SUMMARY
ACTIONS
Chief Petty Officer Eric Gilmet is one of three MARSOC Raiders who were aggressively confronted by an inebriated civilian contractor while on authorized liberty in Erbil, Iraq. One of the Raiders acted in self-defense and neutralized the threat with one punch which rendered the belligerent contractor unconscious. Since the contractor was left lying in the street by his fellow contractors, the Raiders picked him up and took him back to base. (NOTE: All of the above was captured on video)
Out of concern for the unconscious inebriated contractor possibly asphyxiating on his own vomit, the Raiders watched over him through the night. When the contractor stopped breathing, the Raiders performed advanced lifesaving measures in an attempt to resuscitate him. Unfortunately, despite being medevaced to a hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, the contractor died four days later.
REACTION
Military prosecutors charged each Raider with “manslaughter” and the Commanding General moved forward with Courts-Martial for each. Additionally, prior to these Raiders being charged, arraigned, or standing trail, the command removed the Raiders from their jobs, revoked their clearances, and, in overt and widespread official messaging to the command, used the accusations against these three Warriors as instruction on “How not to act while on liberty.”
INTENT
On August 15, 2022, the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA) overturned the trial judge’s original dismissal of Chief Eric Gilmet’s case and reinstated all charges that had previously been dismissed with prejudice on February 9, 2022.
In Washington, D.C. on April 18, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) heard oral arguments about whether the military judge erred when he found the government failed to prove that unlawful command influence (UCI) would not affect the proceedings beyond a reasonable doubt. They also discussed whether it placed an intolerable strain on the public’s perception of the military justice system.
WHO IS ERIC?
HMC Gilmet was born in Grand Rapids, MI on March 17th, 1984. He was raised in and lived in Williamston, MI and graduated from Williamston High School. He is married to Mindy Gilmet and has three children.
HMC Gilmet enlisted in the Navy on 3 September, 2002. He graduated 1 November, 2002 from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes IL.
From November 2002 to April 2003, he attended Hospital Corpsman “A” School at Naval Training Center, Great Lakes IL to become a 0000 Hospital Corpsman.
From May 2003 to June 2003, he attended Field Medical Service School at Camp Johnson, NC to become an 8404 Field Medical Service Technician.
From June 2003 to July 2006, he was assigned as a platoon Corpsman, G Company, 2nd Battalion 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division.
From July 2006 to February 2009, he was assigned to Naval Hospital Branch Clinic Court House Bay and Camp Johnson.
From February 2009 to May 2010, he attended the Basic Reconnaissance Course, Army Basic Airborne, Special Operations Combat Medic, Marine Combatant Diver, and Dive Medicine for Medical Personnel to become an 8427 Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman.
From May 2010 to August 2014, he was assigned to 2D Marine Special Operations Battalion, G Company, Team 8221 where he served as a Team Medic. He deployed with 8221 twice to Herat, Afghanistan. He received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device. Also, during that time, he attended the Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman Course in Fort Bragg, NC to become an 8403 Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman.
From August 2014 to July 2017, he was assigned to 4th MARDIV, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, where he served as the medical Inspector-Instructor and Battalion Chief.
Since July 2017, he has been assigned to 2D Marine Raider Battalion. During this time, he served with Company H as the Team Medic for Marine Special Operations Team 8232. He also served as Special Operations Task Force – North Senior Enlisted Medical Advisor while deployed to Northern Iraq from October 2018 to January 2019.
His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and three Combat Action Ribbons.
Letters for Eric & the Gilmet family can be sent to:
CPO Eric Gilmet
C/O UAP
ATTN: Elizabeth Brown
1800 Diagonal Rd. Suite 600
Alexandria, VA 22314
