General scolded in Pendleton hazing crusade nominated for promotion

A Marine general out of Camp Pendleton, California, who was rebuked by a military appeals court a mere three months ago for efforts to stamp out hazing has been nominated for a promotion to a third star and a new command, according to a Defense Department post Tuesday evening.

Maj. Gen. Eric Smith, the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, has been nominated to head up III Marine Expeditionary Force, headquartered in Okinawa, Japan, and a promotion to lieutenant general.

Last summer, Smith launched a crusade against hazing across the 1st Marine Division. Nearly 30 Marines were confined to the brig and roughly 18 have been separated from the Corps for hazing.

Not every Marine accused of hazing has been booted; Smith has retained at least three.

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The United States Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals upbraided the general in a February ruling, stating the general showed bias in his efforts to stamp out hazing.

The court subsequently dropped all charges against one particular Marine, Sgt. Jamie Ortiz in that ruling.

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