thedrifter
02-28-08, 07:57 PM
Author of MRAP report ordered to stop work
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, February 28, 2008
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps has ordered a civilian Corps official looking into the service’s procurement process to stop work after that official alleged in a Jan. 22 report that a delay in fielding Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles cost troops’ lives.
Franz Gayl wrote an internal report that accused Corps procurement officials of turning down a 2005 request for MRAP vehicles for Iraq because they were worried it would take money away from other projects.
Using figures from a private Web site that tallies casualties in Iraq, Gayl estimated that deaths from roadside bombs could have been halved if the request had been approved.
USA Today first reported Wednesday that Gayl had been ordered to stop working on the matter.
Corps spokesman Maj. Jay Delarosa confirmed Wednesday via e-mail that Gayl had been ordered to “stop any further study work,” but he did not specify what the work entailed.
“Because Gayl’s staff work is predecisional and opinion-based, we wouldn’t be able to publicly discuss specifics [to include any future projects],” Delarosa said.
Gayl is represented by the Government Accountability Project, a whistle-blower advocacy group.
Adam Miles, an investigator with the group who is working on Gayl’s case, said Gayl was originally tasked with looking at the Corps’ procurement process by conducting a series of case studies, three of which he completed.
But after The Associated Press publicized Gayl’s report on MRAP vehicles on Feb. 15, Gayl was told to stop work on further case studies, Miles said.
“It’s unfortunate, because Franz has identified numerous problems with the process, and his ultimate goal is to help the Marines Corps devise forward-thinking solutions to these problems,” Miles said.
A Naval Audit Service report from September found that the process was ineffective and recommended some changes, which the Corps is expected to complete in April.
Assistant Commandant Gen. Robert Magnus also asked the Defense Department Inspector General’s Office to look into Gayl’s accusations after they appeared in the media.
“The allegations that have surfaced, however, concern more the human interaction and motivation within the system described,” Magnus wrote in the letter, which was obtained by Stars and Stripes. “I request that you investigate the aforementioned allegations of mismanagement regarding the identification and fulfillment of a requirement for MRAPs ...”
Gayl still works for the Corps, and the Office of Special Counsel is looking into whether the Corps acted in any way that could be considered retaliation, such as threatening him with a suspension, Miles said.
“Mr. Gayl’s employment situation remains stable,” Miles said. “We’re hopeful it will stay that way.”
The letter is posted in its entirety here.
http://www.stripes.com/08/feb08/MRAP.jpg
Ellie
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, February 28, 2008
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps has ordered a civilian Corps official looking into the service’s procurement process to stop work after that official alleged in a Jan. 22 report that a delay in fielding Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles cost troops’ lives.
Franz Gayl wrote an internal report that accused Corps procurement officials of turning down a 2005 request for MRAP vehicles for Iraq because they were worried it would take money away from other projects.
Using figures from a private Web site that tallies casualties in Iraq, Gayl estimated that deaths from roadside bombs could have been halved if the request had been approved.
USA Today first reported Wednesday that Gayl had been ordered to stop working on the matter.
Corps spokesman Maj. Jay Delarosa confirmed Wednesday via e-mail that Gayl had been ordered to “stop any further study work,” but he did not specify what the work entailed.
“Because Gayl’s staff work is predecisional and opinion-based, we wouldn’t be able to publicly discuss specifics [to include any future projects],” Delarosa said.
Gayl is represented by the Government Accountability Project, a whistle-blower advocacy group.
Adam Miles, an investigator with the group who is working on Gayl’s case, said Gayl was originally tasked with looking at the Corps’ procurement process by conducting a series of case studies, three of which he completed.
But after The Associated Press publicized Gayl’s report on MRAP vehicles on Feb. 15, Gayl was told to stop work on further case studies, Miles said.
“It’s unfortunate, because Franz has identified numerous problems with the process, and his ultimate goal is to help the Marines Corps devise forward-thinking solutions to these problems,” Miles said.
A Naval Audit Service report from September found that the process was ineffective and recommended some changes, which the Corps is expected to complete in April.
Assistant Commandant Gen. Robert Magnus also asked the Defense Department Inspector General’s Office to look into Gayl’s accusations after they appeared in the media.
“The allegations that have surfaced, however, concern more the human interaction and motivation within the system described,” Magnus wrote in the letter, which was obtained by Stars and Stripes. “I request that you investigate the aforementioned allegations of mismanagement regarding the identification and fulfillment of a requirement for MRAPs ...”
Gayl still works for the Corps, and the Office of Special Counsel is looking into whether the Corps acted in any way that could be considered retaliation, such as threatening him with a suspension, Miles said.
“Mr. Gayl’s employment situation remains stable,” Miles said. “We’re hopeful it will stay that way.”
The letter is posted in its entirety here.
http://www.stripes.com/08/feb08/MRAP.jpg
Ellie