Arguello shouldn’t have filed charges from the get go. Update to this story.
Via Army Times
Former Marine drill instructor Ethan Arguello is sorry about a confrontation that took place June 5 during a protest outside the gates of a South Carolina Marine base, but not about the outcome for Sgt. Maj. Paul Archie.
Archie, the former senior enlisted adviser at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, was forced to resign following a verbal argument with Arguello that resulted in a stolen hat and third-degree assault and battery charges.
“I have not decided to go through with the charges, and uh, more than likely they’ll be dropped,” Arguello told the Marine Corps Times Wednesday.
Arguello, who spent a few days outside the base protesting the Bowe Bergdahl prisoner exchange with the Taliban, had opted to wear his “campaign cover” — a distinct hat worn by Marine DIs — despite a prior phone call from Archie urging him not to continue wearing the hat.
Arguello alleges the phone conversation was cordial and ended on the note that, regardless of the outcome, perhaps both would meet up for a beer some time and talk it over. The next day, Archie saw Arguello wearing the hat, pulled over and got out to verbally confront Arguello. Smartphone video of that confrontation circulated widely over social media.
Arguello filed charges, the Port Royal Police Department issued a warrant for Archie’s arrest, the video went viral, and Archie lost his job.
No apologies from Arguello, though.
“I’ve seen many DIs aboard Parris Island have their careers ended over wrongdoing — suffering the consequences of their own actions. They were all top notch Marines, and they didn’t have the option on the table to voluntarily get out and not face the UCMJ and own up to their charges,” Arguello told Marine Corps Times.
He said that the only thing he should be sorry for is that his intended message got “lost in the sauce,” as the Marine saying goes.
HT TAH