The Marine Corps has sacked the commander of an infantry unit that has been preparing to deploy to Norway.
Lt. Col. John Giannella, the commander of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, a Camp Lejeune, North Carolina-based unit, was sacked over “loss of trust and confidence in his ability to continue to effectively lead 3/8,” Maj. Jordan Cochran, a Marine spokesman, told Marine Corps Times in an emailed statement.
The Corps provided no other details surrounding the firing of the infantry commander.
Lt. Col. Neil R. Berry will take the helm of 3/8, according to Cochran.
Members of 3/8 have been preparing for a deployment to Norway, having completed training in Alaska and at the Corps' Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California, Military.com reported.
The deployment to Norway would be the Corps’ fourth six-month rotation to the Arctic country.
Norway is gearing up for a major NATO exercise called Trident Juncture that will see the participation of nearly 40,000 troops.
Military.com was first to report the firing of Giannella.
Shawn Snow is the senior reporter for Marine Corps Times and a Marine Corps veteran.
