 3 to voice their concerns, but walked away dissatisfied that they had been heard, Paul Van Riper, a retired lieutenant general who served as head of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, told POLITICO. Neary hadnt been trying to insult anyone. GENERAL DAVID H. BERGER COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS ON THE IMPACT OF CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS ON THE MARINE CORPS BEFORE THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE ON DEFENSE JANUARY 12, 2022 . What does it say about Berger that a slur is worse than the deaths of 11 American heroes? General David H. Berger assumed the duties of Commandant of the Marine Corps on July 11, 2019.A native of Woodbine, Maryland, General Berger graduated from Tulane University and was commissioned . His sister Rebecca Zeff couldnt make it, but watched live stream videos from Israel. <>131 0 R]/P 203 0 R/Pg 199 0 R/S/Link>> 204 0 obj fixed-wing pilots, as well as the paucity of female general officers. Current Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger on Thursday warned that even though the leaders are retired, when they voice their views loudly it reflects on those currently serving in the. NOT FOR PUBLICATION . Normally what would have happened in the past, there would have been a concept, there would have been war games, there would have been field evaluations before these sorts of drastic moves were made, Van Riper said. Berger relinquishes command to Lt.Gen. We normally keep our grandfathers WWII memorabilia all together a photo album, his glasses, his bronze star. Gen. David H. Berger, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, said at the memorial that Williams always took exception to the notion . When company commanders needed information, DeBoda said, they went straight to Berger. Their paths crossed again when Berger was at MARFORPAC, and Magsamen was an adviser to the defense secretary on security policy for Asia. He commanded at every level including a Reconnaissance Company; 3d Battalion, 8th Marines in Haiti during Operation SECURE TOMORROW; Regimental Combat Team 8 in Fallujah, Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Instead of focusing on the fight ahead, Berger decided that what the Marine Corps needed was to get woke, to dismantle its warfighting readiness by purging political incorrectness, lowering standards for the sake of diversity, and imposing cancel culture for the slightest offenses. Commandant of the Marine Corps General David Berger's "Force Design 2030" has caused quite a stir. He commanded at every level - including a Reconnaissance Company; 3d Battalion, 8th. Incorrect password. 1 Nearly 400 Marines had been killed and nearly 5,000 wounded in Afghanistan. He commanded at every level - including a Reconnaissance Company; 3d Battalion, 8th. He lived for the tactics, Meyer said. That same month, Bagram Air Base was abandoned, cutting off the only secure escape route for Americans from Afghanistan, while liberating thousands of Taliban, Al Qaeda, and ISIS-K terrorists, including the Jihadi who would go on to kill 13 Americans at Kabul airport. All across America there are recruiting billboards for the Marine Corps with the message, For Marines There Are Only Battles Won. He commanded at every level including a Reconnaissance Company; 3d Battalion, 8th Marines in Haiti during Operation SECURE TOMORROW; Regimental Combat Team 8 in Fallujah, Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. 26: What would Israels founding parents think about it at 75? endobj { bR.bK:'\>?o.-Lt\LV|{1zFyE)-|N5g>#+p(end:b=X3 Members meet virtually or in-person on a daily basis to plan their way forward and are stepping up their outreach to members of Congress. His work covers American, European and Israeli politics as well as the War on Terror. Of all the places they visited, it was Jerusalem that left the deepest impression. 2023-03-03T09:54:52-08:00 He holds multiple advanced degrees including a Master of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. A native of Woodbine, Maryland, General Berger graduated from Tulane University and was commissioned in 1981. Berger assured House Democrats that he was happy to lead the purge of dissenting Marines. In a sign of how seriously Berger appears to take the generals criticisms, the Marine Corps has drafted an unpublished rebuttal to the criticisms that meets some of their points head-on. Most of them were curious about it, and had a lot of questions, he said. When General David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps, testified before the House Subcommittee on Defense at the end of April, he did not refer to Afghanistan. Honor graduate awards go to recruits who demonstrate fitness, strong leadership skills and are an overall example of what it is to be a Marine. COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS . 187 0 obj The revamp also transforms the Corps storied infantry units into smaller, more technologically dependent units. Other Marines who served with Berger at various points in his career highlighted his passion for leading young Marines and his calm demeanor in the face of anything. While Berger was defending critical race theory in the military, the bloody road to the murder of 11 Marines was being paved. After high school he attended college for two years while Nathan pursued firefighting and Stephen began working in network engineering. Berger holds a BSc in Engineering from Tulane University, and two Master's degrees in International Public Policy and Military Studies. Lawmakers arent the only ones who back Bergers plan. However, he kept his grandfathers Prayer book for Jews in the US Armed Forces on his shelf next to his other Marine books and knickknacks. Berger has been a Marine officer for 38 years. Instead of fighting Al Qaeda, the Marines were confronting issues of inequality. This article incorporates public domain material from .