The air combat element sergeant major deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, has been relieved by his command, officials confirmed Friday.
Sgt. Maj. Kevin Trotter, the senior enlisted Marine with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, an MV-22B Osprey squadron out of Marine Corps Station New River, North Carolina, was removed from his position pending allegations related to his conduct, said Lt. Col. Cliff Gilmore, a II Marine Expeditionary Force spokesman.
Trotter is under investigation for those allegations, Gilmore said. No further details could be provided, he added, in order to protect Trotter's privacy rights.
Trotter joined VMM-263 in April 2012, having previously served as company first sergeant for Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, out of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. His unit was attached to the 31st MEU for a portion of that tour.
According to his official biography, Trotter joined the Marine Corps in 1989 and previously served as company first sergeant of Marine Corps Institute and Guard Company at 8th and I in Washington, D.C.
A news release from his relief and appointment ceremony with VMM-263 reveals a glimpse of Trotter's personality.
"I lead by example, but I mentor as well," Trotter said, according to the release. "I'm a very hands-on type of Marine. I love talking to Marines. I tell all the junior Marines, 'if you have questions, there is nothing I haven't seen before, so don't hesitate to come see me.' "
The 22nd MEU deployed in February with the three-ship Bataan Amphibious Ready Group to regions in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. In July, elements of the MEU, including the Bataan, moved into the 6th Fleet area of operations in the Mediterranean Sea to stand at the ready for potential crisis response as the situation in Iraq escalated. The unit made a port stop in Bahrain on July 16, after 135 days at sea, Stars and Stripes reported.
This is the second high-profile relief for the MEU since its elements composited last summer. Shortly after the units joined up for predeployment training, the MEU's commanding officer, Col. James Christmas, was relieved by II MEF commander Maj. Gen. Raymond Fox, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command the MEU. No information was ever provided regarding the reasons for Christmas' firing.
