Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 | 2 a.m.
View more of the Sun's opinion section
Having served in the Marine Corps for 22 years and two wars, I would like to set the record straight on the Sept. 2 New York Times story, “Marine Corps balks at promoting generals of color.”
There are 686 colonels in the Corps and 84 generals, about half of whom are brigadier generals, and only about 12 positions open annually. That presents an opportunity of 1 in 57 for promotion.
The colonels competing for promotion all have very competitive records. Each year, a promotion board is convened and sworn in to screen all eligible officers. Its results go directly to the secretary of the Navy, to avoid any undue influence by any current general officers.
The Marine Corps is a meritocracy that chooses the most qualified leaders solely based on their achievements and potential for assuming higher responsibility. I served with Black officers and Black general officers my entire career. Some, like Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, served at the highest levels of the Corps.
The implication that the Marine Corps is holding Col. Anthony Henderson back because of his race is a disgraceful promotion of a social justice agenda and a wrongful indictment against an organization that prides itself on fighting and winning wars with the most qualified officer corps in the world.