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}Lieutenant General David H. Berger Biography. It was awesome. Instead he had repeated the slur only to complain about the inappropriateness of playing music containing the slur at a Marine Corps training event. As a General Officer, he commanded 1st Marine Division (Forward) in Afghanistan during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; I Marine Expeditionary Force; U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific/Fleet Marine Forces Pacific; and Marine Corps Combat Development Command. He's also busy testifying on Capitol Hill this month, something he'll have to continue to do if approved to become commandant, pushing lawmakers to fund vital Marine Corps equipment and projects. Jewish Americans have served in the US armed forces dating back to before the Colonial Era. Late last month, Berger stressed the importance of getting more amphibious ships, which Neller has said are vital to remaining relevant in the Pacific. Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. The Marine Corps two-year-old plan represents a fundamental shift in how the Corps equips its troops and goes to war. Meyer, now an attorney who's still close with Berger today, said the general recognizes the huge transition the Marine Corps is experiencing and the need to prepare the service to counter future threats. A native of Woodbine, Maryland, General Berger graduated from Tulane University and was commissioned in 1981. The retired generals say the moves infringe on the Corps traditional strengths as a small, tough-as-nails battering ram called on to do everything from storming beaches to fighting in the mountains of Afghanistan. Revelatory interviews on the hopes and expectations of Israels founding visionaries. Why are you doing this before you have a full understanding of what you want to do? Van Riper told POLITICO. The retired generals say they have seen no evidence that leaders performed adequate analysis before getting rid of their tanks, and want Congress to press the pause button on Bergers plan. 29 0 obj Bergers efforts are the result of a lot of years looking at the evolving threat environment and the impact of technology said Dakota Wood, senior research fellow for defense programs at The Heritage Foundation. Firing Berger would be the first step to rebuilding a Marine Corps that wins battles instead of building woke safe spaces. We want our service members to read widely. endobj Van Riper said the group of retirees is well aware of the changing threats. By General David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps. Lt. Gen. David Berger, a three-star Marine Corps general, has been nominated to serve as the next commandant of the Marine Corps. Surprisingly there were some who had never met a Jewish person before. <>11]/P 23 0 R/Pg 189 0 R/S/Link>> On March 26, 2019, he was nominated by President Donald Trump to succeed General Robert B. Neller and become the 38th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. "Marine Corps General David H. Berger on Monday rebuked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's edict requiring all Armed Forces personnel to submit to Covid-19 vaccinations under threat of court martial or discharge," reads the first line. 5 0 obj If confirmed,. This is not a fragmented effort, this is a collective of 30 some generals including six or seven of the most senior, most credible Marines that Ive ever worked with, said Frank Hoffman, distinguished research fellow at the National Defense University and a retired Marine officer. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES . What enemy was the Marine Corps tasked with fighting? I knew Id regret it if I didnt do it now. "When you talked with Dave, he would talk to you in a clear, conversational tone that explained anything you needed to know," DeBoda, who left the Marine Corps as a captain, said. Years Later, Some Are Saddled With Debt. <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 13 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]>>/StructParents 31/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> Wikipedia David Hilberry Berger (born December 21, 1959) is a United States Marine Corps general currently serving as the 38th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. The post goes on to allege that Berger told Lloyd that "there will be no mandatory vaccinations for my marines." UHaifa internationals Master degree programs in prehistoric, coastal and underwater archaeology are paving the way as global game changers in archaeological research. A native of Woodbine, Maryland, General Berger graduated from Tulane University and was commissioned in 1981. At 23, Zeff is slightly older than the average recruit. But the land war against Russia has shifted Washingtons strategic calculations, and given new impetus to the retired generals mission. The 59-year-old earned his commission in 1981 after graduating from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he studied engineering. She said she was excited to see him nominated to become the Marine Corps' next top officer. Gen. David H. Berger, U.S. Marine Corps Over the last five years, the U.S. defense establish-ment has begun to grapple with the implications of the advent of a radically more complex and. It was pretty special to see. Which Body Parts Correspond with the Areas of the Beit HaMikdash? [11][12][13] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 5, and took command in a ceremony held July 11 at the Marine Barracks in Washington D.C.