Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Why U.S. Air Force Major General Michael Keltz Was Forced To Resign

Major General Michael Keltz (Photo from www.af.mil)

Air Force Times: Racist remark ended general's career

A racially charged comment forced Maj. Gen. Michael Keltz to resign last week, according to Air Education and Training Command.

While serving as the convening authority at a company-grade officer's Article 15 hearing April 9, Keltz said the accused and another officer looked "drunker than 10,000 Indians" while referring to a photograph of the two officers. Blogger and former airman Tony Carr first reported Keltz's comment on his John Q. Public blog, and AETC spokeswoman Maj. Toni Whaley confirmed the statement was made in regard to a photograph of the two officers.

Because of Keltz's remark, the accused officer will have another Article 15 hearing with a different convening authority, Whaley said. The new hearing has not yet been scheduled. It will remain in the same command, but will be with someone outside of the 19th Air Force chain of command.

Update: ‘Drunker than 10,000 Indians’: US Air Force general resigns over comment in court (RT)

WNU Editor: Should one stupid comment end a General's career .... apparently yes.

4 comments:

Buick93 said...

This is a sign that there are WAY to many flag officers in our military. If they can dispose of one this easily, there must not be a shortage of qualified personnel.

Bob Huntley said...

It also suggests that with the possibility of another war some guys are finding ways out.

Unknown said...

Bob,

Finding a way out? Can't they simply put their papers in?

Of course they could be recalled when war comes.

If they are pessoa non grata, they might be recalled later than earlier. that may be career enhancing or life saving.
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Indians lack an enzyme to metabolize alcohol in their stomach. they get a higher high form it.

Someone told me that a particular E7 took acid reflux medicine with alcohol because it enhanced the high. The E7 had gone to alcohol rehabilitation program in service, but apparently it had not took hold. He was white BTW.

I would like to see the picture of the 2 officers. They probably look 3 sheets to the wind. It no doubt invoked a strong reaction the general.

Did the general live somewhere near a reservation when he was growing up or elsewhere?

If he hadn't he would never have made the association.

I still want to see that picture. It reminds me of 2 officers that could not navigate through a drive thru and ended up in court. It don't hurt their career, but that was decades ago.

Jay Farquharson said...

WNU Editor,

To translate from the MilSpeak,

He was sitting as the Convening Officer, (Judge)

At an Article 15 hearing, (discipline hearing 1 step down from a Court Martial).

So yup, he's being canned.