Did Gen. McMaster have an option to turn down the job?

[LAS14]

Since he is in active service? I hear mentions of that being a discussable item, but haven't heard any conclusions.

[CincyDem]

1. Resignation is always an options - and with his credentials, he'd go on to make a mint. n/t

[Lurks Often]

2. I'm certain he had a choice to turn down the job.

If McMaster did not want the job he could simply retire, he has 32+ years of service already.

Besides why would ANY President want someone in the NSA position if they weren't there voluntarily?

Additionally, while a President is commander in chief of the US military, that doesn't mean he can give orders to every general or admiral as he pleases. The military has a strong belief in the chain of command and McMaster was not in one of the command positions* that does have direct access to the White House or SecDef office.

McMaster was Deputy Commanding General of TRADOC**, so he would have reported to Gen. David Perkins, commanding general (4 star) of TRADOC, who reports to Vice Chief of Staff for the US Army, who reports to Chief of Staff for the US Army, who reports to Chairman Joint Chiefs, who reports to Mattis, who reports to Trump.


*A Unified Combatant Command (example: CENTCOM) is a position where the Chain of Command for operational purposes (per the Goldwater–Nichols Act) goes from the President through the Secretary of Defense to the Combatant Commanders
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Combatant_Command

**TRADOC Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Training_and_Doctrine_Command

[LAS14]

3. This is Donald Trump.

"Besides why would ANY President want someone in the NSA position if they weren't there voluntarily?"

Can you imagine him having a construct called "what the other person thinks/feels?"

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Of course he did.

Sheesh.

Only a direct order would cause him to have no choice, except to resign.