[14], On July 17, 2019, Berger issued his guidance for the Marine Corps: Even while a skeleton force of hundreds of Marines remained in Kabul, Berger made no mention of them. Current plans call for shedding troops and equipment in preparation to take on China. Kelley passed away Dec. 29, 2019, in McLean, Virginia.General David H. If something went wrong, it was reassuring to see Berger at the battalion command post, DeBoda added. Whenever anybody was crying and whining, I just embraced it, Zeff said. When I was younger maybe [I liked them] because of their uniforms, but later it was the professionalism I saw in them and the idea that they were the toughest, Zeff said via telephone from his home in South Florida. It also says that the recommendations made by then-Defense Secretary Mattis as part of his Close-Combat Lethality Task Force have all been accepted, and have resulted in major lethality upgrades for our small units.. Rather, modern threats require the U.S. to have long-range precision rockets, small loitering armed drones, and mobile ship-killing missiles that Marines can use to protect U.S. and allied vessels. Each week, when recruits called out which service theyd attend, it never failed to surprise a fellow recruit to learn Zeff was Jewish. 3 0 obj As a young officer, one of the things that made Berger stick out was that he understood the mission came before ego, DeBoda said. (Courtesy), Zachary Zeff in front of the new United States embassy in Jerusalem. He commanded at every level - including a Reconnaissance Company; 3d Battalion, 8th Marines in Haiti during Operation SECURE TOMORROW; and . General David H. Berger assumed the duties of Commandant of the Marine Corps on July 11, 2019. Maj. Colonel Stuart Schellerwho declaredI have been fighting for 17 years. <>1]/P 16 0 R/Pg 189 0 R/S/Link>> "I've never seen him lose his temper, or I guess on the other hand, be over-exuberant or overly celebratory.". The document envisages a shifting of the Marine Corps from a "Second Land Army" force to a "commando-like infantry force with nimbler weapons: drone squadrons will double and rocket batteries will triple.". Acting Defense Secretary Mark. NEW YORK Private First Class Zachary Zeff was awestruck when he first laid eyes on the new United States embassy in Jerusalem this past summer. In April, Biden announced that he would be pulling all American forces out of Afghanistan. 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[5] He graduated from Glenelg High School in 1977. In a change of command ceremony held on Friday, Sept. 24, at Camp Pendleton, Gen. David Berger, the Marines' commandant, credited Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl for achieving a "monumental task His writing can be found at http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/ As a colonel, Berger commanded Regimental Combat Team 8 in Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. endobj Finally, Zeff said, he decided it was now or never.. General David H. Berger assumed the duties of Commandant of the Marine Corps on July 11, 2019. P Featured Article . Marine boot camp has the reputation for being the hardest. Those arguments, some say, fail to take into account the changes in the technologies that China and Russia can bring to the modern battlefield, even if Russia is struggling to use them in Ukraine. The games are run in conjunction with the Navys Pacific Fleet and the Army. For as little as $6/month, you will: Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. The 59-year-old earned his commission in 1981 after graduating from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he studied engineering. After their bar mitzvah, the brothers left Hebrew school and Zeffs Judaism was more relegated to large family gatherings for the holidays, he said. 40 0 obj "He's always had a steady hand," he said. "Dave is one the best leaders I've ever met, in the military or corporate world," he said. They're a hoot," he said at his promotion ceremony. While Berger was ordering officers to listen to false accusations of racism, he refused to listen to the much more substantive criticisms of Marine Corps dysfunction, gender and racial ideology, and the disastrous policies that led to the deaths of 11 Marines in Kabul. "I think the last thing on his mind is the notoriety or fame that might come with being commandant. The only man to go on trial has been a persistent critic of the Marine Corps leadership. He is a graduate of the United States Army Ranger School, United States Army Jumpmaster School, United States Navy Dive School, and United States Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance School.[8][9]. General David H. Berger assumed the duties of Commandant of the Marine Corps on July 11, 2019. "[15] Highlights include refocusing the Marine Corps on high-end combat, shifting away from legacy platforms like tanks and artillery in favor of long-range missiles and drones. Its been through the requirements-based system, its been through the Joint Staff, through [the Office of the Secretary of Defense] and through Congress twice, so its not like the Pentagon or Congress were derelict in oversight. He then did a stint at the Pentagon with Plans, Policies and Operations before deploying to Afghanistan in 2012 as commanding general of 1st Marine Division (Forward). We all have unconscious biases, admitted or not, Berger told ABCs Martha Raddatz, parroting the corrosive racial psychoanalysis of critical race theory that says all white people are guilty. <> All Rights Reserved. I am willing to throw it all away to say to my senior leaders, I demand accountability.. Berger's life, as seen through his autobiography, is "a case study of the situation of modern man." 6. A Marine. But the honest and open critique had already been launched by Lt. As the son of an airman as well as a husband and father of four, Berger has credited his family with supporting him throughout his career. "They will put you in your place if you start to get a little big in the head in a heartbeat.". Berger holds a BSc in Engineering from Tulane University, and two master's degrees, one in International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University, and the other in Military Studies. <>3]/P 6 0 R/Pg 189 0 R/S/Link>> Scan this QR code to visit this page online: Daniel Greenfield is an Israeli born blogger and columnist, and a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center.
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