Stanley McChrystal to lead WH initiative to help military families
The White House has invited retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the former top U.S. general in Afghanistan who was relieved of duty last year after making derisive comments about the Obama administration, to help lead a new initiative to support military servicemen and their family, a White House official confirms to CBS News.
McChrystal will lead a three-member advisory board for Joining Forces, an initiative that encourage all sectors of society -- citizens, communities, businesses, non-profits, faith based institutions, philanthropic organizations and government -- to support military families.
President Obama relieved the general of his duty as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan last year after a scathing Rolling Stone article was released in which McChrystal and members of his staff bad-mouthed the administration. McChrystal told the New York Times on Sunday that his new role in this White House initiative should prove there are no hard feelings between the nation's civilian and military leaders.
"We can prove it's about something bigger," he said. "It sends a strong, positive message that this is about taking care of our people."
McChrystal will join First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden at the White House Tuesday to officially launch the initiative, according to the White House. Mrs. Obama and Biden will then set out on a two-day national tour to visit examples of communities and businesses that are supporting military families. The initiative aims to reconnect servicemen to their communities and builds upon the president's directive to establish a comprehensive federal approach to supporting military families.
In an email statement, the Times reports, Mrs. Obama said McChrystal "will be a unique and powerful advocate for the millions of Americans who serve our country selflessly."
