Soldier sentenced for staying in bed during fight:

[Praxius]

CTV.ca | Soldier sentenced for staying in bed during fight

A Canadian soldier has been sentenced to 21 days in jail for staying in bed while insurgents attacked the Canadian base in Afghanistan where he was stationed. The soldier, Master Cpl. Paul Patrick Billard, was sentenced by a military judge in Halifax who slammed his actions. Billard was supposed to act as a stretcher bearer and be part of the reserve force in the event of an attack. Instead, he stayed under the covers on May 22, 2006 when armed insurgents staged a nighttime strike on the forward operating base. "You displayed a total lack of discipline and a lack of respect for orders by remaining in bed, by refusing to don your helmet and your flak vest and by refusing to report to your assigned place of duty," Lt.-Col. Jean-Guy Perron, the court martial judge, said in his decision. He added that the base was particularly vulnerable at the time because a large number of troops were away -- a fact Billard was well aware of. At about 2 a.m. on the night of the attack, a siren was set off warning soldiers to prepare to defend their positions after an attacker tried to fire a rocket-propelled grenade at one of the guard towers. A guard returned fire and a patrol was sent after the insurgents during the incident, which lasted about one-and-a-half hours. "At the start of the stand-to, other members of your living area urged you to get out of bed and tried to make you react appropriately to the alarm," the judge wrote. However, Billard simply refused, repeatedly calling his comrades "flinchers," saying he was immune to their efforts and even attempting to discourage a corporal from responding to the order. At one point he did get up, donning shorts and grabbing his pistol in order to go to the bathroom, but then promptly returned to bed, according to court papers. Billard, a 33-year-old who was born in York, Ont. and joined the military in St. John's, N.L., pleaded guilty to the charge. Another charge of failing to use his utmost exertion to carry out orders, was withdrawn by prosecutors. Court documents stated that although he stayed in bed, Billard listened to his radio to determine the threat level, and determined that his help was not needed. However, Perron ruled that Billard had no right to pick and choose which orders to obey and said he failed the ultimate test of a soldier. "It surely is not the conduct we expect of Canadian non-commissioned officers. Your duty is to follow orders and to ensure the welfare and discipline of your subordinates. You failed this duty miserably." Billard is free on bail, based on the fact he plans to appeal the sentencing. He is to serve his jail term at a military prison in Edmonton. He had been slated for promotion to sergeant prior to his actions on the night of the attack.

The following is a comment at the bottom of the link:

As a retired Canadian soldier myself, I believe that this NCO failed his subordinates in a major way. That said, civilians who have never seen combat don't know the fear that grips a soldier after the battle is over. Was this gentlemen already fatigued and suffering post traumatic stress disorder? Anyways, he will now have to face the worst 21 days of his life in a military prison.

^ In response to this comment on the site:

There was no plea for PTSD as a defense in this case, he was just being a slack ass.

The fear that is felt after a battle? This was during the battle..... and regardless... even if he figured he wasn't needed, he was ordered to get the hell up.... this isn't Cadet Camp.

I believe the judgement was fair. As another comment added stated, in WWII he would have been shot. If he can't follow simple orders and he's trying to encourage others to follow his lead of not following orders, then that's a total disrespect for the uniform and an endangerment to his fellow soldiers..... 21 days is pretty soft if you ask me.

[ZNFYRH]

Agreed that it was fair.

It would be one thing if the alarm just didn't wake him up, which I know from my time in the military is entirely possible.

But he actually tried to convince someone else not to bother. I wonder what would happen to an American that tried this?

[Nono]

Quote by: Prax There was no plea for PTSD as a defense in this case, he was just being a slack ass.

C'mon, Prax, Canadians spell it with a "c".

21 days is pretty soft if you ask me.

Twenty-one days plus the nationwide publicity, not to mention the razzing he'll get for the rest of his days in the armed forces.

In 1969 there was, I believe, the first major mutiny among US troops in Vietnam. This was the first manifestation of sagging morale and would be followed by a landslide of incidents. On the much smaller scale of Canadians in Afghanistan, it'll probably go the same way.

[Praxius]

Oh yeah, like Centre.... my spelling is a mix from around the world, lol...

[Rainbow]

A Canadian soldier has been sentenced to 21 days in jail for staying in bed while insurgents attacked the Canadian base in Afghanistan where he was stationed. Billard was supposed to act as a stretcher bearer and be part of the reserve force in the event of an attack. Instead, he stayed under the covers on May 22, 2006 when armed insurgents staged a nighttime strike on the forward operating base. the base was particularly vulnerable at the time because a large number of troops were away -- a fact Billard was well aware of. At about 2 a.m. on the night of the attack, a siren was set off warning soldiers to prepare to defend their positions after an attacker tried to fire a rocket-propelled grenade at one of the guard towers. A guard returned fire and a patrol was sent after the insurgents during the incident, which lasted about one-and-a-half hours. "At the start of the stand-to, other members of your living area urged you to get out of bed and tried to make you react appropriately to the alarm," the judge wrote. However, Billard simply refused, repeatedly calling his comrades "flinchers," saying he was immune to their efforts and even attempting to discourage a corporal from responding to the order. At one point he did get up, donning shorts and grabbing his pistol in order to go to the bathroom, but then promptly returned to bed, according to court papers.

Generally, that guy betrayed his own buddies.

[Praxius]

Quote by: Rainbow Generally, that guy betrayed his own buddies.

Indeed... if he was assigned to be stretcher bearer that would mean he would be responsible for carrying injured/wounded fellow soldiers to medic bays and field medics very fast in life/death situations.... and he just stayed in bed!! He risked everyone's life when he did this, and due to the paticular responsibility issued to him, I think 21 days is very light.

Imagine being a soldier who was hit by shrapnel from the rocket and are bleeding out while a medic tries to stop the bleeding from the side of your neck.... he's got you patched up but needs to get you to the tent quickly, because you're still bleeding and loosing conciousness.... then you're looking around as best you can as you hear the medic yelling for this idiot who stayed in bed.... wondering wtf he is.... while you start to fade to black......

Kinda crappy if you ask me.... all because he was too dam lazy to get up......

If that did occur.... chances are he would have been shot.... and if not.... I would.... I'd take the dam court martial on that one.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Praxius I think 21 days is very light.

I think 21 days is a joke and/or mockery.