Sergeant to get boot over Facebook comments

San Diego: The Marine Corps is moving to boot out one of its number for making "political statements" about the commander-in-chief on a Facebook page.

Sergeant Gary Stein, 26, a nine-year veteran, put comments on a Facebook page called the Armed Forces Tea Party that said he would not follow unlawful orders from President Barack Obama such as ordering the killing of Americans or taking guns away from Americans.

He also criticised comments made by Defence Secretary Leon Panetta about Syria.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice prohibits personnel from making comments critical of their chain of command or engaging in political activity in a context that suggests that are acting as military members.

Investigation

An investigation into Stein's comments was ordered on March 8 by the commanding officer of the weapons and field training battalion at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.

On Wednesday, the Marine Corps announced that rather than file charges against Stein, the matter is being handled "through administrative action".

Stein, who hoped to re-enlist, told the Associated Press that he plans to fight the Marine Corps' intention to dismiss him.

— Los Angeles Times