Marine Major In High School Should Resign

Major Godin Should Retire

In May of 2015 Major Godin the Marine commander of JROTC in the Worcester schools was approached by a senior cadet who was collecting donations to help the family of her former comrade who was shot and killed. The Major in what must have been a scene right out of  “ A Few Good Men” began to lecture the cadet about her former comrade. He said that the deceased cadet was a gangster and a punk; it was for those reasons he was dead. He refused to donate money to the family and he upset the cadet.

I have heard some people defend the Major by saying he was entitled to his opinion. Of course he is entitled to his opinion, but to express that opinion to a subordinate cadet and a minor was inappropriate. The cadet had good intentions and showed what in the military is called unit loyalty. The Major actions essentially scolded the cadet, belittled her good intentions, and showed contempt for a deceased member of his unit.

His refusal to donate to the family of the deceased cadet was wrong on the human level of respect for a family in mourning and charity for those in need. What does it mean when his hatred of a former cadet in his unit extends to the cadet’s family?

By his own admission there was a “heated discussion” with the senior staff at the high school. After that meeting the Major was suspended. The question arises as to what was said by the Major in this heated discussion that precipitated his suspension.

Now the Major said that he is being bullied by the City. Somehow I just do not believe a Major in the Marine Corp. and man who refused to pay his union dues can be bullied by any one. I find it especially laughable that he said that a female threaded to “mess him up”.

The Major has a military pension and eighteen year pension with the City. He can and should retire at this point with his reputation mostly undamaged. I am sure whatever issue that turned the Major into person who does not understand appropriateness has been present with him for some time. It is likely more issues will be discovered.

The Major has gone to the press and stated that he and his wife have faced emotional and financial distress. These are legal terms and it indicates that the Major is likely to begin a suit against the City.

In the 1990s the proponents of JROTC said that the program was needed as a means of helping kids at risk. There was never any evidence of this assertion. Now with the Major’s seeming hatred of a kid at risk and other kids and their families, the evaluation of JROTC should be reviewed in terms of its effectiveness in achieving it goals, especially the assertion that it helps kids at risk.

In the 1990s the budget for JROTC was over $500,000. I am sure it is much higher today as it now in all of the Worcester High Schools. The budget for JROTC is impossible to ferret out of the Worcester School budget as it is not a line item, but spread out in several places in the budget.

The Major should apologize to the family of the deceased cadet. He should then retire and fade away quietly before he causes more harm. The JROTC program should be reevaluated.