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   From: nowomr@protonmail.com   
      
   The Associated Press · Posted: Jul 11, 2023 8:32 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3   
   hours ago   
      
      
   The U.S. Marine Corps is without a confirmed leader for the first time in   
   a century after Gen. David Berger stepped down as commandant on Monday and   
   a Republican senator is blocking approval of his successor.   
      
   Berger took over as the 38th commandant in July 2019, and is required to   
   leave the job after four years. Gen. Eric Smith, currently the assistant   
   commandant, has been nominated to be the next leader, but will serve in an   
   acting capacity because he hasn't been confirmed by the Senate.   
      
   Under the law, Smith can serve as the acting commandant, but he can do   
   nothing that would presume confirmation. As a result, he can't move into   
   the main residence or the commandant's office, or issue any new formal   
   commandant's planning guidance, which is traditional for a new leader. He   
   has the authority to implement new policies such as budget, training and   
   other personnel decisions.   
      
   Smith's promotion delay is the first of what could be many top-level   
   military officers held up by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.   
   A man in a military uniform is shown applauding in an outdoors photo.   
   Acting Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith applauds during   
   a ceremony for U.S. Marine Corps Gen. David Berger on Monday at the Marine   
   Barracks in Washington, D.C. Sen. Tommy Tuberville has said he has no   
   objections to Smith's qualifications. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/The Associated   
   Press)   
      
   Tuberville has stalled all nominations for senior military jobs because he   
   disagrees with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's decision to have the   
   Defence Department pay for travel when a service member has to go out of   
   state to get an abortion or other reproductive care.   
      
   Alabama is one of the states where abortion is now illegal after last   
   year's momentous Supreme Court ruling.   
   Other major appointments due in coming weeks   
      
   Typically, dozens or hundreds of military nominations are confirmed   
   through unanimous consent in the Senate. But Tuberville's stance   
   theoretically could mean that an individual vote would be necessary for   
   each and every candidate.   
      
   Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokesperson, said Monday that as of last   
   Friday, there were 265 senior officers whose promotions have been held up   
   by Tuberville, and that number could leap to 650 by the end of the year if   
   the issue isn't corrected. She noted that in more than 100 cases, officers   
   — like Smith — would be forced to do two jobs at the same time because no   
   one can move up.   
   A man in glasses and a military uniform is shown seated at a table.   
   U.S. Air Force Gen. Charles (CQ) Brown Jr. attends a U.S. Senate armed   
   services committee hearing Tuesday concerning his nomination to be   
   chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.   
   (Kevin Wurm/Reuters)   
      
   She said the Pentagon is asking officers to delay planned retirements and   
   stay on, while in other cases officers are doing more senior-ranking jobs   
   without getting the pay for that new rank.   
      
   Because of Berger's requirement to step down in July, the Marine job is   
   the first of the military chiefs to be affected by Tuberville. The Army,   
   Navy and Air Force are all expected to face the same delay later this   
   year, as could the nomination of the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of   
   Staff.   
      
   The current chairman, Army Gen. Mark Milley, leaves his job at the end of   
   September. Gen. CQ Brown, the current chief of the Air Force, has been   
   nominated to replace Milley. Brown was appearing before the Senate's armed   
   services committee for a hearing on Tuesday.   
   Senate Democrat blasts Tuberville   
      
   Democrat Jack Reed, chair of that committee, spoke on the Senate floor on   
   Monday, asking that Smith be confirmed and criticizing Tuberville for what   
   he called an unprecedented hold that is driving the U.S. military "to a   
   potential breaking point."   
      
   "In General Smith we have a Purple Heart recipient — this man has   
   literally shed his blood for his country," said Reed, who attended the   
   Marine ceremony. "He stands ready to continue his service to our nation   
   and the Marines he will lead for four more years. He simply awaits our   
   action."   
      
   Smith, a career infantry officer, is a highly decorated Marine who served   
   multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, including time in Fallujah and   
   Ramadi during heavy combat in 2004 and 2005 in Operation Iraq Freedom. He   
   later was the senior military adviser to Defence Secretary Ash Carter.   
      
   The hold is also impacting scores of one-, two- and three-star officers   
   who are assigned to new commands but can't move on. It also affects their   
   families, who usually relocate over the summer to their new military   
   communities so school-age children can settle in before fall.   
      
      
      
      
      
   "Smooth and timely transitions of confirmed leadership are central to the   
   defence of the United States and to the full strength of the most powerful   
   fighting force in history," said Austin. "Stable and orderly leadership   
   transitions are also vital to maintaining our unmatched network of allies   
   and partners. And they're crucial for our military readiness."   
      
   Tuberville said Monday there was "little doubt about Gen. Smith's ability   
   to lead effectively," but held to his position.   
      
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