Marine officer calls out senior military leaders following U.S. fatalities in Afghanistan

The video, which has taken off on social media within military circles, is an unusual sign of public dissent and frustration within the ranks.

Scheller said that “potentially all those people did die in vain” if senior military leaders are not held to account.

“Without that, the … higher military ranks are not holding up their end of the bargain,” he said. “I have been fighting for 17 years. I am willing to throw it all away to say to my senior leaders, ‘I demand accountability.’”

Scheller said that one of the people who died Thursday was someone he knew personally, but he said that was not the sole reason for his video, and others have shared similar frustrations.

He said he was willing to risk severe sanctions for speaking out if it brings further attention to the questions he raised of military leadership.

“I think what you believe in can only be defined by what you’re willing to risk,” he said. “So … I think it gives me some moral high ground to demand the same honesty, integrity, accountability from my senior leaders.”

A spokesperson said the Marine Corps is aware of the video but did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Scheller’s criticisms.