Retired army colonel fined, reprimanded for insulting British senior officer

[daftandbarmy]

Fined, but not fine...


A retired, highly decorated Canadian soldier pleaded guilty, was fined and given a severe reprimand on Thursday over an insulting remark he made about a British senior officer while on a NATO exercise.

Former colonel Rob Kearney, who fought in Afghanistan, made the remark about British Brig.-Gen. Irena Dzisiewska in his tent in the presence of two other officers.

The incident took place during what's known as a command post exercise in Romania in October 2023.

Kearney faced a military court martial and pleaded guilty to one count of conduct which is prejudice to good order and discipline.

The military judge fined Kearney $3,000 and ordered a severe reprimand to the 60-year-old reservist who had originally faced a total of five charges.

Kearney referred to the female brigadier general as a "f---ing c---t."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/court-marshall-insults-british-officer-1.7530530

 

[Halifax Tar]

If there is one thing I admire about the Brits it's their embrace and versatile use of the C word.

 

[OldSolduer]

If there is one thing I admire about the Brits it's their embrace and versatile use of the C word.

Aussies too

 

[brihard]

Aussies too

They use it as punctuation.

 

[Jarnhamar]

If there is one thing I admire about the Brits it's their embrace and versatile use of the C word.

A case of "only we're allowed to use that word" perhaps?

 

[Halifax Tar]

A case of "only we're allowed to use that word" perhaps?

No idea; but I've played Rugby with shit eaters since 1993 and they seem to have no reservations about using it all over the place.

 

[KevinB]

A case of "only we're allowed to use that word" perhaps?

I think it’s more that it was used against a superior officer in a term of significant disrespect.

 

[Furniture]

I think it’s more that it was used against a superior officer in a term of significant disrespect.

100%...

I can call a friend "dickhead", and it's cool. If I call the CRCN that in anger while at work, I'm getting charged.

 

[dapaterson]

100%...

I can call a friend "dickhead", and it's cool. If I call the CRCN that in anger while at work, I'm getting charged.

Exactly.

Besides, if you're calling CRCN a dickhead, that's probably in official correspondence, so you'd have to call him " tete du Richard" as well since the CAF is bilingual.

 

[vonGarvin]

So, the question is, was she?

 

[Cloud Cover]

It’s not high school. You don’t call a boss or colleague that. You call them “transformational”.

 

[Jarnhamar]

I can call a friend "dickhead", and it's cool. If I call the CRCN that in anger while at work, I'm getting charged.

Unless you're in the Navy and named Officer X.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

There is being right and being in the right; the two are very much not interchangeable.

Regardless of if Col Kearney's assessment of the Brigadier is accurate (as his opinion is held in very high regard in Canada and amongst our allies); not the done thing to disparage a senior officer to others in a semi-public arena.

"Know your audience" and "the walls have ears" should shape what is said and to whom.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

No idea; but I've played Rugby with shit eaters since 1993 and they seem to have no reservations about using it all over the place.

Not just the males either.

 

[ModlrMike]

There is being right and being in the right; the two are very much not interchangeable.

Regardless of if Col Kearney's assessment of the Brigadier is accurate (as his opinion is held in very high regard in Canada and amongst our allies); not the done thing to disparage a senior officer to others in a semi-public arena.

"Know your audience" and "the walls have ears" should shape what is said and to whom.

One of the first lessons I learned upon rising to the lofty heights of MS is that the troops hear everything. There is nothing you can say that will not be said again by someone else, and said without the full context. Notwithstanding, regardless of Col Kearney's reputation, he was twice criticized by the Brigadier for the same perceived failing, and should have just taken it on the chin. There is no cursing her out in private.

 

[Navy_Pete]

It’s not high school. You don’t call a boss or colleague that. You call them “transformational”.

Congratulating someone on continuously completing the ATP cycle is apparently a bit too sarcastic.

 

[GK .Dundas]

I have a good friend whose military career coming to a flaming crash stop in the Mid 70's while instructing on the proper and safe handling of a weapon system.
A certain Captain who apparently knew more about....well just about everything kept " correcting " him.
On the range said officer then proceeded to jack him up again. A couple of times he also managed to miss with said system which had a different ranging procedure in cold weather.
Mi buddy lost it after the gentleman proceeded to blame the launcher'sight or defective manufacture.
Buddy who freely admits he should handled far better then he did.
Ironically said officer a week or so after my friend was processed out of the service exhibited his award winning personality in front of a very senior officer .....and found himself in the unemployment line too
My friend describes it as a pyrrhic victory and not at all satisfying.
You don't call someone with more rank on their shoulder a raging asshole in public even if they are a raging dumpster fire of a human being .
It really is a threat to good order and discipline. And an amazing number of these people actually become self correcting problems .

 

[lenaitch]

The BrigGen may not always be right, but they are always the BrigGen.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Needs to take lessons from Black Adder